Supervisors' hearing on short-term rentals tonight | County

Meeting moved to LHS auditorium in anticipation of large crowd

PVN staff report

LURAY, Sept. 18 — The Page County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. tonight in Luray High School auditorium on proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance related to short-term rentals.

During its Aug. 3 work session, the board approved the public hearing and agreed to remove the two-year ownership requirement from the proposed changes, as well as removing “impractical enforcement provisions,” and any duplicate or unnecessary requirements already addressed in the Code of Page County.

According to county staff reports, after a few years of hearing concerns over the growth of short-term rentals the Board of Supervisors discussed the topic in detail at a retreat on June 17, 2025. That lead to another discussion during a joint meeting with the planning commission on Sept. 2, 2025, from which a steering committee was formed to focus on the issue. After meeting several times over a few months, the steering committee presented its findings to the board through member and District 3 Supervisor Ryan Cubbage on March 2, 2026. The board agreed to send the steering committee’s findings to the Planning Commission for further discussion.

The controversial issue, which has split the public, also split the commission, with a final 3-3 vote recorded on two motions — one for approval, one for dismissal. So, the final draft moved forward to the supervisors without a formal recommendation from the planning commission on Aug. 3.

The board agreed to amend the draft to include staff recommendations. They also agreed to not take action on the proposed changes following the public hearing tonight (Sept. 21) so that they may take public comments and further changes into consideration.

Below is the current, updated version of the proposed changes to the zoning ordinance related to short-term rentals dated Aug. 4, with noted summaries of each change and its impact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS:

In Article II (Word Usage and Definitions), amend Section 125-4 (Definitions) as follows:
– Add a new definition for “short-term tourist rental, owner-occupied.” Summary: Adding a new definition for owner-occupied STR’s since there is protection in the state code for owner-occupied rentals.
In Article IV (District Regulations), Section 125-9 (Woodland-Conservation), amend Section 125-9.B(7) relating to Bed and Breakfast Establishments and short-term tourist rentals permitted by-right. Summary: In the W-C zoning district, striking STR’s in this line item and creating a separate use since Bed and Breakfast Establishments and STR’s are not the same use.
In Article IV (District Regulations), Section 125-9 (Woodland-Conservation), add Section 125-9.B(8) relating to short-term tourist rentals permitted by-right and adjust numbering. Summary: Adding in the W-C zoning district, the STR use by right if rental contains no more than three bedrooms (subject to the supplemental regulations) and requiring that the rental either have frontage on a public road or the parcel on which the dwelling is located is accessed by a private lane or driveway that serves the rental and no more than two additional dwellings.
In Article IV (District Regulations), Section 125-9 (Woodland-Conservation), add Section 125-9.B(9) relating to “owner-occupied short-term tourist rentals, subject to the provisions of Section 125-30.21 (if applicable)” and adjust numbering. Summary: Adding in the W-C zoning district, the owner-occupied STR use and section number adjustment.
In Article IV (District Regulations), Section 125-9 (Woodland-Conservation) add Section 125-9.D(21) relating to short-term tourist rentals permitted by special use permit. Summary: Adding in the W-C zoning district, the STR use by special use permit if any one or more of the following apply: The rental contains four or more bedrooms and/or the rental is accessed from a private lane or driveway that serves the rental and more than two additional dwellings.
In Article IV (District Regulations), Section 125-10 (Agriculture), amend Section 125-10.B(8) relating to Bed and Breakfast Establishments and short-term tourist rentals permitted by-right. Summary: Striking STR’s in this line item and creating a separate use since Bed and Breakfast Establishments and STR’s are not the same use.
In Article IV (District Regulations), Section 125-10 (Agriculture), amend Section 125-10.B(9) relating to short-term tourist rentals permitted by-right. Summary: Adding in the A-1 zoning district, the STR use by right if rental contains no more than three bedrooms (subject to the supplemental regulations) and requiring that the rental either have frontage on a public road or the parcel on which the dwelling is located is accessed by a private lane or driveway that serves the rental and no more than two additional dwellings.
In Article IV (District Regulations), Section 125-10 (Agriculture), add Section 125-10.B(10) relating to “owner-occupied short-term tourist rentals, subject to the provisions of Section 125-30.21 (if applicable)” and adjust numbering. Summary: Adding in the A-1 zoning district, the owner-occupied STR use and section number adjustment.
In Article IV (District Regulations), Section 125-10 (Agriculture) add Section 125-10.D(28) relating to short-term tourist rentals permitted by special use permit. Summary: Adding in the A-1 zoning district, the STR use by special use permit if any one or more of the following apply: The rental contains four or more bedrooms and/or the rental is accessed from a private lane or driveway that serves the rental and more than two additional dwellings.
In Article IV (District Regulations), Section 125-11 (Residential), amend Section 125-11.B(12) to read “owner-occupied short-term tourist rentals, subject to the provisions of Section 125-30.21 (if applicable)”. Summary: Adding in the R zoning district the owner-occupied STR use.
In Article IV (District Regulations), Section 125-11 (Residential) add Section 125-11.D(9) relating to short-term tourist rentals permitted by special use permit. Summary: Adding in the R zoning district, the STR use by special use permit only.
In Article IV (District Regulations), Section 125-12 (Commercial), amend Section 125-12.B(9) by adding “owner-occupied short-term tourist rentals, subject to the provisions of Section 125-30.21 (if applicable).” Summary: Adding in the C-1 zoning district the owner-occupied STR use.
In Article IV (District Regulations), Section 125-12 (Commercial), amend Section 125-12.B(13) by adding language to reflect only one single-family detached dwelling is permitted. Summary: Striking existing language in the C-1 zoning district to limit only one single-family detached dwelling be permitted on any lot, tract or parcel of land.
In Article V (Supplementary Regulations), Section 125-30.21 (Short-term tourist rentals), multiple amendments through entire section relating to short-term tourist rentals. Summary: Multiple amendments to the supplemental regulations regarding STR’s. Staff would also note that the proposed draft has been reviewed by the County Attorney.