CAPE CHARLES, Va. — On Friday, the Town of Cape Charles hosted an informational session for short-term rental (STR) management companies, addressing key updates and procedural requirements ahead of the town’s new STR ordinance approved by Town Council on December 19.
The session covered a range of topics, including the introduction of updated forms, transient occupancy tax reporting, business license requirements, and inspection protocols. The town emphasized that compliance with these new regulations is essential for commercial/retail STR operators.
The full video can be viewed here.
Key Points from the Session:
New Forms and Display Requirements:
- STR operators must prominently display a new green STR form in each rental unit. This form is issued once the business license fee is paid.
- The transient occupancy tax must be reported monthly using the designated form submitted to the town.
Business Licenses and Inspections:
- April 15 is the deadline for obtaining business licenses for STRs.
- Safety inspections of rental units will only occur after the business license has been processed and paid for. The safety inspection fee is $150.
- If a property is sold, the new owner must obtain a new business license and undergo a fresh safety inspection, even if the prior owner already complied with these requirements.
Occupancy and Zoning Requirements:
- STR operators must submit an application, a site plan, and documentation detailing interior features such as bedrooms and egresses. Parking accommodations must be photographed, particularly if the operator seeks to increase the unit’s occupancy.
- Legal deed information and the zoning district of the property must also be included in the application.
Trash and Refuse Requirements:
- Properties with 1-2 bedrooms must have at least one trash can, while those with 3-4 bedrooms require two, and properties with 5 or more bedrooms must have three trash cans. Trash collection is billed quarterly.
Bay Creek Exclusion:
The session clarified that the new ordinance will not immediately apply to Bay Creek properties, which are governed by the Accomack Plantation Planned Unit Development (PUD) ordinance. However, Bay Creek will eventually fall under the town’s STR regulations. Notably, 150 new units are slated to be added to Bay Creek, which remains exempt during the ordinance’s one-year grace period.
The town underscored its commitment to ensuring that STR operators adhere to these updated requirements to maintain compliance and improve the management of short-term rentals across Cape Charles.
The session also noted that the town is in the process of implementing new software that will streamline the STR process for owners, as well as aiding the town in tax collection and safety inspections. The town is shooting for a May 2025 implementation date and will begin holding training sessions once the platform is ready to go live.
About the Author
Thank you for posting updated information in The Mirror for STR’s. Based on the title of this article:
Cape Charles hosts STR Management Companies.
Is the town going to hire a management company to oversee STR‘s?
Editor’s Note: No, this was an information session hosted by the Town for retail companies that own short-term rentals