CAPE CHARLES, Va. — The Town of Cape Charles has announced a change to its short-term rental (STR) application process, eliminating the online renewal option for the upcoming 2026 season.
Effective Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the town has disabled the “Renewal” function within its Customer Portal. Property owners seeking to operate short-term rentals in 2026 must now submit their applications using the “Apply for New STR Certificate” option.
Town officials indicated the change is part of an effort to streamline application processing and ensure all submissions are reviewed under updated procedures and compliance standards. The previous “Renew” button is no longer available to users.
The update comes as Cape Charles continues to refine its STR program, which has faced administrative challenges in recent months, including system adjustments and reconciliation efforts tied to new software implementation.
Applicants with questions or needing assistance are encouraged to contact the town’s inspection office at inspector@capecharles.org.
Officials are asking for patience as staff work through applications and ensure accuracy ahead of the 2026 rental season.

Per the White House website, President Trump advocates for the use of AI. If it is good enough for Donald…
You would do well to mind your own business.
You fellas are Savages, you must be related to Rowland Savage, who had a plantation in Machipongo. In mid 1600s…
Common sense would explain the difference. Funk AI and the people who developed it.
I worked in Cape Charles over a dozen years ago and noticed that some things were played fast and loose…