CAPE CHARLES, Va. — The Town of Cape Charles will launch a new online platform in November to streamline short-term rental licensing, eliminating paper applications and in-person payments starting in 2026.
The platform, called Rentalscape, will handle all aspects of short-term rental (STR) business licenses, inspections and zoning permit applications. Users will be able to make payments, schedule inspections, print certificates, upload floor plans and photos, and submit monthly transient occupancy tax information through the system.
The town has stopped accepting new paper applications for the 2026 licensing year and removed PDF applications from its website at CapeCharles.org. A new STR-specific site will launch in November where all submissions will be processed online.
“Beginning in 2026, we will NOT be accepting payments for anything STR-related in person, by mail or over the phone,” town officials stated in the announcement. “All STR-related payments for Business Licenses, Inspections, Zoning Permits, and TOT’s will be made exclusively online in 2026.”
Current STR operators will continue submitting transient occupancy tax reports and payments through existing methods for the remainder of 2025. The transition to online-only payments represents a significant change in how the town manages its short-term rental program.
Property owners with new construction or rentals changing ownership for the remainder of 2025 should contact inspector@capecharles.org. Applications for STR BOSTR increases will remain available in PDF format and will not be included in the Rentalscape system.
The town plans to notify residents through its website and email updates when the new platform goes live in November.
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