Virginia Law

Article 6. Transient Occupancy Tax.

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Accommodations" means any room or space for which tax is imposed on the retail sale of the same pursuant to this article.

"Accommodations fee" means the same as such term is defined in § 58.1-602.

"Accommodations intermediary" means the same as such term is defined in § 58.1-602.

"Accommodations provider" means the same as such term is defined in § 58.1-602.

"Affiliate" means the same as such term is defined in § 58.1-439.18.

"Discount room charge" means the same as such term is defined in § 58.1-602.

"Retail sale" means a sale to any person for any purpose other than for resale.

"Room charge" means the same as such term is defined in § 58.1-602.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 383.

A. 1. Any county, by duly adopted ordinance, may levy a transient occupancy tax on hotels, motels, boarding houses, travel campgrounds, and other facilities offering guest rooms rented out for continuous occupancy for fewer than 30 consecutive days. The tax shall be imposed on the total price paid by the customer for the use or possession of the room or space occupied in a retail sale. Such tax shall be in such amount and on such terms as the governing body may, by ordinance, prescribe.

2. Unless otherwise provided in this article, any county that imposes a transient occupancy tax at a rate greater than two percent shall, by ordinance, provide that (i) any excess from a rate over two percent shall be designated and spent solely for such purpose as was authorized under this article prior to January 1, 2020, or (ii) if clause (i) is inapplicable, any excess from a rate over two percent but not exceeding five percent shall be designated and spent solely for tourism and travel, marketing of tourism or initiatives that, as determined after consultation with the local tourism industry organizations, including representatives of lodging properties located in the county, attract travelers to the locality, increase occupancy at lodging properties, and generate tourism revenues in the locality. Unless otherwise provided in this article, for any county that imposes a transient occupancy tax pursuant to this section or an additional transient occupancy tax pursuant to another provision of this article, any excess over five percent, combining the rates of all taxes imposed pursuant to this article, shall not be restricted in its use and may be spent in the same manner as general revenues. If any locality has enacted an additional transient occupancy tax pursuant to subsection C of § 58.1-3823, then the governing body of the locality shall be deemed to have complied with the requirement that it consult with local tourism industry organizations, including lodging properties. If there are no local tourism industry organizations in the locality, the governing body shall hold a public hearing prior to making any determination relating to how to attract travelers to the locality and generate tourism revenues in the locality.

B. The tax imposed hereunder shall not apply to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days in hotels, motels, boarding houses, travel campgrounds, and other facilities offering guest rooms. In addition, that portion of any tax imposed hereunder in excess of two percent shall not apply to travel campgrounds in Stafford County.

C. Nothing herein contained shall affect any authority heretofore granted to any county, city or town to levy such a transient occupancy tax. The county tax limitations imposed pursuant to § 58.1-3711 shall apply to any tax levied under this section, mutatis mutandis.

D. Any county, city or town that requires local hotel and motel businesses, or any class thereof, to collect, account for and remit to such locality a local tax imposed on the consumer may allow such businesses a commission for such service in the form of a deduction from the tax remitted. Such commission shall be provided for by ordinance, which shall set the rate thereof at no less than three percent and not to exceed five percent of the amount of tax due and accounted for. No commission shall be allowed if the amount due was delinquent.

E. All transient occupancy tax collections shall be deemed to be held in trust for the county, city or town imposing the tax.

Code 1950, § 76.1; 1970, c. 443; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 214; 1973, c. 433; 1974, c. 614; 1983, c. 313; 1984, c. 675; 1985, c. 556; 1992, cc. 263, 834; 1996, c. 833; 1997, cc. 757, 764; 1998, cc. 729, 733; 1999, cc. 233, 234, 241, 253, 260; 2000, c. 470; 2001, cc. 571, 585; 2003, c. 939; 2004, cc. 7, 610; 2005, cc. 76, 915; 2006, cc. 67, 376; 2007, cc. 86, 596, 767; 2008, c. 230; 2009, cc. 13, 31, 116, 497, 513, 524; 2010, c. 505; 2011, cc. 385, 606; 2012, c. 290; 2013, cc. 19, 200, 319, 378; 2014, c. 188; 2015, cc. 57, 78, 98; 2016, c. 51; 2017, c. 23; 2018, c. 293; 2020, cc. 330, 1214, 1263; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 383.

1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, and in lieu of any authority to impose a transient occupancy tax in any other provision of law, general or special, Roanoke County may impose a total transient occupancy tax not to exceed seven percent of the total price paid by the customer for the use or possession of any room, space, or overnight guest room occupied in a retail sale. The tax imposed hereunder shall not apply to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days.

2. The revenue generated and collected from the two percent tax rate increase shall be designated and expended solely for advertising the Roanoke metropolitan area as an overnight tourist destination by members of the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. For purposes of this subsection, "advertising the Roanoke metropolitan area as an overnight tourism destination" means advertising that is intended to attract visitors from a sufficient distance so as to require an overnight stay.

2012, c. 340; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 383.

Repealed by Acts 2020, cc. 1214 and 1263, cl. 2, effective May 1, 2021.

Repealed by Acts 2016, c. 305, cl. 2.

A. Hanover County, Chesterfield County and Henrico County may impose:

1. An additional transient occupancy tax not to exceed four percent of the total price paid by the customer for the use or possession of any room or space occupied in a retail sale. The tax imposed hereunder shall not apply to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days. The revenues collected from the additional tax shall be designated and spent for promoting tourism, travel or business that generates tourism or travel in the Richmond metropolitan area; and

2. An additional transient occupancy tax not to exceed two percent of the total price paid by the customer for the use or possession of any room or space occupied in a retail sale. The tax imposed hereunder shall not apply to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days. The revenues collected from the additional tax shall be designated and spent for expanding the Richmond Centre, a convention and exhibition facility in the City of Richmond.

3. An additional transient occupancy tax not to exceed one percent of the total price paid by the customer for the use or possession of any room or space occupied in a retail sale. The tax imposed hereunder shall not apply to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or group of individuals for 30 or more days. The revenues collected from the additional tax shall be designated and spent for the development and improvement of the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation's facilities in Richmond, for promoting the use of the Richmond Centre and for promoting tourism, travel or business that generates tourism and travel in the Richmond metropolitan area.

B. Any county with the county manager plan of government may impose an additional transient occupancy tax not to exceed two percent of the total price paid by the customer for the use or possession of any room or space occupied in a retail sale, provided that the county's governing body approves the construction of a county conference center. The tax imposed hereunder shall not apply to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days. The revenues collected from the additional tax shall be designated and spent for the design, construction, debt payment, and operation of such conference center.

C. (For expiration date, see Acts 2018, c. 850) The Counties of James City and York may impose an additional transient occupancy tax for the use or possession of any overnight guest room in an amount not to exceed $2 per room per night. The tax imposed by this subsection shall not apply to travel campground sites or to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days. Of the revenues generated by the tax authorized by this subsection, one-half of the revenues generated from each night of occupancy of an overnight guest room shall be deposited into the Historic Triangle Marketing Fund, created pursuant to subsection F of § 58.1-603.2, and one-half of the revenues shall be retained by the locality in which the tax is imposed.

C. (For effective date, see Acts 2018, c. 850) 1. The Counties of James City and York may impose an additional transient occupancy tax for the use or possession of any overnight guest room in an amount not to exceed $2 per room per night. The revenues collected from the additional tax shall be designated and expended solely for advertising the Historic Triangle area, which includes all of the City of Williamsburg and the Counties of James City and York, as an overnight tourism destination by the members of the Williamsburg Area Destination Marketing Committee of the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce. The tax imposed by this subsection shall not apply to travel campground sites or to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days.

1. The Counties of James City and York may impose an additional transient occupancy tax for the use or possession of any overnight guest room in an amount not to exceed $2 per room per night. The revenues collected from the additional tax shall be designated and expended solely for advertising the Historic Triangle area, which includes all of the City of Williamsburg and the Counties of James City and York, as an overnight tourism destination by the members of the Williamsburg Area Destination Marketing Committee of the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce. The tax imposed by this subsection shall not apply to travel campground sites or to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days.

2. The Williamsburg Area Destination Marketing Committee shall consist of the members as provided herein. The governing bodies of the City of Williamsburg, the County of James City, and the County of York shall each designate one of their members to serve as members of the Williamsburg Area Destination Marketing Committee. These three members of the Committee shall have two votes apiece. In no case shall a person who is a member of the Committee by virtue of the designation of a local governing body be eligible to be selected a member of the Committee pursuant to subdivision a.

a. Further, one member of the Committee shall be selected by the Board of Directors of the Williamsburg Hotel and Motel Association; one member of the Committee shall be from The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and shall be selected by the Foundation; one member of the Committee shall be an employee of Busch Gardens Europe/Water Country USA and shall be selected by Busch Gardens Europe/Water Country USA; one member of the Committee shall be from the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and shall be selected by the Foundation; one member of the Committee shall be selected by the Executive Committee of the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce; and one member of the Committee shall be the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Tourism Authority who shall serve ex officio. Each of these six members of the Committee shall have one vote apiece. The President of the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce shall serve ex officio with nonvoting privileges unless chosen by the Executive Committee of the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce to serve as its voting representative. The Executive Director of the Williamsburg Hotel and Motel Association shall serve ex officio with nonvoting privileges unless chosen by the Board of Directors of the Williamsburg Hotel and Motel Association to serve as its voting representative.

In no case shall more than one person of the same local government, including the governing body of the locality, serve as a member of the Committee at the same time.

If at any time a person who has been selected to the Committee by other than a local governing body becomes or is (a) a member of the local governing body of the City of Williamsburg, the County of James City, or the County of York, or (b) an employee of one of such local governments, the person shall be ineligible to serve as a member of the Committee while a member of the local governing body or an employee of one of such local governments. In such case, the body that selected the person to serve as a member of the Commission shall promptly select another person to serve as a member of the Committee.

3. The Williamsburg Area Destination Marketing Committee shall maintain all authorities granted by this section. The Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce shall serve as the fiscal agent for the Williamsburg Area Destination Marketing Committee with specific responsibilities to be defined in a contract between such two entities. The contract shall include provisions to reimburse the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce for annual audits and any other agreed-upon expenditures. The Williamsburg Area Destination Marketing Committee shall also contract with the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce to provide administrative support services as the entities shall mutually agree.

4. The provisions in subdivision 2 relating to the composition and voting powers of the Williamsburg Area Destination Marketing Committee shall be a condition of the authority to impose the tax provided herein.

For purposes of this subsection, "advertising the Historic Triangle area" as an overnight tourism destination means advertising that is intended to attract visitors from a sufficient distance so as to require an overnight stay of at least one night.

D. Bedford County may impose an additional transient occupancy tax not to exceed two percent of the total price paid by the customer for the use or possession of any room or space occupied in a retail sale. The tax imposed hereunder shall not apply to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days.

The revenues collected from the additional tax shall be designated and spent solely for tourism and travel; marketing of tourism; or initiatives that, as determined after consultation with local tourism industry organizations, including representatives of lodging properties located in the county, attract travelers to the locality, increase occupancy at lodging properties, and generate tourism revenues in the locality.

E. Botetourt County may impose an additional transient occupancy tax not to exceed two percent of the total price paid by the customer for the use or possession of any room or space occupied in a retail sale. The tax imposed hereunder shall not apply to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days.

The revenue generated and collected from the two percent tax rate increase shall be designated and expended solely for advertising the Roanoke metropolitan area as an overnight tourist destination by members of the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. For purposes of this subsection, "advertising the Roanoke metropolitan area as an overnight tourism destination" means advertising that is intended to attract visitors from a sufficient distance so as to require an overnight stay.

F. The county tax limitations imposed pursuant to § 58.1-3711 shall apply to any tax levied under this section, mutatis mutandis.

G. The authority to impose a tax pursuant to this section shall be in addition to the authority provided by the provisions of § 58.1-3819.

1996, c. 712; 1998, cc. 74, 444; 2002, cc. 173, 259; 2004, cc. 50, 610, 828; 2006, c. 377; 2008, c. 839; 2011, c. 677; 2016, cc. 52, 56, 305; 2018, c. 850; 2020, cc. 1214, 1263; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 383; 2022, c. 652.

In addition to such transient occupancy taxes as are authorized by this chapter, beginning July 1, 2004, Fairfax County may impose an additional transient occupancy tax not to exceed two percent of the total price paid by the customer for the use or possession of any room or space occupied in a retail sale, provided that the board of supervisors of the County appropriates the revenues collected from such tax as follows:

1. No more than 75 percent of such revenues shall be designated for and appropriated to Fairfax County to be spent for tourism promotion in the County after consultation with local tourism industry organizations and in support of the local tourism industry; and

2. The remaining portion of such revenues shall be designated for and appropriated to a nonprofit convention and visitor's bureau located in Fairfax County.

The tax imposed hereunder shall not apply to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days.

For purposes of this section, "tourism promotion" means direct funding designated and spent solely for tourism, marketing of tourism or initiatives that, as determined in consultation with the local tourism industry organizations, attract travelers to the locality and generate tourism revenues in the locality.

2004, c. 9; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 383.

Any additional transient occupancy tax or any increase in the rate of an existing transient occupancy tax in Fairfax County first imposed on or after July 1, 2010, shall not apply within the limits of any town located in such county, without the consent of the governing body of the town.

2010, cc. 116, 660.

In addition to such transient occupancy taxes as are authorized by this chapter, Rockbridge County and the Cities of Lexington and Buena Vista may impose an additional transient occupancy tax not to exceed two percent of the total price paid by the customer for the use or possession of any room or space occupied in a retail sale. The authority to impose such tax is hereby individually granted to the local governing bodies of such county and cities. However, if such tax is adopted, the local governing body of such county or cities adopting the tax shall appropriate the revenues collected therefrom to the Virginia Horse Center Foundation to be used by the Foundation for the sole purpose of making principal and interest payments on a promissory note or notes signed or executed by the Virginia Horse Center Foundation or the Virginia Equine Center Foundation prior to January 1, 2004, with the Rockbridge Industrial Development Authority as the obligee or payee, as part of an agreement for the Authority to issue bonds on behalf of or for improvements at the Virginia Horse Center Foundation, Virginia Equine Center Foundation, or Virginia Equine Center.

For purposes of this section, such note or notes signed or executed prior to January 1, 2004, shall include any notes or other indebtedness incurred to refinance such note or notes, regardless of the date of refinancing, provided that such refinancing shall not include any debt or the payment of any debt for any activity relating to the Virginia Horse Center Foundation, Virginia Equine Center Foundation, or Virginia Equine Center that occurs on or after January 1, 2004.

The tax imposed hereunder shall not apply to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days. Such tax may no longer be imposed in such county or such cities after final payment of the note or notes described herein.

2004, c. 598; 2007, c. 61; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 383.

Repealed by Acts 2016, c. 305, cl. 2.

A. In addition to such transient occupancy tax as is authorized by § 58.1-3819, Bath County may impose an additional transient occupancy tax not to exceed two percent of the total price paid by the customer for the use or possession of any room or space occupied in a retail sale.

B. The revenues collected from the additional tax shall be designated and spent as follows:

1. One-half of such revenue shall be designated and spent solely for tourism and travel, marketing of tourism, or initiatives that, as determined after consultation with the local tourism industry organizations, attract travelers to the locality and generate tourism revenues in the locality. If there are no local tourism industry organizations in the locality, the governing body shall hold a public hearing prior to making any determination relating to how to attract travelers to the locality and generate tourism revenues in the locality.

2. One-half of such revenue shall be designated and spent solely for the design, operation, construction, improvement, acquisition, and debt service for such expenses on debt incurred after June 30, 2009, of tourism facilities, historic sites, beautification projects, promotion of the arts, regional tourism marketing efforts, capital costs related to travel and transportation including air service, public parks and recreation, and information centers that attract travelers to the locality and generate tourism revenues in the locality.

C. The tax imposed hereunder shall not apply to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days in hotels, motels, boarding houses, travel campgrounds, and other facilities offering guest rooms.

D. If Bath County requires local hotel and motel businesses, or any class thereof, to collect, account for, and remit the tax imposed pursuant to this section, the County may allow such businesses a commission for such service in the form of a deduction from the tax remitted. Such commission shall be provided for by ordinance, which shall set the rate thereof, no less than three percent and not to exceed five percent of the amount of tax due and accounted for. No commission shall be allowed if the amount due is delinquent.

E. All tax collections pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be held in trust for Bath County.

2009, c. 16; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 383.

A. As used in this section:

"Eligible historic lodging property" means a structure (i) that contains 450 or more rooms for overnight lodging purposes, (ii) that is situated on one or more parcels of land exceeding 700 acres, and (iii) of which some or all portions of the structure were constructed prior to 1930.

"Qualified county" means a county in which at least 40 percent of the employment is in accommodations and food services, as set forth in the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages for the second quarter of 2017, as published by the Virginia Employment Commission.

B. In addition to such transient occupancy taxes as are authorized by this chapter, a qualified county may impose an additional transient occupancy tax not to exceed five percent of the amount of the charge for the occupancy of any room or space occupied at an eligible historic lodging property. The qualified county may adopt an ordinance implementing the tax only after it holds a public hearing regarding the implementation of such a tax.

C. The revenues collected from the additional tax authorized by this section shall be designated solely as local funds to be used to incentivize other entities to invest in substantial rehabilitation, renovation, and expansion projects on eligible historic lodging properties that would enhance local economic development and tourism opportunities.

D. The tax imposed hereunder shall not apply to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days.

2018, c. 626.

In addition to the transient occupancy tax authorized by § 58.1-3819, Arlington County may impose an additional transient occupancy tax not to exceed one-fourth of one percent of the total price paid by the customer for the use or possession of any room or space occupied in a retail sale. The revenues collected from the additional tax shall be designated and spent for the purpose of promoting tourism and business travel in the county.

2016, cc. 316, 365; 2018, c. 611; 2020, cc. 61, 238, 1214, 1263; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 383.

A. In addition to such transient occupancy taxes as are authorized by §§ 58.1-3819 through 58.1-3825.3, Prince George County may impose an additional transient occupancy tax not to exceed two percent of the amount of the charge for the occupancy of any room or space occupied. The tax imposed hereunder shall not apply to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days.

B. The governing body of Prince George County shall appropriate the revenue generated and collected from the additional tax solely for the purposes of promoting tourism, including marketing generally and marketing Prince George County as an overnight tourist destination, programs, staff, events, and capital projects. For purposes of this section, "marketing Prince George County as an overnight tourist destination" means advertising that is intended to attract visitors from a sufficient distance so as to require an overnight stay.

2020, c. 787.

A. The transient occupancy tax imposed pursuant to the authority of this article shall be imposed only for the use or possession of any room or space that is suitable or intended for occupancy by transients for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes.

B. For any retail sale of accommodations not facilitated by an accommodations intermediary, the accommodations provider shall collect the tax imposed pursuant to this article, computed on the total price paid for the use or possession of the accommodations, and shall remit the same to the locality and shall be liable for the same.

C. For any retail sale of accommodations facilitated by an accommodations intermediary, the accommodations intermediary shall be deemed under this article as a facility making a retail sale of an accommodation. The accommodations intermediary shall collect the tax imposed pursuant to this article, computed on the room charge, and shall remit the same to the locality and shall be liable for the same.

D. For any transaction for the retail sale of accommodations involving two or more parties that meet the definition of accommodations intermediary, nothing in this section shall prohibit such parties from making an agreement regarding which party shall be responsible for collecting and remitting the tax, so long as the party so responsible is registered with the locality for purposes of remitting the tax. In such event, the party that agrees to collect and remit the tax shall be the sole party liable for the tax, and the other parties to such agreement shall not be liable for such tax.

E. In any retail sale of any accommodations in which an accommodations intermediary does not facilitate the sale of the accommodations, the accommodations provider shall separately state the amount of the tax in the bill, invoice, or similar documentation and shall add the tax to the total price paid for the use or possession of the accommodations. In any retail sale of any accommodations in which an accommodations intermediary facilitates the sale of the accommodation, the accommodations intermediary shall separately state the amount of the tax on the bill, invoice, or similar documentation and shall add the tax to the room charge; thereafter, such tax shall be a debt from the customer to the accommodations intermediary, recoverable at law in the same manner as other debts.

F. Subject to applicable laws, an accommodations intermediary shall submit to a locality the property addresses and gross receipts for all accommodations facilitated by the accommodations intermediary in such locality. Such information shall be submitted monthly.

2005, c. 20; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 383; 2022, cc. 7, 640.

A. The tax-assessing officer of a county, city, or town shall administer and enforce the assessment of, and the treasurer of such county, city, or town shall collect, transient occupancy taxes from accommodations intermediaries.

B. In administering the assessment of transient occupancy taxes from accommodations intermediaries, the tax-assessing officer of a county, city, or town shall provide adequate information to accommodations intermediaries to enable them to identify transient occupancy rates, the applicable jurisdiction, and any discounts, deductions, or exemptions.

C. Every accommodations intermediary required to collect or pay the transient occupancy tax, on or before the twentieth day of the month following the month in which the tax shall become effective, shall transmit to the tax-assessing officer of a county, city, or town a return showing the gross receipts, any allowable discounts, deductions, or exemptions, and the rate applied to the resultant net receipts and shall remit to the treasurer of such locality the total local transient occupancy tax due, as well as any penalties and interest due, arising from all transactions taxable under this chapter during the preceding calendar month. Where applicable, the return shall also include the number of room nights and the room tax rate applied, the total amount of room tax due, and any regional transportation transient occupancy taxes due. Thereafter, a like return shall be prepared and transmitted to the tax-assessing officer of a county, city, or town by every accommodations intermediary on or before the twentieth day of each month, for the preceding calendar month.

2023, c. 410.