As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
OPERATOR
The proprietor of any dwelling, lodging, or sleeping accommodations
offered as a short-term rental, whether in the capacity of owner,
lessee, sublessee, mortgagee in possession, licensee, or any other
possessory capacity.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL
The provision of a room or space that is suitable or intended
for occupancy for dwelling, sleeping, or lodging purposes, for a period
of fewer than 30 consecutive days, in exchange for a charge for the
occupancy.
Northumberland County, Virginia hereby establishes a short-term
rental registry. All operators within Northumberland County shall
register annually, on or before January 1 or within 60 days of the
initial offering of a short-term rental and then thereafter annually
on or before January 1 with the Zoning Administrator for Northumberland
County upon such forms as may be prescribed. The registration shall
require the operator to provide the complete name of the operator
and the address of each property in the county offered for short-term
rental by the operator. A fee of $75 shall be due and paid with each
registration to cover the actual costs of establishing and maintaining
the registry.
No registration shall be required if such person is:
A. Licensed by the real estate board or is a property owner who is represented
by a real estate licensee;
B. Registered pursuant to the Virginia Real Estate Time-Share Act (§ 55-360
et seq.);
C. Licensed or registered with the department of health, related to
the provision of room or space for lodging; or
D. Licensed or registered with Northumberland County, related to the
rental or management of real property, including licensed real estate
professionals, hotels, motels, campgrounds, and bed-and-breakfast
establishments.
Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit, limit, or otherwise
supersede existing County authority to regulate the short-term rental
of property through general land use and zoning authority. Nothing
in this article shall be construed to supersede or limit contracts
or agreements between or among individuals or private entities related
to the use of real property, including recorded declarations and covenants,
the provisions of condominium instruments of a condominium created
pursuant to the Condominium Act (§ 55.1-1900 et seq.), the
declaration of a common interest community as defined in § 55.1-2100,
the cooperative instruments of a cooperative created pursuant to the
Virginia Real Estate Cooperative Act (§ 55.1-2100 et seq.),
or any declaration of a property owners' association created
pursuant to the Property Owners' Association Act (§ 55.1-1800
et seq.).