Thinking about listing your Waynesboro home on Airbnb or VRBO? A little prep on local rules and taxes can save you fees, stress, and time. You want clear, step-by-step guidance so you can host with confidence and keep more of what you earn. In this guide, you’ll learn what counts as a short-term rental, how to register, which taxes apply, who collects them, and when to file. Let’s dive in.
What counts as a short-term rental
Waynesboro treats a “short-term residential rental” as renting a dwelling, or part of one, to a guest for fewer than 30 consecutive days. The city also defines “homestay” separately for an owner-occupied primary residence. These definitions drive when local lodging taxes apply and who must report. You can review the city’s definitions in the updated ordinance text in Chapter 78, Article V of the City Code as published in council materials (Waynesboro ordinance update).
Registration and local accounts
You should set up your local tax accounts before your first booking. Waynesboro’s Commissioner of the Revenue handles business licensing and the meals and lodging tax accounts, including forms and deadlines (Commissioner of the Revenue). If you plan to sell prepared food or offer meal services, you will also need to register for the city’s meals tax (Meals & Lodging Tax page).
Also confirm zoning and any private rules. City zoning and neighborhood covenants can limit or prohibit short-term rentals. Virginia law lets localities regulate and register short-term rentals, and private covenants can still apply (Virginia Code authority).
Tax rates you should expect
Here are the common taxes you’ll see on a Waynesboro short-term rental invoice:
- Waynesboro transient lodging tax: 6% of the rental charge (City ordinance, Chapter 78).
- Virginia retail sales and use tax: commonly cited combined base rate of about 5.3% for lodging and related taxable charges (Virginia Tax bulletin).
- Waynesboro meals tax: 6% if you sell prepared food or meal services, in addition to applicable state sales tax (Meals & Lodging Tax page).
Platforms sometimes display one combined “occupancy” or “tax” line. Keep statements that show the tax types and amounts so you can complete local filings correctly.
Who collects and remits the taxes
Virginia’s 2025 law treats many booking platforms as the retailer for transient occupancy taxes. When a qualifying accommodations intermediary facilitates the booking, it may be required to collect and remit the local lodging tax and submit monthly reports with property addresses and gross receipts. Hosts can also avoid filing local returns if every sale is handled by an intermediary and they submit the required attestation, which lasts for 12 months (HB2383, 2025 Acts). Waynesboro’s ordinance aligns with this approach and describes the data platforms must report to the city (Waynesboro ordinance update).
If you take direct bookings, you are the accommodations provider and must collect and remit the lodging tax and file the monthly return. Even when a platform remits taxes, you should confirm with the Commissioner whether a return or documentation is still required to credit your account.
Filing deadlines, records, and penalties
Waynesboro requires monthly lodging tax reports and payments on or before the 20th day of the month following the month of collection. Keep at least two years of records, and be prepared for the city to review your documentation. Late filings can trigger penalties and interest, and willful noncompliance can be charged as a Class 3 misdemeanor under the city ordinance (City ordinance, Chapter 78).
Operational must-dos before you host
- Check zoning and any HOA or condo rules for your property. Private covenants can restrict short-term rentals even when city code allows them (Virginia Code authority).
- Register with the Commissioner of the Revenue for business licensing and tax accounts, and download the correct forms (Commissioner of the Revenue).
- Follow safety basics: smoke and CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted occupancy, and code-compliant egress. Check city building resources for updates (Waynesboro building resources).
- Confirm insurance. Many homeowners policies exclude short-term rentals. Ask about endorsements or a dedicated STR policy. Platform protections are not a replacement for proper coverage (insurance overview).
- Coordinate with your platform. Get monthly statements that show your property address and gross receipts, and confirm which taxes the platform collects and remits (HB2383, 2025 Acts).
- Keep clean records for at least two years, including any 30-plus day exemptions with signed leases (City ordinance, Chapter 78).
Quick Waynesboro checklist
- Confirm your zoning and any HOA or condo restrictions (Virginia Code authority).
- Set up your business license and tax accounts with the Commissioner, and get the Meals & Lodging and Transient Lodging forms (Commissioner of the Revenue).
- If you use a booking platform, obtain monthly statements that show address-level gross receipts and taxes collected (HB2383, 2025 Acts).
- Confirm insurance coverage for short-term rental activity (insurance overview).
- Install safety equipment, post house rules and occupancy limits, and maintain organized records for two years (City ordinance, Chapter 78).
If you’re weighing whether an STR fits your goals or if long-term rental or selling makes more sense, you do not have to figure it out alone. Tap our local know-how and practical, renovation-savvy advice to compare returns and timelines for your Waynesboro property. Reach out to The Griggs Group for a straightforward plan that fits your next move.
FAQs
What is the short-term rental lodging tax rate in Waynesboro?
- Waynesboro’s transient lodging tax is 6 percent of the rental charge, and state retail sales tax commonly applies as well (City ordinance; Virginia Tax).
Does Airbnb or another platform collect Waynesboro lodging tax for me?
- Often yes, because state law treats many platforms as the retailer, but you should verify and keep documentation of what was collected and remitted (HB2383).
When are Waynesboro lodging tax returns due?
- Reports and payments are generally due monthly on or before the 20th day of the month after collection (City ordinance).
Are 30-day or longer stays taxed in Waynesboro?
- Continuous rentals of 30 days or longer are commonly not treated as transient stays, so the transient lodging tax typically does not apply if properly documented (City ordinance).
What records should a Waynesboro host keep?
- Keep at least two years of booking statements, gross receipts, fees, tax remittances, any platform attestations, and leases supporting 30-plus day exemptions (City ordinance).
What happens if I file late or do not remit in Waynesboro?
- Expect penalties and interest, and willful noncompliance can be charged as a Class 3 misdemeanor under the ordinance (City ordinance).
Ready to compare your options or map out next steps? Connect with The Griggs Group for local guidance tailored to your goals.
