City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 4, 2025
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: KEVIN GREENLIEF, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend and Reordain Section 3-2-152 (Short Term Residential Rental Registry) of Article K (Transient Lodging Tax) of Chapter 2 (Taxation) of Title 3 (Finance, Taxation and Procurement) of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended.
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ISSUE: Consideration of an ordinance to:
- Amend and reordain City Code Section 3-2-152 to repeal the Short Term Rental Registry maintained by the Department of Finance.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council pass the proposed ordinance (Attachment 2) on first reading on September 9, 2025, and schedule it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on September 13, 2025.
DISCUSSION: On February 22, 2025, City Council adopted new regulations concerning Short Term Rentals within the City. Effective September 1, 2025, administration of the Short Term Rental program passed from the Department of Finance to the Department of Planning and Zoning. Specifically, the amendments in Section 7-1404 of the Zoning Code included the adoption of a more robust application and permitting process that renders the existing registry maintained by the Department of Finance unnecessary and redundant. The amendment to repeal the existing Short Term Rental Registry is found in Attachment 2. For reference, Attachment 3 is the new application and permitting process that the Department of Planning and Zoning will begin administering in September. The Finance website will be updated to redirect Short Term Rental inquiries to the Department of Planning and Zoning.
FISCAL IMPACT: None. This change will in no way impact the collection of Transient Lodging Tax from Short Term Rentals. Pursuant to the Code of Virginia, the Short Term Rental platforms, like Airbnb and Expedia, will continue to collect the tax from transients and will remit payments to the Department of Finance. Liability for the Transient Lodging tax remains codified in Article K, Chapter 2, of Title 3 of the City Code and will continue unchanged.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - Proposed Ordinance Cover
Attachment 2 - Proposed Ordinance Amendment Repealing the Short Term Registry
Attachment 3 - Department of Planning & Zoning, Application and Permitting Process
STAFF:
Kevin C. Greenlief, Director of Finance
Tony LaColla, Division Chief, Land Use Services, Department of Planning & Zoning
Sarah McElveen, Assistant City Attorney