VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Property owners who commit violations of Virginia Beach’s short-term rental zoning ordinances will now face criminal penalties rather than civil.

The change comes after City Council approved it unanimously in their meeting Tuesday night.

Short-term rentals, such as those visitors can rent on Airbnb or similar sites, have been a contentious issue in Virginia Beach in the past, with some groups saying ordinances were too restrictive .

Violations of the city zoning ordinance as a whole have always been criminal violations, but in 2020, City Council voted to make an exception for short-term rental violations, hoping it would expedite the enforcement process. However, that has not transpired.

Therefore, the city switched violations of the short-term rental ordinanc

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