Is Yorktown, Virginia Good for Airbnb Investment?

To start an Airbnb in Yorktown, Virginia, begin by researching local regulations through York County's zoning department, as Yorktown falls under York County jurisdiction which typically requires short-term rentals to comply with residential zoning laws and may require a business license and transient occupancy tax registration. Contact York County Planning and Development at (757) 890-3340 to confirm specific permit requirements, which likely include a zoning compliance permit and possible conditional use permit depending on your property's zoning classification. Find a suitable property by searching areas near Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown Battlefield, or waterfront locations along the York River, ensuring the property is zoned for residential use and checking HOA restrictions if applicable. Obtain necessary permits including a York County business license (approximately $50-100), Virginia sales tax registration through the Department of Taxation, and potentially a fire safety inspection if required. Furnish the property with colonial or nautical themes to appeal to history tourists, including essential amenities like WiFi, kitchen supplies, linens, and local guidebooks featuring Yorktown's Revolutionary War sites. List your property on Airbnb, VRBO, and other platforms with professional photos highlighting proximity to Historic Triangle attractions, setting competitive rates based on seasonal tourism patterns (peak during summer and fall). Manage the property by establishing cleaning protocols between guests, responding promptly to inquiries, coordinating key exchanges or installing smart locks, maintaining the property regularly, and collecting and remitting the required transient occupancy tax to York County, typically due monthly or quarterly depending on local requirements.

To identify profitable short-term rental properties in Yorktown, Virginia, focus on locations within walking distance of Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown Battlefield, and the historic waterfront district, as these areas attract the highest tourist traffic year-round. Target 2-4 bedroom properties built after 1990 with modern amenities, parking, and outdoor spaces, as families and history enthusiasts comprise the primary visitor demographic. Conduct pricing analysis using AirDNA and Mashvisor to benchmark against similar properties in the $150-250 nightly range, with peak seasons during spring and fall when Colonial tourism peaks. Research competition by analyzing existing STR listings within a 2-mile radius of major attractions, noting occupancy rates typically range 60-75% annually in this market. Utilize tools like Rabbu and STR Helper for market analysis, while leveraging local resources such as the York County tourism board data, Colonial Williamsburg visitor statistics, and Hampton Roads MLS data to identify undervalued properties near historic sites. Properties within the Yorktown Historic District or those offering views of the York River command premium rates, while ensuring compliance with York County's STR regulations and obtaining proper permits through the county's planning department.

To obtain an Airbnb/STR permit in Yorktown, Virginia, you must first contact the York County Planning Division at 224 Ballard Street, Yorktown, VA 23690, as Yorktown falls under York County jurisdiction for zoning matters. Submit a Special Use Permit application along with required documents including property deed, site plan, floor plan showing maximum occupancy, parking plan demonstrating adequate spaces, and proof of liability insurance with minimum $1 million coverage. The application fee is approximately $500-750, with additional fees for public hearing notices around $200. You'll need to attend a Planning Commission public hearing typically scheduled 4-6 weeks after application submission, followed by Board of Supervisors review if approved. The entire process takes 8-12 weeks from application to final approval. Specific Yorktown requirements include maintaining the property's residential character, providing one parking space per bedroom plus one additional space, limiting occupancy to 2 persons per bedroom with maximum 10 guests total, maintaining a 24-hour contact person, and ensuring compliance with all fire safety codes including smoke detectors in each bedroom and common areas. Once approved, you must register with Virginia Department of Taxation for transient occupancy tax collection and remit 5% state tax plus any applicable local taxes quarterly.

Short-term rentals (STRs) are legal in Yorktown, Virginia, but operate under York County's zoning regulations since Yorktown is located within York County. As of 2023, York County allows STRs in residential areas but requires operators to obtain a zoning permit and comply with specific requirements including occupancy limits, parking provisions, and noise restrictions. Properties must be owner-occupied or have a local contact person available 24/7, and rentals are typically limited to no more than 14 consecutive days. The county prohibits STRs in certain residential districts and requires compliance with health and safety codes, tax collection, and registration with the county. Recent changes around 2022-2023 have included stricter enforcement of existing regulations and enhanced permit requirements, with violations subject to fines and permit revocation. Operators must also collect and remit local transient occupancy taxes, and the county maintains the right to inspect properties for compliance with zoning and safety standards.

The best areas for Airbnb investment in Yorktown, Virginia are the Historic Yorktown waterfront district, particularly properties within walking distance of the Yorktown Battlefield and American Revolution Museum, which attract approximately 200,000+ visitors annually interested in Revolutionary War history and Colonial National Historical Park tours. The York River waterfront area near Riverwalk Landing offers strong potential due to its scenic views, restaurants, shopping, and proximity to the Yorktown Victory Center, drawing both leisure tourists and weekend visitors from Richmond and Norfolk metropolitan areas. Properties near the Colonial Parkway corridor benefit from tourists visiting the Historic Triangle (Yorktown, Williamsburg, and Jamestown), with Busch Gardens Williamsburg just 15 minutes away generating significant overflow demand during peak seasons. The area around Water Street and Main Street in downtown Yorktown provides excellent walkability to beaches, fishing charters, and seasonal events like the Yorktown Wine Festival and Patriots' Day celebrations. Additionally, properties within 2-3 miles of Naval Weapons Station Yorktown can capture military personnel and contractor business travel, while the proximity to Newport News Shipbuilding (15 minutes) and NASA Langley Research Center (20 minutes) creates consistent demand from business travelers and temporary workers in the defense and aerospace industries.

In Yorktown, Virginia, Airbnb hosts are subject to both state and local lodging taxes. The Virginia state transient occupancy tax is 5.3% and applies to all short-term rental stays under 30 consecutive days. York County imposes an additional local transient occupancy tax of 2%, bringing the total tax rate to approximately 7.3% on gross rental receipts. These taxes are typically collected from guests at the time of booking through Airbnb's automated tax collection system, which remits payments directly to the Virginia Department of Taxation and York County on behalf of hosts. However, hosts should verify their registration status with local authorities and may need to obtain a transient occupancy tax certificate from York County. The taxes apply to the rental amount before fees and are calculated on each night's stay. Exemptions may include stays of 30 days or longer, which are considered long-term rentals rather than transient occupancy, and certain government or military personnel on official business, though documentation is typically required for such exemptions.

To start an Airbnb in Yorktown, Virginia, expect total costs around $385,000-$425,000. Property purchase represents the largest expense at $350,000-$375,000 based on median home prices in the historic Yorktown area. Furnishing costs typically range $15,000-$25,000 for a complete 2-3 bedroom setup including furniture, bedding, kitchen essentials, and décor to create an attractive rental space. Initial setup costs including professional photography, listing creation, and basic renovations average $3,000-$5,000. Permits and fees in York County include business license ($50-$100), short-term rental permit ($200-$400), and potential HOA approval fees totaling $500-$1,000. Insurance for short-term rentals costs approximately $1,500-$2,500 annually, with many hosts requiring specialized STR coverage beyond standard homeowner's policies. Monthly utilities including electricity, water, internet, and cable average $200-$300 per month. First six months operating costs encompass utilities ($1,200-$1,800), cleaning services between guests ($150-$200 per turnover), maintenance and supplies ($500-$1,000), platform fees to Airbnb and VRBO (3% of bookings), and marketing expenses, totaling approximately $8,000-$12,000 for the initial six-month period.

Airbnb properties in Yorktown, Virginia typically generate annual revenues between $15,000-$35,000 for well-positioned properties, with average daily rates ranging from $85-$150 depending on proximity to Colonial Williamsburg and seasonal demand. Operating expenses generally consume 40-60% of gross revenue, including cleaning fees ($25-$40 per turnover), property management (15-25% of revenue), utilities ($150-$300 monthly), insurance ($800-$1,500 annually), and maintenance costs averaging $2,000-$4,000 yearly. Properties within walking distance of Historic Yorktown or offering waterfront access command premium rates and achieve 65-75% occupancy rates during peak tourist seasons (April-October), resulting in net profit margins of 25-40%. Success factors include professional photography, responsive guest communication, proximity to Yorktown Battlefield and Colonial National Historical Park, and amenities like parking and WiFi. A typical 3-bedroom colonial-style home purchased for $280,000 in 2022 near the York River generated approximately $28,000 in gross revenue with $16,800 in expenses, yielding an 11.2% return on investment, while properties further from tourist attractions typically see 8-15% lower profitability due to reduced demand and pricing power.

Airbnb investments in Yorktown, Virginia typically generate annual ROI between 8-14% based on the area's proximity to Colonial Williamsburg and historic attractions that drive consistent tourist demand year-round. Cash-on-cash returns generally range from 6-12% depending on property acquisition costs, with waterfront or historic district properties commanding premium nightly rates of $120-200 during peak season and $80-120 in off-season months. Properties in Yorktown usually reach profitability within 18-24 months, with the strongest performance from 2-3 bedroom homes near Yorktown Beach or within walking distance of the American Revolution Museum, where occupancy rates average 65-75% annually. The market benefits from steady demand from both leisure travelers visiting Jamestown-Yorktown corridor attractions and business travelers to nearby Newport News shipyard, with investors typically seeing break-even on initial investment and renovation costs by month 20-26 when factoring in property management fees of 15-25% and seasonal fluctuations in bookings.

STRSearch is a national platform that helps investors identify profitable short-term rental properties across markets including Yorktown, Virginia. Local real estate agents in the Yorktown area who specialize in investment properties include agents from Coldwell Banker Traditions, Long & Foster Real Estate, and Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, many of whom have experience with vacation rental investments given the area's proximity to Colonial Williamsburg and tourist attractions. National services that can assist with Yorktown Airbnb investments include Mashvisor for market analysis, AirDNA for short-term rental data and insights, Awning for full-service Airbnb property management, RedAwning for vacation rental market research, and BiggerPockets for investor networking and education. Local property management companies such as Williamsburg Area Vacation Rentals and Tidewater Property Management can provide on-ground support for investors. Additional national platforms like Roofstock, which occasionally features short-term rental properties, and investment-focused brokerages such as eXp Realty and Keller Williams, which have investor-specialist agents, can also provide valuable services for those looking to purchase profitable Airbnb properties in the Yorktown market around 2023-2024.