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Planning staff recommends conditions for Sweet Leaf Farm short‑term rental permit after prior violation notices
Summary
A special permit application for a short‑term rental at Sweet Leaf Farm in Warrenton was presented; staff outlined conditions including a four‑guest limit, caretaker requirement and compliance steps to address prior violations; commissioners raised questions about VRBO listings and emergency access; no final vote recorded in transcript.
Fauquier County planning staff presented a category 3 special permit application from the owners of Sweet Leaf Farm, a 52‑acre property off Beach Road in Warrenton, seeking permission to operate a short‑term rental in an existing two‑bedroom dwelling.
Staff, with Miss Marshall as case lead, said the applicants request a short‑term rental limited to a maximum of four guests because the property does not meet the administrative permit standard that requires the owner to live on the property at least 183 days per year. The application identifies a designated caretaker who will be within two miles of the property as required by the county ordinance. Staff noted prior enforcement history on the parcel: a June 2022 notice of violation and corrective order for a tourist home, and a May 2023 notice of violation concerning Class C events, firing range use and recreational‑vehicle occupancy.
Marshall told commissioners that the special permit is the first step toward resolving those violations and that the recommended conditions include single‑party occupancy capped at four guests, no events, no on‑site meal provision, no firing range or fireworks, a caretaker within two miles during rental periods, verification of water well testing, a building‑code compliance demonstration, emergency access maintenance and proof of registration with the commissioner of the revenue. The permit would be valid for one year and then subject to administrative renewal with continued proof of compliance.
Commissioners questioned online listings; staff said the applicant worked with VRBO to reduce the listed guest count and disable events listings and that changes may take time to propagate across third‑party listing services. Commissioners also asked about emergency access over a small creek and a concrete bridge on the driveway; staff said they had not made a site visit that day and described the bridge in aerial photos as a concrete structure with stone walls but recommended verification of emergency vehicle access as part of permit compliance.
No formal vote on the special permit was recorded in the transcript; staff said the draft conditions would be part of the permit package if the application proceeds.
