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Planning commission adopts 2025 annual report showing high application volume and short-term rental growth
Summary
The commission adopted its 2025 annual report, which showed 227 planning and zoning applications (95% recommended approval), 57 short-term rental applications and 11,000 permits issued; commissioners discussed tracking application timelines going forward.
The Norfolk City Planning Commission voted to adopt its 2025 annual report, which staff presented as required by the Code of Virginia and which summarizes the commission’s activity and planning department metrics from the previous year.
Staff said the commission reviewed 227 planning and zoning applications in 2025 and recommended approval of about 95% of them. Short-term rental applications were prominent: 57 such applications were reviewed in 2025, nearly 30% of conditional use permits, and a substantial share of applications in 2024–25 were renewals. The department also issued more than 11,000 permits and completed roughly 24,000 inspections in 2025. Staff noted 125 new single-family dwellings permitted in 2025 — the lowest new-housing permit total in five years.
Commissioners discussed adding metrics to better track processing time for applications and whether staff can demonstrate where delay occurs (applicant vs. staff). Staff said earlier audits and system work are underway to capture and report processing times and other permit metrics.
The commission approved the report and agreed it will be posted online and transmitted to City Council.
