Norfolk staff to seek overlay banning new vacation rentals in Willoughby after residents cite concentrated violations

Planning staff told the Norfolk Planning Commission that they will ask the commission to initiate a city text amendment to create an overlay district that would prohibit new vacation‑rental approvals in the Willoughby neighborhood while allowing renewals for existing active vacation rentals.

The request comes from the Willoughby Civic League, which asked staff to act after staff data showed 144 properties operating without zoning approval and 179 total short‑term‑rental violations across the city. "We received an email request to change the regulations regarding short‑term rentals in the Willoughby area of the city," said Bobby, a planning staff member, summarizing the civic league's petition and the enforcement snapshot. Staff told commissioners there were 41 enforcement notices within the Willoughby boundaries and 55 approved short‑term rentals in the neighborhood (about 7.3 percent of the 910 parcels in the civic‑league area).

Why it matters: supporters say the concentration of unauthorized and problematic listings is altering neighborhood character and increasing trash and other nuisances. Staff warned the overlay would require a mass rezoning of Willoughby parcels to apply the new rules, a significant procedural lift that would include outreach and a public process. The staff presentation noted homestays remain governed by a state law change effective 12/31/2024 that limits local ability to require conditional use permits for homestays; staff said the overlay would not affect homestays that are now permitted by right.

Commissioners pressed staff for detail on the violation figures and licensing status. One commissioner asked whether the 41 enforcement actions in Willoughby referred to licensed operators; staff replied the larger 179 figure includes listing errors, trash complaints and other violations and that the number of licensed operators among the 41 is small. Staff also said the Willoughby Civic League keeps a running list of properties it believes are operating appropriately and reports them to the city.

What happens next: staff said they plan to bring initiation language to the commission's March public hearing, with the goal of returning a formal rezoning and ordinance language for commission consideration in April if outreach proceeds smoothly. A decision on whether to apply the overlay and the scope of any moratorium or restrictions would be made as part of that public process. The commission did not vote on the overlay during the meeting.