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Roanoke City BZA approves short-term rental at 514 18th Street SE with conditions
Summary
The Roanoke City Board of Zoning Appeals granted a special exception to allow a home stay at 514 18th Street SE, approving staff conditions including a certificate of occupancy within 12 months and annual Virginia Maintenance Code inspections; the applicant said the upstairs (two bedrooms) will be used for short-term rentals.
The Roanoke City Board of Zoning Appeals on June 10 approved a special exception to allow a home-stay (short-term rental) at 514 18th Street SE.
Joshua Lester, the applicant who testified at the hearing, said he owns and lives on the main level of the renovated property and wants to rent two upstairs bedrooms short-term to help recoup renovation costs. "It's my primary residence," Lester said, describing the upstairs as two bedrooms (one queen, one with two twin beds) with a private entrance and a capacity he estimated would sleep up to four people.
Planning staff, represented by Mr. Moore, recommended approval with specific conditions. Mr. Moore summarized the conditions read into the record: the applicant must obtain a certificate of occupancy for the home-stay use within 12 months; the operator must secure a city inspection demonstrating compliance with the Virginia Maintenance Code every 12 months; and failure to obtain inspections demonstrating compliance for a period exceeding 24 months would constitute discontinuance of the use and void the special exception. Staff also emphasized that the property must remain in compliance with all applicable state and local laws and that repeated violations could prompt revocation under section 36.2-560E of the zoning code.
Board members asked about parking. Lester said there is an off-street gravel area on his property that can accommodate two vehicles and access his driveway; he denied the aerial photo in the staff packet showing a vehicle parked on the grass reflected current conditions. "That was like a one-off," he said, and assured the board guests would park off the street.
With no members of the public registered to speak, the board moved, amended the application to include staff's recommended conditions, and voted unanimously to approve the special exception. The clerk recorded "I" votes from the board members present.
The board's approval is subject to the conditions read into the record; the applicant must complete the administrative steps (certificate of occupancy and inspections) required by staff to maintain the special-exception status.
