Richmond Tourism Data: Rapids Are the Walk, Not Occupancy

Thomas Garner
13 hours ago
11 min read

Empty covered porch of a Richmond row house, no people

Scott's Addition is visitor demand. The rapids are landscape. Headcount is not $26,029.

Typical Richmond listings earned about $26,029 last year from 1,033 active rentals, AirROI trailing twelve months from August 2025 through July 2026. The average night was $194. Occupancy was 44.5 percent. Revenue per available night was $89. Year over year is minus 4.2 percent. Active supply moved plus 5.8 percent. A prior hub brief printed plus 26.6 percent growth in an older window. This pass uses the current extract.

The three strongest city months are October, March, and May. October is the busiest. July is the slowest. Occupancy is weakest in July. Most guests arrive from Richmond, then Washington. Stay is 6.2 nights, booked about 39 days ahead. Call Richmond Zoning Administration at 804-646-6340. 900 E Broad Street, Room 108. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. The operator must be the property owner. In a residential zoning district the stay must sit on the lot of the operator's primary residence. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed.

Scott's Addition Is Demand, Not Occupancy

Scott's Addition is visitor demand. Breweries are not occupancy. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Beyond the Rapids is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition.

The James River Rapids Are Landscape, Not Occupancy

The James River rapids are landscape, not occupancy. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. Market a Richmond Stay is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit.

The Virginia State Capitol Is Visitor Traffic, Not This Extract

The Virginia State Capitol is visitor traffic, not this extract. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Richmond STR Rules is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit.

Kings Dominion Is an Ashland Occasion, Not This ADR

Kings Dominion is an Ashland occasion, not this ADR. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. Richmond Shoulder is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition.

Keep Visitor Dollars Off the Host Extract

Keep visitor dollars off $26,029. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Richmond Remote Stays is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition.

Ashland Is a Different Hall

Ashland is a different hall. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. DIY vs Hire Beyond the Rapids is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition.

Petersburg Has a Different Calendar

Petersburg has a different calendar. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Petersburg is not the Fan. Who Books Richmond is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan.

How a Host Should Read Tourism Copy

How a host should read tourism copy is to file visitor walks as demand, not as the year. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. We market. We do not take the lock. Buying a Richmond Rental is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. Ashland is not Scott's Addition. Petersburg is not the Fan. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit.

Hosts who underwrite Greater Richmond should keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings, call 804-646-6340, and leave Ashland and Petersburg on their own lines. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $26,029 on 1,033 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. July is the city hole. Call 804-646-6340 before you advertise a Richmond stay. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did typical Richmond listings earn last year?

AirROI's trailing twelve months from August 2025 through July 2026 shows a typical Richmond short-term rental earning about $26,029 across 1,033 active listings. Average night was $194, occupancy 44.5 percent, and revenue per available night was $89. Year over year revenue moved minus 4.2 percent while active supply grew plus 5.8 percent. A prior hub brief cited plus 26.6 percent growth from an older window — this figure reflects the current extract, with Ashland and Petersburg kept on their own separate lines.

When is Richmond's strongest month?

October is the busiest revenue month, with March and May as the other two strong months. July is both the slowest revenue month and the month with the weakest occupancy — an unusual overlap worth pricing around rather than assuming a typical summer peak will carry the calendar.

Do I need a Richmond VA STR permit in 2026?

Yes. Contact Richmond Zoning Administration at 804-646-6340, 900 E Broad Street, Room 108, walk-in hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit. The operator must be the property owner, and in a residential zoning district the short-term rental must sit on the lot of the operator's primary residence. Confirm current fees directly with the city before advertising.

Is a 30-night minimum the same as occupancy?

No. About 278 listings — 26.9 percent of the 1,033 active rentals — have set a 30-night minimum, but that's a booking filter, not a measure of how full those calendars are. Typical stay length is still 6.2 nights, booked roughly 39 days out, and July remains the market's slow month regardless of how many listings carry a long-stay setting.

Should I hire a manager in Richmond and on the satellites?

Professionally managed listings make up 8.0 percent of the Richmond market, with one operator in the extract holding 18 listings. Ashland rewards family-basecamp-focused copy and Petersburg rewards heritage-circuit copy, so a single marketing pitch built for Richmond's urban guest won't land the same way in either satellite town.

Who books a Richmond stay?

Most guests arrive from within Richmond itself, with Washington as the second-largest origin. Typical stay is 6.2 nights with a booking lead time around 39 days. Urban Richmond guests are drawn to Scott's Addition and the James River rapids, while Ashland guests are booking a family basecamp and Petersburg guests are booking a heritage circuit — three different trip types that call for different listing copy.

Can I file Ashland numbers as the Richmond year?

No. Richmond's typical listing earned about $26,029 across 1,033 active rentals at an average night of $194. This extract did not produce a separate Ashland AirROI year, so the right move is to keep the Richmond figure on its own line rather than inventing or borrowing a number for Ashland.

What is the biennial permit fee?

Richmond's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit fee, payable through Richmond Zoning Administration at 804-646-6340, 900 E Broad Street, Room 108. The operator must be the property owner occupying the residence, and the fee covers a two-year cycle rather than an annual renewal. Confirm the current fee and cycle directly with the city before advertising, since municipal schedules can change.

What should a buyer packet carry for Richmond?

Cite the $26,029 typical-year figure across 1,033 city listings, note that active supply grew plus 5.8 percent while revenue moved minus 4.2 percent year over year, and include the permit contact at 804-646-6340. Keep Ashland and Petersburg unlabeled rather than assigning them an invented number, since this extract doesn't provide separate figures for either satellite town.

Where do I confirm Richmond's STR permit requirements?

Call Richmond Zoning Administration at 804-646-6340, or visit 900 E Broad Street, Room 108, walk-in Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The city's STR page lists a $600 biennial permit, and the operator must be the property owner living on the lot in a residential zoning district. AirROI's low-regulation label is a listing scrape, not confirmation from the actual permit desk.

Work with Crest & Cove Creative

Treating James River foot traffic and visitor counts as a proxy for booking demand confuses tourism marketing with an actual STR revenue number.

Crest & Cove separates the tourism story from the real $26,029 revenue figure when building a listing's marketing narrative.

Reach out at crestcove.co or (256) 998-7502.