Roanoke County panel approves special-use permit for short-term rental at 4127 Mockingbird Hill Road

The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors on an evening motion approved a special-use permit to allow a short-term rental at 4127 Mockingbird Hill Road in the Highlands magisterial district.

Philip Thompson, Roanoke County director of planning, told the board the property is about 1.23 acres and the proposed rental would be limited to the lower level of the existing single-family dwelling. He said the lower level is roughly 2,200 square feet and the planning commission recommended approval with two conditions: that short-term rental activity be limited to the lower level and that overnight guests not exceed six.

When asked about the property's history, Thompson said the owner had listed the unit on Airbnb and had been renting the lower level for about three years. He said county staff sent a notice of violation earlier this year after identifying an unpermitted listing; the applicant contacted the office and began the permitting process and stopped renting after receiving the notice.

During discussion, Supervisor Luis Mahoney acknowledged the board's longstanding concerns about short-term rentals in neighborhood conservation zones but said the property's size, cul-de-sac location and owner-occupancy weighed in favor of approval. The chair said he had driven by the site and had not seen signs of complaints from neighbors.

The chair moved to approve the permit, citing conformity with Roanoke County Code §30-19-1, the zoning ordinance's Article 4 use and design standards, and the county comprehensive plan. A second was recorded, and the clerk's roll call recorded affirmative votes from Mister Radford, Miss ******, Mister Mahoney, Miss Shepherd and Mister North, approving the permit with the stated conditions.

The action adopts conditions recommended by staff and the planning commission; it does not change county code or broader policy. Board members said they will continue coordinating with the planning commission and monitoring pending state legislation that could alter local permitting requirements for short-term rentals.