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Virginia · reviewed September 2026

Seasonal RV site agreements in Virginia

What Virginia law says about seasonal and annual RV guests, sub-metered electricity, sales tax and online signatures — and the clauses your agreement should carry because of it. Written for park owners, not lawyers.

Guest or tenant?The VRLTA expressly does not apply to 'occupancy in a campground as defined in 35.1-1', i.e., land with three or more campsites accommodating 'camping units' (tents, travel trailers, camping trailers, pickup campers, motor homes) used as temporary living quarters for recreation, vacation, leisure or travel.
Metered electricVirginia expressly regulates campground submetering.
Sales / lodging taxRetail sales tax applies to accommodations furnished to transients by hotels, motels, tourist camps, 'camping grounds' and similar places; accommodations supplied to the same guest for 90 continuous days or more are exempt (and tax collected earlier may be refunded).
Signing onlineUniform Electronic Transactions Act (Va. Code 59.1-479 et seq.)

Short version. Details, citations and sources are below.

Is a seasonal guest a tenant in Virginia?

The VRLTA expressly does not apply to 'occupancy in a campground as defined in 35.1-1', i.e., land with three or more campsites accommodating 'camping units' (tents, travel trailers, camping trailers, pickup campers, motor homes) used as temporary living quarters for recreation, vacation, leisure or travel. Separately, a hotel/motel/extended-stay guest becomes a tenant only after more than 90 consecutive days as a primary residence, but that 90-day rule is written for lodging, not campgrounds. The campground exemption depends on the RVs being used for recreation rather than as someone's permanent home.

What that means for notices and removal

Not specifically addressed by statute for campgrounds. Because the VRLTA does not apply, removal follows the site agreement plus general law (unlawful detainer if a tenancy exists, trespass if only a license); parks that allow full-time residence risk losing the exemption and should use written notice and court process rather than self-help.

Cite: Va. Code 55.1-1201; Va. Code 35.1-1

Sub-metering electricity to RV sites in Virginia

Virginia expressly regulates campground submetering. Under the SCC's rules, bills must be based on the tenant's actual metered usage at an average cost per unit computed from the campground's master-meter bill (recalculated monthly, no markup beyond the utility's charges), with written disclosure of the billing method and opening meter reading at registration, specified bill contents, no estimated bills absent tampering, and tenant access to the underlying utility bill.

Cite: Va. Code 56-245.2, 56-245.3; 20VAC5-305-95 (Billing for campgrounds)

Sales and lodging tax on seasonal sites in Virginia

Retail sales tax applies to accommodations furnished to transients by hotels, motels, tourist camps, 'camping grounds' and similar places; accommodations supplied to the same guest for 90 continuous days or more are exempt (and tax collected earlier may be refunded). Local transient occupancy taxes have similar limits.

Cite: Va. Code 58.1-602, 58.1-603; 23VAC10-210-730

Signing agreements online in Virginia

Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. Electronic signatures are valid for seasonal site agreements when the guest agrees to sign electronically, intends to sign, and the record is kept in a form that can be reproduced and shown not to have changed. Seasonal Sites records the signer’s typed name, email, time, IP address and a SHA-256 fingerprint of the exact text signed, and stores the signed PDF.

Cite: Va. Code 59.1-479 et seq.

Clauses to include in a Virginia seasonal agreement

These are added on top of the eleven sections in the free template. Adjust the bracketed parts and have a local attorney read the result.

Recreational use, not a residence"The Site is licensed for recreational use only. The Guest maintains a permanent residence elsewhere at the address above, and the Site is not the Guest’s primary residence. Nothing in this agreement creates a residential tenancy." In this state the line between a recreational guest and a residential tenant is what decides which removal process applies, so say it plainly and keep the guest’s home address on file.
Metered electricity"Electricity is individually metered and billed at the Park’s actual cost per kWh from its utility, with no markup, read on or about the [day] of each month; readings are available to the Guest on request." Keep the utility bills and meter readings for at least three years.
Term length and taxState the exact term dates and that the agreement is for a continuous stay of 90 days or more, and keep the signed copy with the term on it — where the summary above shows a long-stay exemption, that document is usually what the auditor asks for.
Electronic signature consent"The Guest consents to sign this agreement electronically and to receive invoices, receipts and notices by email at the address above." Keep the signer name, email, date/time, IP address and a fingerprint of the signed text.

Your state association is a good second opinion on all of this: Virginia Campground Association.

Get the free seasonal site agreement template

Eleven plain-English sections, Word and PDF, with bracketed fields to fill in. Then paste the Virginia clauses above into it.

Or skip the paperwork entirely

Seasonal Sites takes this same agreement, fills in each guest’s name, site, rate and dates, emails them a link to sign on their phone, puts the installments on autopay, bills metered electric from your readings, and keeps the signed PDF with the audit record. Renewals for the whole park go out in one click. It works beside whatever reservation system you already use.

Other states

Sources

This page summarizes public sources as of September 2026 for park owners and is not legal or tax advice. Statutes, tariffs and tax rules change; confirm anything you rely on with the agency or an attorney licensed in Virginia. Found an error? Email hello@seasonalsites.com.