Tent Rentals
Thank you for your interest in the community tent service offered by Sheriff N.D. “Rocky” Holcomb and the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office.
To have your request approved, your organization must meet certain requirements established by the Virginia State Code. Specifically, your organization must qualify as a charitable or nonprofit entity under Section 501(c)(3) or (c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).
Check your tax-exempt information:
Tent Requests
All communication regarding tent requests must be directed to the Work Force division via email: Tents@vbso.net .
For urgent responses or emergencies, please contact us by phone:
Work Force Phone: 757-385-6515
Work Force Sgt. Johnson: 757-385-6541
Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Friday, 6 a.m.-4 p.m.
Starting the Process
To begin the process of renting a tent from us, please send an email to Tents@vbso.net . Include the following information in your email:
- Name of your organization.
- Date of your event.
- Location of your event.
This information will help us determine the availability of the date, and we can then discuss tent sizes. Please note that tent rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The documentation letter outlines the fees, equipment, and other documentation required for your tent request.
Payments and Cancellations
Payments must be made at least 14 days prior to your scheduled setup date. You can submit your payment either by check or money order. Please send or deliver your payment to the following address:
Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office, Attention: Accounting/Work Force Tents
2501 James Madison Blvd., Building 7
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
We reserve the right to cancel tent rentals in the event of inclement weather.
If you need to cancel your tent rental, please do so at least 10 working days before the event to receive a refund of any prepaid amount. All cancellation requests should be sent via email to Tents@vbso.net
Public Tent Service FAQ
No, we currently do not offer tables or chairs for events.
No, our standard tent rentals do not include curtains.
No, cooking is not permitted under any tents owned by the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office due to fire regulations.
No, alcohol consumption and/or sales are not permitted under any tents owned by the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office.
Yes, you can rent multiple tents for the same event. However, the tents must be a minimum of 10 feet apart due to the fire regulations and cannot be set up side-by-side.
No, only approved personnel from the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office are allowed to set up or remove the tent and other rented equipment.
Stakes must be placed at least 3 feet away from where Miss Utility has marked. We follow Miss Utility rules for safety. If stakes cannot be used, sand barrels will be provided.
No, hanging items on the tent or the tent poles are not allowed due to the risk of damaging the equipment Maintaining the tents is our top priority, ensuring we can continue to provide this service to the public.
Yes, you can request a tent for as long as you need it for your event.
Tents can only be set up on public property. We cannot approve requests for tents on private property. If you wish to request a tent for the Oceanfront, please contact the City of Virginia Beach Special Events Office at 757-385-4800 or Events@vbgov.com . If you are requesting a tent for a public park, you will need to reach out to the Parks and Recreation Department at 757-385-PARK for park shelters. All approved requests must be provided to us via Tents@vbso.net to allow us to process your tent rental.
Please go to https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ to search for your Employer ID number and provide us with the information.