Vacation & Hosted Rentals
Vacation rentals are the rental of a private residence for periods of 30 days or less. Vacation Rentals do not include Bed and Breakfast Inns or hosted rentals permitted in accordance with the Sonoma County Code for B&Bs and hosted rentals or occasional home exchanges that are not otherwise subject to Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). Vacation rentals must have a Certified Vacation Property Manager and meet Performance Standards to ensure compatibility with surrounding residential uses.
Coastal Zone: The Vacation Rentals Ordinance has not been adopted for the Sonoma coast (e.g. Sea Ranch, Bodega Bay) and is not applicable to rentals in those communities. However, the owners of Coastal Zone vacation rentals must register to pay Transient Occupancy Tax.
Vacation Rental Ordinance Update
Permit Sonoma is working to update vacation rental regulations to improve public safety and preserve community character. After hosting more than 20 stakeholder meetings, a comprehensive vacation rental ordinance is moving forward. Learn more about the proposal and timeline on our Vacation Rental Ordinance Update page.
Hosted Rentals and B and Bs
Hosted rentals are the rental of a single room or sleeping area within a single-family dwelling, where the property owner remains in residence. Learn more about Hosted Rental regulations and apply for a Hosted Rental Permit at the Hosted Rental and B and Bs page.
Current Vacation Rental Regulations
The Board of Supervisors adopted the current Vacation Rental Ordinance on March 15, 2016. Subsequently, the Board has also adopted urgency ordinances to address the effects of wildfires, create temporary caps on the number of vacation rentals in certain areas, and put a hold on new permit applications before the Board can consider a comprehensive ordinance. Read the ordinances on our Current Vacation Rental Regulations page.
Vacation Rental Permit Application and Process
Learn about the current restrictions on new vacation rental permit applications, the process for getting a Vacation Rental Permit, and how to apply on our Vacation Rental Permit Application page.
Vacation Rental Fees
Vacation Rental Permit holders pay submittal, annual monitoring, and other fees. Learn about what fees are required for Vacation Rental Permits and how to pay them on our Vacation Rental Fees page.
Property Manager Information
A property manager who is certified by Sonoma County is required for all vacation rental properties. More information on the property manager requirement, certification process and materials, updating property manager contact information, and reporting forms can be found on our Property Manager page.
Vacation Rentals vs. Hosted Rentals
Vacation rentals are the rental of a private residence for periods of 30 days or less.
Vacation rentals do not include Bed and Breakfast Inns or hosted rentals permitted in accordance with the Sonoma County Code for B&Bs and hosted rentals, or occasional home exchanges that are not otherwise subject to Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT).
Vacation rentals must have a Certified Vacation Property Manager and meet Performance Standards to ensure compatibility with surrounding residential uses.
Hosted rentals are the rental of a single room or sleeping area within a single-family dwelling, where the property owner remains in residence.
Hosted rentals do not include vacation rentals permitted in accordance with the Sonoma County Code for vacation rentals, or occasional home exchanges that are not otherwise subject to Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT).
Hosted rentals must meet Performance Standards to ensure compatibility with surrounding residential uses.
Complaints
If you experience problems with a nearby vacation rental property in unincorporated Sonoma County, there is a process for submitting a complaint about that vacation rental property.