Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Lake County, CA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Lake County, CA, but with restrictions. Lake County codifies 'bed and breakfast' (max 2 guest rooms) and 'bed and breakfast inn' (3–8 guest rooms) with requirements: no cooking in guest rooms, parking one space per guest room, fire/life-safety compliance, and a maximum stay for inns of 14 consecutive days. County code does not include a separate whole-house short-term rental category; transient stays under 30 days are subject to the County’s Transient Occupancy Tax. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Lake County codifies 'bed and breakfast' (max 2 guest rooms) and 'bed and breakfast inn' (3–8 guest rooms) with requirements: no cooking in guest rooms, parking one space per guest room, fire/life-safety compliance, and a maximum stay for inns of 14 consecutive days. County code does not include a separate whole-house short-term rental category; transient stays under 30 days are subject to the County’s Transient Occupancy Tax.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Lake County. 1) For bed-and-breakfast uses: apply to the County Planning/Community Development for a zoning permit (valid up to five years). 2) For any transient lodging under 30 days: register with the Lake County Tax Collector using the TOT/TID Registration Form to obtain a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate. 3) Comply with fire and life safety requirements as specified by the County Building Official.

1) For bed-and-breakfast uses: apply to the County Planning/Community Development for a zoning permit (valid up to five years). 2) For any transient lodging under 30 days: register with the Lake County Tax Collector using the TOT/TID Registration Form to obtain a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate. 3) Comply with fire and life safety requirements as specified by the County Building Official.

Vrbo is permitted in Lake County, CA under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Lake County are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Lake County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.