Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Mendocino County, CA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Mendocino County, CA, but with restrictions. STRs are restricted by zone; in the Town of Mendocino, Vacation Home Rentals (VHR) are limited to MC/MMU districts with a cap of 10 units, while Single Unit Rentals (SUR) are capped at 20. All operators must obtain a Business License and remit Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). Inland areas (Division I) currently have no adopted ordinance. 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.

STRs are restricted by zone; in the Town of Mendocino, Vacation Home Rentals (VHR) are limited to MC/MMU districts with a cap of 10 units, while Single Unit Rentals (SUR) are capped at 20. All operators must obtain a Business License and remit Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). Inland areas (Division I) currently have no adopted ordinance.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Mendocino County. 1. Apply for a Minor Use Permit (Town of Mendocino) or Coastal Development Permit (Coastal Zone) through Planning & Building Services. 2. Obtain a County Business License and register for Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). 3. Renew every 4 years (after an initial 2-year term) by providing evidence of active use and TOT payments.

1. Apply for a Minor Use Permit (Town of Mendocino) or Coastal Development Permit (Coastal Zone) through Planning & Building Services. 2. Obtain a County Business License and register for Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). 3. Renew every 4 years (after an initial 2-year term) by providing evidence of active use and TOT payments.

Vrbo is permitted in Mendocino 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 Mendocino 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 Mendocino County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.