Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Santa Rosa, CA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Santa Rosa, CA, but with restrictions. Short-Term Rentals are regulated by Santa Rosa Municipal Code Chapter 20-48: STRs are allowed subject to permit types (Hosted and Non-Hosted) with specific operational standards. Occupancy is limited to two renters per bedroom and a maximum of 10 renters (excluding children under 3); Hosted permits require an affidavit that the unit is the operator's principal residence. Non-hosted permits are capped citywide (city does not accept new non-hosted applications; existing non-hosted permits are limited and reduced through attrition), and STRs must comply with TOT/BIA registration, parking, noise, fire/building code, and outdoor burning restrictions. 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.

Short-Term Rentals are regulated by Santa Rosa Municipal Code Chapter 20-48: STRs are allowed subject to permit types (Hosted and Non-Hosted) with specific operational standards. Occupancy is limited to two renters per bedroom and a maximum of 10 renters (excluding children under 3); Hosted permits require an affidavit that the unit is the operator's principal residence. Non-hosted permits are capped citywide (city does not accept new non-hosted applications; existing non-hosted permits are limited and reduced through attrition), and STRs must comply with TOT/BIA registration, parking, noise, fire/building code, and outdoor burning restrictions.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Santa Rosa. 1) Register for Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and BIA assessments prior to submitting a Short-Term Rental Permit application (submit TOT registration form to the City’s Revenue division as stated on the City’s TOT page). 2) Submit a Short-Term Rental Permit application (New or Renewal) to the City’s Planning/Permit portal and pay the Short-Term Rental Permit Application fee as set in the City Fee Schedule; Hosted permits require an affidavit verifying principal residence and all permits must demonstrate compliance with applicable building/fire codes and operational standards. 3) Follow neighbor renoticing and renoticing fee requirements where applicable; renewals must be submitted within the stated renewal window (60 days prior to expiration, or up to 30 days after expiration) and permits are annual (expiration one year after issuance per FAQ examples).

1) Register for Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and BIA assessments prior to submitting a Short-Term Rental Permit application (submit TOT registration form to the City’s Revenue division as stated on the City’s TOT page). 2) Submit a Short-Term Rental Permit application (New or Renewal) to the City’s Planning/Permit portal and pay the Short-Term Rental Permit Application fee as set in the City Fee Schedule; Hosted permits require an affidavit verifying principal residence and all permits must demonstrate compliance with applicable building/fire codes and operational standards. 3) Follow neighbor renoticing and renoticing fee requirements where applicable; renewals must be submitted within the stated renewal window (60 days prior to expiration, or up to 30 days after expiration) and permits are annual (expiration one year after issuance per FAQ examples).

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