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Short-Term Rentals in Napa, CA (2026)

6 verified short-term rentals rules for Napa, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Permit Requirements

Napa regulates short-term rentals under Napa Municipal Code Section 17.52.515, one of California's most restrictive STR ordinances. The City caps Non-Hosted (whole-home) Vacation Rental Permits at 41 citywide and Hosted Accommodation Permits at 60 citywide. Both permit categories are currently fully issued with closed wait lists; the City is not accepting new Vacation Rental Permit Applications. The 2026-2027 annual permit fee is $674.

Napa Short-Term Rental Permit Requirements

Heavy Restrictions

Noise Rules

Napa short-term rental operators are responsible for guest noise under Napa Municipal Code Section 17.52.515 and the citywide noise standards. Quiet hours apply 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., and the Vacation Rental Permit operating standards require a 24/7 local contact who can respond to a noise complaint. Documented disturbances are grounds for permit revocation or nonrenewal by the Community Development Director, and Napa's restrictive permit cap (41 Non-Hosted, 60 Hosted) makes losing a permit an irreversible loss.

Napa STR Noise Compliance

Heavy Restrictions

Taxes & Fees

Napa short-term rentals collect a 13% Transient Occupancy Tax under Napa Municipal Code Chapter 3.20 (12% general TOT plus a 1% Transient Occupancy Special Tax for Affordable and Workforce Housing) plus a 2% Napa Valley Tourism Improvement District (NTID) assessment for a combined 15% on every stay under 30 days. Operators must hold a City of Napa Business Tax Certificate under NMC Chapter 5.04 and register for TOT with the Finance Department before listing. The 2026-2027 annual Vacation Rental Permit fee is $674.

Napa STR Transient Occupancy Tax and Fees

Heavy Restrictions

Parking Rules

Napa Municipal Code Section 17.52.515 requires every Vacation Rental Permit to specify a Maximum Number of Vehicles, and the operator must disclose that limit along with the City-issued permit number in every advertisement on every platform. Off-street parking must be provided for permitted guest vehicles on the rental property; the underlying off-street parking standards in NMC Title 17 apply.

Napa STR Parking Requirements

Some Restrictions

Occupancy Limits

Napa Municipal Code Section 17.52.515 caps overnight sleepers at 10 persons in any vacation rental and sets a permit-specific Maximum Overnight Occupancy and Maximum Daytime Occupancy on each Vacation Rental Permit. Hosted Accommodations are additionally limited to no more than two bedrooms offered for transient occupancy. The operator must disclose the occupancy limits in every advertisement.

Napa STR Occupancy Limits

Heavy Restrictions

Insurance Requirements

Napa Municipal Code Section 17.52.515 requires Vacation Rental Permit holders to maintain active liability insurance appropriate for operating a short-term rental business. Neither California nor the City sets a specific minimum dollar limit by statute, but most Napa operators carry $1,000,000 general liability through an STR-endorsed policy because the standard California HO-3 homeowner's policy excludes business pursuits. Platform programs (Airbnb AirCover, VRBO Liability Insurance) provide secondary coverage only.

Napa STR Insurance Considerations

Some Restrictions

Looking for Napa County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Napa city rules.

Short-Term Rentals in Napa County