Short-Term Rentals in Santa Cruz, CA (2026)
9 verified short-term rentals rules for Santa Cruz, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Permit Requirements
Every short-term rental in the City of Santa Cruz must hold a short-term rental permit and a Transient Occupancy Tax certificate. New permits are limited to owner-occupied 'hosted' rentals, with a citywide cap of 250 hosted permits; no new non-hosted (non-owner-occupied) permits are issued.
STR Permit Required; Hosted Permits Capped at 250
Heavy RestrictionsSanta Cruz Municipal Code 24.12.1715(1), (3) - Permit Requirements to Operate Short-Term Rental (Ord. 2017-18)
No person shall offer any dwelling on residential property for transient occupancy of thirty days or less as a short-term rental property unless a permit to operate a short-term rental ('short-term rental permit') is obtained pursuant to this chapter. All short-term rental permits are revocable and nontransferable.
Noise Rules
Santa Cruz IZO §24.12.1770 applies the §9.36 noise standards to short-term rentals and bans weddings, parties, and other large engagements. Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. including all amplified noise.
Santa Cruz STR Noise and Special Events Ban
Heavy RestrictionsSanta Cruz IZO §24.12.1770(4)–(5)
Noise Limits. All transient occupants shall be required to follow all standards set forth in Chapter 9.36. Quiet hours shall be between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.; this shall include all amplified noise. Special Events. Short-term rentals are intended to be overnight accommodations in residential neighborhoods. They are not meant to host weddings, parties, or other large engagements....
Taxes & Fees
Santa Cruz Municipal Code Ch. 3.28 imposes the Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax on accommodations rented for 30 consecutive days or less, including STRs, hotels, motels, and B&Bs.
Santa Cruz Transient Occupancy Tax
Heavy RestrictionsSanta Cruz Municipal Code §3.28.020(4)
'Transient' shall mean any person who exercises occupancy or is entitled to occupancy by reason of concession, permit, right of access, license or other agreement for a period of thirty consecutive calendar days or less, counting portions of calendar days as full days.
Parking Rules
Santa Cruz IZO §24.12.1770(3) caps vehicles at one per one-bedroom unit, two per two- or three-bedroom unit, plus one additional vehicle per bedroom over three.
Santa Cruz STR Parking and Vehicle Limits
Heavy RestrictionsSanta Cruz IZO §24.12.1770(3)
Maximum Number of Vehicles. The maximum number of vehicles allowed at the short-term rental shall be limited to: one vehicle per one bedroom unit, two vehicles per two or three bedroom unit, and one additional vehicle per additional bedroom for units in excess of three bedrooms.
Occupancy Limits
Overnight occupancy at a Santa Cruz short-term rental is capped at two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons. Only one rental agreement may be in effect at a time, vehicles are limited by bedroom count, and special events such as weddings and parties are prohibited.
Max 2 Persons Per Bedroom Plus 2; Vehicle and Event Limits
Some RestrictionsSanta Cruz Municipal Code 24.12.1770(1), (5) - Operational Standards (Ord. 2017-18)
Maximum Overnight Occupancy. Overnight occupancy for short-term rentals shall be a maximum of two persons per bedroom, plus two additional persons regardless of the age of the occupant. Special Events. Short-term rentals are intended to be overnight accommodations in residential neighborhoods; they are not meant to host weddings, parties, or other large engagements.
Looking for Santa Cruz County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Cruz city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Santa Cruz County →