Permit Requirements: Lompoc vs Santa Maria

Can I rent my Santa Barbara County house on Airbnb or Vrbo?

Only if your parcel's zoning allows it AND you obtain the required permits. In unincorporated Santa Barbara County, the Land Use and Development Code Chapter 35 generally allows whole-house short-term rentals only in most commercial and mixed-use zones, and allows 'homestays' (rental of one or more sleeping rooms in an owner-occupied primary residence) in most residential zones. Standard single-family residential parcels (R-1, 1-E-1, 2-E-1, MTN, AG-I, AG-II) generally do NOT permit whole-house STRs unless a specific provision applies. Before listing, apply through Santa Barbara County Planning and Development for a Land Use Permit and (in the Coastal Zone) a Coastal Development Permit, then within 30 days of commencing business register with the County Treasurer-Tax Collector for a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate and begin collecting and remitting the 14 percent County TOT under Chapter 23A. ADUs and JADUs cannot be used as STRs (30-day minimum rental term).

What taxes do I have to collect for a Santa Barbara County short-term rental?

You must collect the 14 percent Santa Barbara County Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) under County Code Chapter 23A from every guest who stays 30 consecutive days or fewer in your unincorporated-county short-term rental or homestay. To collect TOT lawfully you must first obtain a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate from the Santa Barbara County Treasurer-Tax Collector, which must be displayed in the rental. Returns are filed quarterly (or as designated on your certificate) and remitted to the County. Marketplace platforms - Airbnb and Vrbo, in particular - may collect TOT on your behalf under voluntary collection agreements, but you remain legally responsible for confirming that the correct rate is collected on every booking and for filing accurate returns. Inside the cities of Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Goleta, Carpinteria, Buellton, Solvang, or Guadalupe, that city's separate TOT (often a different rate) applies.

Can I rent out my Santa Barbara County ADU on a short-term basis?

No. Santa Barbara County's Land Use and Development Code Section 35.42.075 imposes a minimum 30-day rental term on any permitted ADU or JADU, using authority granted to local agencies under California Government Code Section 66314 (formerly part of Section 65852.2(a)(6)). That rule was adopted as part of the 2021 ADU amendments (Ordinance 5230, effective June 17, 2021 in the inland area) and applies countywide. An ADU also cannot serve as a 'homestay' because state ADU law treats the ADU as a separate dwelling unit, not as a room in the owner's primary residence. Violating the 30-day rule can lead to revocation of your ADU permit, administrative citations from Code Compliance, and back TOT/penalties from the Treasurer-Tax Collector. The legal way to operate a short-term rental on your property is on the parcel's primary residence (if zoning allows) or via a commercial-zone STR, not via the ADU.

Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Santa Maria?

Yes, operators must register with the city and collect the transient occupancy tax on stays under 30 days.

What safety requirements apply to Santa Maria STRs?

Properties must have working smoke detectors, CO detectors, and meet fire safety standards.