Permit Requirements: Petaluma vs Rohnert Park
How do permit requirements rules compare between Petaluma, CA and Rohnert Park, CA?
Rohnert Park has fewer restrictions than Petaluma.
Petaluma, CA
Sonoma County
Petaluma IZO §7.110 requires a Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit issued by the Planning Director (or designee) for any STR. STRs are allowed only in residential, planned unit development, and mixed use zoning districts.
View full Petaluma rules →Rohnert Park, CA
Sonoma County
Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Petaluma | Rohnert Park |
|---|---|---|
| Permit | Required from Planning Director | - |
| Non-hosted Cap | 90 days/year | - |
| Manager Response | 1 hour, within 45 miles | - |
| Allowed Zones | R, PUD, Mixed Use only | - |
| Zoning Code Section | - | § 26-88-120 |
| Business License | - | Ch. 4, Art. VIII |
| License Term | - | 365 days (annual renewal) |
| Permit Transfer | - | Expires on sale/transfer |
| On-Call Manager | - | 24/7 certified property manager required |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Petaluma FAQ
Is there a cap on hosted rentals?
Hosted rentals (owner present) are not capped at 90 days the way non-hosted are.
Do I need a business license too?
Yes — separate business license under Ch. 6.01 plus the STR permit.
Rohnert Park FAQ
Do I need both a zoning permit and a business license to operate a vacation rental in unincorporated Sonoma County?
Yes. Sonoma County Code section 26-88-120 requires a zoning permit, and Chapter 4, Article VIII (added by Ordinance No. 6427) requires a separate annual vacation rental business license.
Does the vacation rental permit transfer to the new owner when I sell the house?
No. Under section 26-88-120, the zoning permit runs with the landowner and automatically expires upon sale or transfer of the property; the new owner must apply for a new permit.
Is a property manager required to be on call?
Yes. Section 26-88-120 requires a certified property manager available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, during all times that the property is rented on a transient basis.
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