Permit Requirements: Petaluma vs Santa Rosa
How do permit requirements rules compare between Petaluma, CA and Santa Rosa, CA?
Petaluma and Santa Rosa have similar restriction levels.
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 →Santa Rosa, CA
Sonoma County
Santa Rosa requires a Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit for every property rented for less than 30 consecutive days. The City is no longer accepting new Non-Hosted applications; only Hosted STRs (where the owner's principal residence is on-site) are available to new applicants.
View full Santa Rosa rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Petaluma | Santa Rosa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Permit required | - | Yes - before renting, advertising, or listing |
| Permit term | - | 1 year, annual renewal (30-day grace period) |
| Permit types | - | Hosted (citywide) and Non-Hosted (closed to new applicants) |
| Non-hosted cap | - | 182 citywide, declining through attrition |
| Code citation | - | Santa Rosa Zoning Code Chapter 20-48 |
| Adopted | - | Ord. 2021-011 (Oct 2021); amended Ord. 2022-008, 2023-008, 2023-011 |
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.
Santa Rosa FAQ
Can I get a non-hosted STR permit in Santa Rosa?
No. The City stopped accepting new non-hosted applications; only existing permitted operators may continue, and the 182-permit cap is being reduced through attrition.
What does 'Hosted' mean?
The owner must occupy the property (or another unit on the same parcel) as their principal residence, supported by two forms of ID and a signed affidavit.
Do I need a separate Business Tax Certificate?
Yes - beginning January 2025, all STR operators must obtain a City Business Tax Certificate in addition to the STR permit.
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