Permit Requirements: Petaluma vs Sonoma
How do permit requirements rules compare between Petaluma, CA and Sonoma, CA?
Petaluma and Sonoma 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 →Sonoma, CA
Sonoma County
Under Sonoma Municipal Code § 19.50.110 (adopted by Ordinance 12-2017 on Dec. 4, 2017), new vacation rentals are not allowed in any residential, mixed-use, or commercial zone of the City of Sonoma. The only exception is the adaptive re-use of a historic structure, and only previously licensed rentals (valid business license + TOT registration as of Nov. 3, 1999) may continue as legal non-conforming uses.
View full Sonoma rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Petaluma | Sonoma |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| New permits available | - | No — banned since Jan. 2018 |
| Governing section | - | SMC § 19.50.110 |
| Grandfather cutoff date | - | November 3, 1999 |
| Only exception | - | Adaptive re-use of a historic structure |
| Enforcement contact | - | City Code Enforcement / City Prosecutor |
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.
Sonoma FAQ
Can I get a new vacation rental permit in the City of Sonoma?
No. Ordinance 12-2017 removed vacation rentals as a permitted or conditionally permitted use in all residential, Commercial (C, CG) and Mixed Use (MX) zones effective January 2018. The only avenue for a new permit is the adaptive re-use of a designated historic structure.
I'm buying a Sonoma home that has an active vacation rental — does the permit transfer?
Only rentals 'licensed' as of November 3, 1999 (per SMC § 19.50.110(B)) qualify as legal non-conforming uses. The City Planning Department maintains the official list at sonomacity.org/documents/vacation-rentals-list/. If the property is not on that list, you cannot operate it as a vacation rental.
Does this ban apply to the unincorporated Sonoma Valley / Boyes Hot Springs / Glen Ellen?
No. Those areas are governed by Sonoma County, not the City. They have their own permit and license system (Sonoma County Code Ch. 26-88-120 zoning permit + Ch. 4 Art. VIII license) administered by Permit Sonoma.
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