Permit Requirements: Rohnert Park vs Santa Rosa
How do permit requirements rules compare between Rohnert Park, CA and Santa Rosa, CA?
Rohnert Park has fewer restrictions than Santa Rosa.
Rohnert Park, CA
Sonoma County
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 | Rohnert Park | Santa Rosa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| 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.
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.
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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