Permit Requirements: Santa Paula vs Ventura
How do permit requirements rules compare between Santa Paula, CA and Ventura, CA?
Santa Paula and Ventura have similar restriction levels.
Santa Paula, CA
Ventura County
Santa Paula requires a Short-Term Rental Permit and a business license for all properties rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days. The city has adopted specific STR regulations limiting permits, requiring owner registration, and mandating a local contact person within 30 minutes of the property.
View full Santa Paula rules →Ventura, CA
Ventura County
Ventura requires every owner of a residential dwelling unit used as a short-term vacation rental (rental of 30 consecutive days or less) to secure an STVR permit, a city business license, and a transient occupancy registration certificate before advertising or renting (SBMC §§6.455.020, 4.155.210). New permit issuance is currently PAUSED by City Council action of Dec. 10, 2024, pending Coastal Commission certification of the Local Coastal Plan Amendment to the updated ordinance. Each dwelling unit (e.g., each half of a duplex) requires its own permit. Operators must collect a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax (SBMC §4.115.030) and carry a $1,000,000-per-occurrence STVR liability insurance policy. ADU/primary unit pairings cannot obtain STVR permits — both must be rented for terms longer than 30 days (SBMC §24.430.041).
View full Ventura rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Santa Paula | Ventura |
|---|---|---|
| Permit Required | Yes — STR Permit + business license | - |
| Local Contact | Required within 30 minutes 24/7 | - |
| Permit Display | Must show on all listings | - |
| Renewal | Annual | - |
| No-Permit Fine | $1,000/day per violation | - |
| Code Chapter | - | SBMC Ch. 6.455 (Short-Term Vacation Rentals) |
| STVR Definition | - | Dwelling unit rented for 30 consecutive days or less (§6.455.020) |
| Permit Status | - | New permits PAUSED since Dec. 10, 2024 pending Coastal Commission LCP amendment certification |
| Permits Required | - | STVR permit + business license + TOT registration certificate |
| Inspection | - | Initial Code Enforcement inspection required (fee non-refundable) |
| Insurance | - | $1,000,000 per-occurrence STVR liability policy |
| Permit Number on Listings | - | Required in all ads: 'Ventura Permit No. _____' (§6.455.045) |
| Penalty | - | Misdemeanor under §6.455.150 + permit revocation under §6.455.160 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Santa Paula FAQ
Do I need a permit for Airbnb in Santa Paula?
Yes, you must obtain a Short-Term Rental Permit from Community Development and a city business license before listing on any platform including Airbnb and VRBO.
How do I apply for an STR permit in Santa Paula?
Apply through Santa Paula Community Development at (805) 933-4214. You need proof of ownership, a floor plan, parking plan, and a designated local contact person.
What happens if I rent without a permit?
Operating without a permit carries fines starting at $1,000 per day. The city actively monitors listing platforms and pursues unpermitted operators.
Ventura FAQ
Can I get a new Ventura STVR permit right now?
No. On December 10, 2024 the Ventura City Council adopted a moratorium pausing issuance of new STVR permits. The pause remains in effect until the updated STVR ordinance becomes operative upon California Coastal Commission certification of the city's Local Coastal Plan Amendment. Existing permitted operators may continue to renew.
Does a duplex need one permit or two?
Two. SBMC Ch. 6.455 expressly requires a separate STVR permit for each dwelling unit. A duplex with both units advertised for short-term rental needs two STVR permits, two business licenses, and two TOT registrations.
What is the TOT rate?
Ventura imposes a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax on rents received for stays of 30 days or less (SBMC §4.115.030). The operator collects from each guest and remits monthly to the Business Tax Office by the last day of the following month.
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