Registration Rules: Santa Rosa vs Sonoma
How do registration rules rules compare between Santa Rosa, CA and Sonoma, CA?
Santa Rosa and Sonoma have similar restriction levels.
Santa Rosa, CA
Sonoma County
Registering a vacation rental in unincorporated Sonoma County is a five-step process under Permit Sonoma rules combined with Code Sec. 26-88-120 (zoning) and Chapter 4, Article VIII (license, Ord. 6386/6427): (1) become or hire a county-Certified Vacation Rental Property Manager, (2) obtain the TVR Zoning Permit, (3) register for a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate, (4) apply for the annual Article VIII license, and (5) renew the license every 365 days. All advertising must include accurate permit info and conform to the permitted occupancy.
View full Santa Rosa rules →Sonoma, CA
Sonoma County
Registering a vacation rental in unincorporated Sonoma County is a five-step process under Permit Sonoma rules combined with Code Sec. 26-88-120 (zoning) and Chapter 4, Article VIII (license, Ord. 6386/6427): (1) become or hire a county-Certified Vacation Rental Property Manager, (2) obtain the TVR Zoning Permit, (3) register for a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate, (4) apply for the annual Article VIII license, and (5) renew the license every 365 days. All advertising must include accurate permit info and conform to the permitted occupancy.
View full Sonoma rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Santa Rosa | Sonoma |
|---|---|---|
| Required Approvals | Zoning permit + License + TOT cert + Certified mgr | Zoning permit + License + TOT cert + Certified mgr |
| Zoning Code | Sec. 26-88-120 | Sec. 26-88-120 |
| License Code | Ch. 4 Art. VIII (Ord. 6386/6427) | Ch. 4 Art. VIII (Ord. 6386/6427) |
| License Renewal | Every 365 days | Every 365 days |
| Transfer on Sale | Zoning permit expires automatically | Zoning permit expires automatically |
| Application Portal | Permit Sonoma online system | Permit Sonoma online system |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Santa Rosa FAQ
What do I need to register a vacation rental in unincorporated Sonoma County?
Five things: a county-Certified Property Manager, a Sec. 26-88-120 Zoning Permit (TVR), a TOT certificate from the ACTTC, an annual Article VIII Vacation Rental License, and annual license renewal. All must be in place before listing the property.
Does the vacation rental permit transfer when I sell my house?
No. Sec. 26-88-120 states that the zoning permit runs with the landowner and automatically expires upon sale or transfer of the property. A new owner must reapply — and because of the cap-zone density limits, that reapplication may be denied in many parts of the county.
How often do I have to renew my Sonoma County vacation rental license?
The Article VIII license expires 365 days from the approval date. Renewal is filed online through Permit Sonoma and includes payment of the annual monitoring fee (code 1163), noticing fee (code 1162), and the 1.3% Technology Surcharge.
Sonoma FAQ
What do I need to register a vacation rental in unincorporated Sonoma County?
Five things: a county-Certified Property Manager, a Sec. 26-88-120 Zoning Permit (TVR), a TOT certificate from the ACTTC, an annual Article VIII Vacation Rental License, and annual license renewal. All must be in place before listing the property.
Does the vacation rental permit transfer when I sell my house?
No. Sec. 26-88-120 states that the zoning permit runs with the landowner and automatically expires upon sale or transfer of the property. A new owner must reapply — and because of the cap-zone density limits, that reapplication may be denied in many parts of the county.
How often do I have to renew my Sonoma County vacation rental license?
The Article VIII license expires 365 days from the approval date. Renewal is filed online through Permit Sonoma and includes payment of the annual monitoring fee (code 1163), noticing fee (code 1162), and the 1.3% Technology Surcharge.
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