Permit Requirements: Vacaville vs Vallejo
How do permit requirements rules compare between Vacaville, CA and Vallejo, CA?
Vallejo has fewer restrictions than Vacaville.
Vacaville, CA
Solano County
The City of Vacaville does not issue a short-term rental (STR) permit and has not adopted a stand-alone STR licensing chapter. Under Title 14 (Land Use and Development Code) of the Vacaville Municipal Code, a rental of less than thirty (30) consecutive days falls within the 'hotel/motel' or 'bed and breakfast' use classification rather than 'dwelling, single-family' or 'dwelling, multifamily,' and lodging uses are limited to commercial zoning districts under Chapter 14.09.070 (Commercial and Mixed-Use Zoning Districts). Operating a whole-home Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking.com listing in an R-E, R-L, R-M, or R-H residential district is not a permitted use, even with a city business license. Accessory dwelling units are independently barred from short-term rental use by Chapter 14.09.270 (Standards for Specific Uses and Activities), which prohibits ADU rentals of less than 31 days.
View full Vacaville rules →Vallejo, CA
Solano County
Vallejo allows short-term rentals with registration and TOT collection. The waterfront and Mare Island areas attract tourism-driven STR activity. Hosts must register with the city and comply with safety and occupancy standards.
View full Vallejo rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Vacaville | Vallejo |
|---|---|---|
| Codified STR License | None - no Vacaville-specific STR permit | - |
| Governing Framework | Title 14 Zoning + Chapter 3.16 TOT + Title 5 Business License | - |
| Residential Zone STRs | Not a permitted use - rentals <30 days treated as hotel/motel | - |
| ADU Short-Term Rental | Prohibited <31 days (Chapter 14.09.270) | - |
| Lawful Lodging Zones | Commercial/mixed-use districts allowing hotel/B&B (Chapter 14.09.070) | - |
| TOT Processor | HdL Companies (effective October 1, 2023) | - |
| Enforcement | Code Enforcement Division under Chapter 1.28 and 9.20 | - |
| Registration | - | Required with city |
| TOT | - | Required collection |
| Tourism | - | Waterfront and Mare Island |
| Safety | - | Building/fire codes apply |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Vacaville FAQ
Can I list my Vacaville house on Airbnb?
Not for stays under 30 days if the house is in a residential zoning district. Vacaville's Title 14 zoning code treats rentals of less than 30 consecutive days as a hotel/motel use, which is allowed only in commercial and mixed-use zoning districts under Chapter 14.09.070. The city has not adopted a stand-alone short-term rental ordinance permitting STRs in residential zones, and Code Enforcement may issue administrative citations under Chapter 1.28 for STR operation in a residential district.
Can I short-term rent my ADU in Vacaville?
No. Vacaville Municipal Code Chapter 14.09.270 (Standards for Specific Uses and Activities) prohibits accessory dwelling units from being used for short-term rentals of less than 31 days, consistent with California Government Code Section 65852.2(a)(6). ADUs may be rented for stays of 31 days or more.
What about a bed-and-breakfast?
A bed-and-breakfast inn is a defined lodging use in the Vacaville zoning code and is permitted in certain commercial and mixed-use districts under Chapter 14.09.070, typically with a use permit and a city business license under Title 5. It is not a permitted use in any of the R-E, R-L, R-M, or R-H residential districts. Confirm specific district eligibility with the Community Development Department before applying.
Vallejo FAQ
Do I need a permit to Airbnb my home?
Yes. Vallejo requires an STR permit and business license before listing.
What safety equipment is needed?
Smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, and posted exit routes are standard requirements.
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