10 rules for unincorporated Del Norte County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Del Norte County has no dedicated short-term-rental permit. In 2022 the Board of Supervisors declined to adopt vacation-rental regulations. Operators must register for the 10% Transient Occupancy Tax (Code Chapter 3.08), and the County advises contacting Planning & Building to confirm whether a use permit applies; coastal-zone parcels may need a coastal development permit.
Unincorporated Del Norte County has no short-term-rental noise ordinance because the Board declined to adopt vacation-rental regulations in 2022. There is no STR-specific quiet-hours rule; rental noise is handled through the County's general nuisance provisions and Sheriff response, the same as for any residence.
Unincorporated Del Norte County charges a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax on lodging rented for 30 days or fewer under Code Chapter 3.08. A 2018 voter-approved initiative raised the rate from 8% to 10% effective January 1, 2019. RV parks collect a 2% rate. TOT returns are filed quarterly with the Tax Collector.
Unincorporated Del Norte County has no short-term-rental parking ordinance because the Board declined to adopt vacation-rental regulations in 2022. Off-street parking for a rental is governed only by the general off-street parking standards in the County zoning code (Title 20 Non-Coastal / Title 21 Coastal), not by an STR-specific rule.
Unincorporated Del Norte County has no short-term-rental occupancy ordinance. The Board of Supervisors declined to adopt vacation-rental regulations in 2022, so there is no STR-specific guest cap. Occupancy is instead governed by general building, zoning (Title 20/21), and health-and-safety standards. A nearby comparison: Curry County, Oregon adopted STR occupancy limits.
Unincorporated Del Norte County does not require vacation-rental operators to carry liability insurance. The Board declined to adopt a vacation-rental ordinance in 2022, so there is no permit condition mandating coverage. Insurance is still strongly advisable, since standard homeowners policies often exclude short-term-rental activity.
Unincorporated Del Norte County does not cap how many nights a vacation rental may operate per year, and sets no limit on the number of rentals in a neighborhood. The Board declined to adopt a vacation-rental ordinance in 2022. The only night-related threshold is the 30-day line in the TOT (Chapter 3.08): stays of 30 days or fewer are taxable.
Unincorporated Del Norte County has no vacation-rental registry, but every lodging rented for 30 days or fewer must register with the Tax Collector for a Transient Occupancy Tax certificate under Code Chapter 3.08 before collecting tax. Operators must keep records for three years. Call (707) 464-7283 to register.
Unincorporated Del Norte County does not require a host or manager to be present at a vacation rental. The Board declined to adopt a vacation-rental ordinance in 2022, so there is no on-site-host, resident-manager, or local-contact mandate. Hosting is treated as a normal residential use subject only to the TOT and general zoning.
Unincorporated Del Norte County does not require a vacation rental to be the owner's primary residence. The Board declined to adopt a vacation-rental ordinance in 2022, so there is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence-only rule. Many county rentals are non-owner-occupied single-family homes; the only structural limit is that ADUs cannot be rented short-term.
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