Short-Term Rentals in Nevada County, CA (2026)

12 rules for unincorporated Nevada County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Nevada County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply — see the city list below.

Permit Requirements

Unincorporated Nevada County does not require a Planning Department permit to operate a short-term rental. No use permit, conditional use permit, or STR license is needed. The structure must simply be permitted for residential use through the Building Department, and operators must register for transient occupancy tax.

Nevada County Short-Term Rental Permit Requirements

Few Restrictions

Nevada County Short-Term Rental FAQs (Community Development Agency, Planning Department)

Do I have to get a permit or register with the County if I have a short-term rental? You will need to register with the Treasurer-Tax Collector, obtain a Transient Occupancy Tax Certificate, and pay Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). This tax is levied in Nevada County at a rate of 10% for accommodations at lodging and camping facilities in the unincorporated areas of the County. This tax is collec...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

Unincorporated Nevada County does not set short-term-rental-specific quiet hours. Noise from STRs is regulated under the County's general noise and nuisance provisions, which apply to all properties, rather than through STR permit conditions, since the county has no dedicated STR ordinance.

Nevada County Short-Term Rental Noise Rules

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Unincorporated Nevada County levies a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax on rentals of 30 days or less, authorized under California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 7280 and Nevada County General Code Title 5, Chapter 4. Airbnb collects and remits the 10% directly; other platforms require host remittance.

Nevada County Short-Term Rental Taxes and Fees

Some Restrictions

Nevada County General Code Sec. 5.04.030 (Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax)

Section 5.04.030 Tax Imposed. For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient is subject to, and shall pay a tax in the amount of, ten (10%) percent of the rent charged by the operator. Said tax constitutes a debt owed by the transient to the County which is extinguished only by payment to the operator or to the County. The transient shall pay the tax to the operator of the hotel at...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Parking Rules

Unincorporated Nevada County does not impose short-term-rental-specific parking requirements. With no STR ordinance, parking is governed by general zoning standards for the residence and applicable road, fire-access, and county parking regulations rather than a dedicated STR off-street parking mandate.

Nevada County Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Few Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Unincorporated Nevada County does not impose a special short-term-rental occupancy cap. Because there is no STR permit ordinance, guest counts are governed only by general building and health-and-safety codes for the dwelling rather than a fixed per-bedroom or per-property STR limit.

Nevada County Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits

Few Restrictions

Nevada County Short-Term Rental FAQs (Community Development Agency, Planning Department)

Can I rent out a room in my house as a short-term rental? Yes. The County does not have restrictions on renting out rooms within private residences on a short-term basis. Can I rent out my primary residence as a short-term rental? Yes. The County does not have restrictions on renting out primary residences on a short-term basis. Can I rent out an RV/tiny homes on wheels as a short-term rental? ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

Unincorporated Nevada County does not impose a short-term-rental-specific insurance or minimum-liability-coverage requirement, because it has no STR permit ordinance. Operators carry insurance voluntarily; the County's only mandatory step for STRs is TOT registration, not proof of liability coverage.

Nevada County Short-Term Rental Insurance Requirements

Few Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Night Caps

Unincorporated Nevada County does not cap the number of nights a short-term rental may operate per year, and it does not limit the number of STR permits, because it has no STR ordinance. There is no annual rental-night ceiling for ordinary dwellings; the only night-based line is the 30-day TOT threshold.

Nevada County Short-Term Rental Night Caps

Few Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Registration Rules

The only registration required in unincorporated Nevada County is a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate. Any property in the unincorporated area rented to transients for less than one month must register and obtain a TOT Certificate, which serves as the operator's tax account number.

Nevada County Short-Term Rental Registration Rules

Some Restrictions

Nevada County General Code Sec. 5.04.060 (Annual Registration Certificate)

Section 5.04.060 Annual Registration Certificate. In order that the County will have an accurate record of parties collecting transient occupancy tax, each operator will be required to register as hereinafter provided. A. Prior to commencing business and annually thereafter during the month of January of each year, each operator of any hotel renting occupancy to transients shall register such h...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

Unincorporated Nevada County does not require a host or owner to be present during short-term rental stays. With no STR ordinance, there is no hosted-only or owner-on-site mandate; both un-hosted whole-home rentals and rented rooms within an occupied home are permitted.

Nevada County Short-Term Rental Host Presence Rule

Few Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Unincorporated Nevada County does NOT limit short-term rentals to primary residences. The County's FAQs confirm there are no restrictions on renting rooms within a residence or on renting an entire primary residence, and non-owner-occupied whole-home rentals are not prohibited by a county STR ordinance.

Nevada County Short-Term Rental Primary Residence Requirement

Few Restrictions

Nevada County Short-Term Rental FAQs (Community Development Agency, Planning Department)

Can I rent out my primary residence as a short-term rental? Yes. The County does not have restrictions on renting out primary residences on a short-term basis. Can I rent out a room in my house as a short-term rental? Yes. The County does not have restrictions on renting out rooms within private residences on a short-term basis.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Repeat Violator Strikes

Nevada County has no three-strikes STR permit system, but TOT enforcement escalates sharply: 10% penalty for late remittance, a second 10% after 30 days, a 25% fraud penalty, 1.5% monthly interest, recorded tax liens against all of the operator's real property, and misdemeanor prosecution.

TOT Enforcement: Escalating Penalties, Liens, Misdemeanor

Some Restrictions

Nevada County General Code Sec. 5.04.080 (Penalties and Interest)

Section 5.04.080 Penalties and Interest. A. ORIGINAL DELINQUENCY. Any operator who fails to collect and remit any tax imposed by this ordinance within the time required shall pay a penalty of ten (10%) percent of the amount of the tax in addition to the amount of the tax. B. CONTINUED DELINQUENCY. Any operator who fails to remit any delinquent remittance on or before a period of thirty (30) day...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Platform Liability

Since May 1, 2017, Airbnb has collected and remitted Nevada County's 10% TOT on all Airbnb bookings, with no host opt-out. Hosts remain personally responsible for collecting and remitting TOT on bookings made through VRBO or any other platform or method.

Airbnb Collects Nevada County TOT for Hosts

Few Restrictions

Nevada County TOT Airbnb FAQs for Hosts (Treasurer-Tax Collector)

Nevada County uses Host Compliance for short-term rental monitoring and collection of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). Q - When will Airbnb begin collecting and remitting Occupancy Tax? A - On May 1, 2017, Airbnb will begin collecting and remitting Occupancy Taxes on behalf of all hosts for all bookings on the Airbnb platform from that date forward. Hosts will no longer be responsible for collect...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Nevada County ordinances

See every category we cover for Nevada County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

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