Modoc County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Host Presence Rule (2026)

Some California counties require a short-term rental host to remain on-site during stays or to designate a local responsible party who can respond within a set time. Unincorporated Modoc County has no such requirement because it has not adopted a short-term rental ordinance. There is no county mandate for an on-site host, no obligation to name a local property manager, and no required 24-hour emergency contact tied to a rental permit, since no permit exists. Hosts may operate remotely, and absentee ownership of second homes is common in the county - the Housing Element notes that about ten percent of housing units are second or vacation homes, many owned by people who do not live in the area. If a particular use ever required a discretionary Use Permit under Chapter 18.128, the Planning Commission could attach operational conditions, but in the absence of an STR ordinance there is no baseline host-presence rule. As a practical matter, given Modoc County's remoteness and limited emergency services, hosts are well advised to arrange a reliable local contact voluntarily, even though the county does not compel it.