Sonoma County does not require host presence at permitted whole-home vacation rentals; owner-occupied hosted rentals are a separate category exempt from vacation rental standards and remain allowed even inside vacation rental exclusion districts.
Sonoma County's vacation rental standards apply only where no primary owner is in residence. Hosted rentals, defined by Permit Sonoma as the rental of a single room or sleeping area within a single-family dwelling where the property owner remains in residence, are regulated separately under former Sec. 26-88-118. Only one hosted rental is allowed per parcel, and hosted rentals do not require a certified property manager. Under Ordinance No. 6423 (April 24, 2023), no new vacation rental applications are accepted in Vacation Rental Exclusion (X) Combining Districts, but hosted rentals may still be conducted there. Timeshares, LLC-owned homes, and fractional ownership of six or more interests do not qualify as primary-owner residences.
Operating an unpermitted rental of either type can incur penalties of three to ten times the normal application fee, plus escalating civil fines up to $5,000 for repeat violations within one year.
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Petaluma, CA
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Petaluma, CA
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Petaluma, CA
Petaluma Code §11.44.040 establishes two-hour street parking in posted downtown zones, applicable 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday through Saturday (excluding Sundays an...
Petaluma, CA
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Petaluma, CA
Commercial filming on public property or rights-of-way in Petaluma requires a film permit through the City's Film Permitting process, typically administered ...
Petaluma, CA
Drone operation in Petaluma is regulated primarily by FAA Part 107 and Part 89. Petaluma Municipal Airport (O69) imposes a controlled-airspace restriction wi...
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