Sonora Ordinance No. 898 (effective July 2024), codified at Chapter 17.64 of the Municipal Code, limits transient use rentals to the operator's primary residence and prohibits short-term rentals in accessory dwelling units. A separate Transient Use Permit is required and must be renewed annually, and the un-hosted rental of a primary residence is capped so that whole-home rentals cannot operate as full-time vacation rentals.
Chapter 17.64 of the Sonora Municipal Code, enacted by Ordinance No. 898 in July 2024, restricts transient use permits to the primary residence of the operator and bars accessory dwelling units from being used as short-term rentals. Each parcel needs its own Transient Use Permit, which must be kept in good standing and renewed annually, and operators must collect the city's 12% transient occupancy tax. Maximum occupancy is two adults (age 18+) per bedroom plus one additional person per unit. Operators must designate a local contact who is reachable 24/7 by telephone and can be on-site within 30 minutes, must abate violations promptly, and must allow the Sonora Fire Department to inspect smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, address visibility, fire pits and grills, and defensible space. Citations are up to $500 per day for a first violation and up to $1,000 per day for subsequent violations within 12 months; three citations within 12 months can trigger denial, suspension, or revocation of the permit. The 24-hour complaint hotline is (209) 299-4442.
Operating a short-term rental in a non-primary residence or in an ADU, exceeding the 2-adults-per-bedroom-plus-one cap, or operating without a current Transient Use Permit violates Chapter 17.64. Citations are up to $500 per day for a first offense and up to $1,000 per day after; three citations within 12 months can revoke the permit.
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