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Santa Rosa, CA Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Quiet hours: 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. daily
Outdoor amplified sound: Banned at all times
Base noise standard: City Code Chapter 17-16 applies
Events/gatherings: Banned unless Owner present entire time
Disclosure required: Quiet hours must appear in listings
3-strikes rule: 3 violations/12 months voids good standing

Summary

Section 20-48.070(A)(2) holds Santa Rosa short-term rental guests to the citywide noise code in Chapter 17-16, then layers on two STR-specific rules: quiet hours run 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., and outdoor amplified sound is banned at the property around the clock, day or night.

2. Noise limits. Short-Term Renters and Daytime Guests shall comply with all requirements of City Code Section Chapter 17-16, Noise, with the following modification and addition: a. Quiet hours shall be enforced from 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. b. Outdoor amplified sound shall not be allowed at any time.

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Full Breakdown

070(A)(2) makes noise a standing operational condition of every Santa Rosa Short-Term Rental Permit, not just a general nuisance rule. It starts by folding in Chapter 17-16, the City's ordinary Noise chapter, so an STR is already bound by whatever limits apply to any residential property in Santa Rosa. , a specific window rather than a general 'reasonable hours' standard, and outdoor amplified sound, meaning speakers, PA systems, or amplified music played outside the structure, is prohibited at any time of day, not only during quiet hours.

and that outdoor amplified sound is prohibited, so a renter who books a Santa Rosa STR has effectively been given contractual notice of both limits before arrival. 070(A)(5) also requires this notice to be posted inside the unit itself alongside the permit. 070(A)(7) separately bars weddings, receptions, corporate events, and other gatherings at Non-Hosted or Hosted Short-Term Rentals outright, regardless of noise level, unless the Owner is personally present for the entire event including overnight, which curbs the loud-party scenario that quiet-hours enforcement is aimed at.

Noise complaints from neighbors go through the same complaint channel as any other STR violation: the City's complaint hotline, the Local Contact named on the permit, or Code Enforcement's online portal.

Violations & Fines

A verified noise violation counts toward the three-strikes rule in Section 20-48.040(H)(1): three verified code enforcement violations within any 12 consecutive months strips an Owner of Operator in Good Standing status and exposes the permit to denial or revocation on renewal. Administrative citations and fines follow Section 20-48.080(B)'s penalty schedule, capped at the maximum fine amounts allowed under Government Code Section 36900 et seq.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the quiet hours for Santa Rosa short-term rentals?

Section 20-48.070(A)(2)(a) sets quiet hours from 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. every night. That's stricter than a general reasonableness standard: it's a fixed clock-time window that applies specifically to Short-Term Renters and their Daytime Guests, on top of whatever the City's general Noise chapter, 17-16, already requires of the property.

Can STR guests play music outside in Santa Rosa?

Not amplified music. Section 20-48.070(A)(2)(b) bans outdoor amplified sound at a Short-Term Rental at any time, day or night, regardless of quiet hours. This covers speakers, sound systems, and PA equipment used outdoors, going further than the citywide noise code that otherwise governs the property.

Can I host a party at my Santa Rosa short-term rental?

Generally no. Section 20-48.070(A)(7) prohibits events and gatherings such as weddings, receptions, and corporate events at Short-Term Rentals. The only exception is a personal, private event hosted by the Owner where the Owner is present the entire time, including overnight, which removes most of the loud-party scenarios quiet hours are meant to prevent.

Sources & Official References

[1]Santa Rosa City Code § 20-48.070 (Operational standards)

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