Santa Rosa Zoning Code Chapter 20-48 caps short-term rental occupancy at two renters per bedroom, never exceeding 10 total, excluding children under three. Bedroom count is set by the Sonoma County Assessor record. Daytime guests beyond that cap are allowed only between 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM.
Chapter 20-48 (Short-Term Rentals), added to the Zoning Code by Ordinance ORD-2021-011 in October 2021 and amended by ORD-2022-008 and ORD-2023-011, sets a hard occupancy formula for both Hosted and Non-Hosted Short-Term Rentals inside Santa Rosa city limits. The maximum number of Short-Term Renters cannot exceed two per bedroom and in no case may exceed 10 total renters, excluding children under three years old. Bedroom count is the figure recorded by the Sonoma County Assessor, not what the host advertises, so converted dens, lofts, or attics generally do not increase the cap. Short-Term Renters include every person who occupies the unit during overnight hours, defined as 9:00 PM to 8:00 AM. Daytime Guests, who are not staying overnight, may visit only between 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM and do not count toward the overnight limit but are still subject to noise rules. Hosted permits require the owner to live and sleep on the property as a principal residence (more than half the year). Non-Hosted permits are capped citywide at 198 (set by ORD-2022-008, reduced through attrition); the City stopped accepting new Non-Hosted applications in 2023 after Tubbs Fire-area concerns. All operators also need a Business Tax Certificate as of January 2025.
Exceeding the 2-per-bedroom or 10-renter cap, hosting overnight guests beyond the limit, or allowing daytime guests outside 8 AM-9 PM are violations of Chapter 20-48. ORD-2023-011 created tiered penalties; repeated violations can result in permit revocation, fines, and Code Enforcement action.
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