Santa Rosa, CA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

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.