Santa Clara County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Permit Requirements (2026)

Santa Clara County has not adopted a separate short-term-rental ordinance or STR permit program for its unincorporated areas. The County Zoning Ordinance contains no 'short-term rental,' 'vacation rental,' or 'transient' use classification, so a typical whole-home or room rental is treated under the existing residential use rules rather than through a special STR permit. The one closely related zoning category, 'Bed and Breakfast Inns,' is generally tied to on-site winery or agricultural operations and is subject to a use permit (or special permit when ancillary to a winery), and must be located within the primary residence on the property. For most hosts, the operative County requirement is tax compliance: the Transient Occupancy Tax Ordinance (Division A30, Chapter V) requires the operator of any 'hotel' in the unincorporated areas renting to transients to register with the Director of Finance and obtain a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate (Sec. A30-53). 'Hotel' is defined broadly to include a tourist home or house and other lodging (Sec. A30-49), which captures short-term rentals. Because rules differ sharply by jurisdiction, hosts should confirm with the County Department of Planning and Development whether their parcel's zoning allows the intended use before advertising.