Short-term rental permit rules in Carmichael, CA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Carmichael falls under Sacramento County Code Ch. 4.08 (Short-Term Rental) - all STRs in unincorporated Sacramento County must be the operator's PRIMARY RESIDENCE and require both a Short-Term Rental Permit ($230 initial fee) and a separate County Business License. Non-primary-residence rentals are flatly prohibited.
Sacramento County adopted Chapter 4.08 in 2022 to restrict STRs to owner- or long-term-tenant-occupied primary residences. The applicant must demonstrate they live at the property at least 6 months per year. The initial STR permit application fee is $230, with separate County business license fees. An operator can hold ONLY ONE STR permit. The STR Permit application requires proof of primary residency (utility bills, tax returns, voter registration), a site plan, parking plan, and emergency contact information. Renewals are annual. Sacramento County's STR enforcement vendor (Deckard Technologies / Granicus Host Compliance) scrapes Airbnb/VRBO listings monthly to identify unpermitted operators in Carmichael and other unincorporated communities.
SCC §4.08 penalties: up to $1,500 first violation, up to $3,000 for a second violation within one year, and up to $5,000 for each additional violation within one year. Operating an unpermitted STR also subjects the operator to back-collection of Transient Occupancy Tax (12%) plus penalties and interest under SCC Ch. 3.08.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Sacramento County.
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