Yolo County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Yolo County, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Zoning Code Citation
- Yolo County Code Title 8, Sec. 8-2.306(l)-(m); Sec. 8-1.201 definitions
- B&B - Small (<=6 rooms)
- Site Plan Review in A-N, A-X, A-R, A-C (not A-I)
- B&B - Large (7-10 rooms)
- Minor Use Permit
- Farm Stay (<=6 rooms / 15 guests)
- Allowed by right in agricultural zones + RR-5 if standards met
- Hotels/Motels in residential
- Not allowed in any residential zone
- TOT Registration
- Required - Yolo County Code Sec. 3-7.06
Summary
Unincorporated Yolo County has no general short-term rental permit. Title 8 only authorizes transient lodging as bed and breakfast inns (Sec. 8-2.306(l)) and farm stays (Sec. 8-2.306(m)) in agricultural and limited rural-residential zones via Site Plan Review or Minor/Major Use Permit; hotels and motels are not allowed in residential zones at all.
(l) Bed and breakfasts. (1) A 'small' bed and breakfast is defined as one which has six (6) guest rooms or less; and that holds less than twelve special events per year and the events have less than 150 attendees; and which generates less than 100 vehicle trips on any given day of operations (such as a wedding). A 'large' bed and breakfast has more than six guest rooms and less than ten (10) guest rooms, and/or holds more than twelve special events per year, and/or generates more than 100 vehicle trips on any given day of operations. (2) Small bed and breakfasts are allowed with the issuance of a Site Plan Review in all of the agricultural zones, with the exception of the A-I zone, provided that the project is designed to be compatible with any adjoining agricultural operations and single family residences. Large bed and breakfasts are subject to a Minor Use Permit... (i) All guest rooms must be located within and accessible through the main single-family dwelling. Alternatively, a minority of guest rooms may be located outside the primary residence in ancillary dwelling(s), or other buildings constructed or renovated for habitable use, with the issuance of a Major Use Permit. (ii) Food service must be restricted to breakfast or a similar early morning meal. The price of food must be included in the price of overnight accommodation.
Full Breakdown
Yolo County Title 8 (Land Development and Zoning) does not contain a stand-alone vacation rental / short-term rental ordinance. Transient lodging is regulated through three land-use categories. (1) 'Bed and Breakfast (B&B)' is defined in Sec. ' Per Sec. 306(l), small B&Bs (six rooms or fewer) require a Site Plan Review in agricultural zones; large B&Bs (7-10 rooms) require a Minor Use Permit. (2) 'Farm stay' is defined in Sec. ' Farm stays are governed by Sec. 306(m) and must be on a working farm with an on-site farmer-resident.
304(b) are allowed only in agricultural zones (A-C, A-I, A-N with SP/UP(m)) and are listed 'N' (not allowed) in residential zones. Stand-alone vacation rentals of single-family homes are not addressed and would not fit any allowed-use category in residential zones (RR-1, RR-5, R-L). Operators must also register with the Yolo County Treasurer-Tax Collector under Title 3 Chapter 7 (Sec. 06).
Violations & Fines
Operating an unpermitted bed and breakfast, farm stay, or hotel is a zoning violation enforceable as a misdemeanor or infraction under the general enforcement provisions of Title 8 and may be abated by the Planning Director.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run an Airbnb in unincorporated Yolo County?
Do I need an owner-occupant for a bed and breakfast?
What about farm stays - do I have to be a working farm?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yolo County
How Yolo County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare Yolo County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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