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

Santa Cruz County regulates short-term rentals in its unincorporated areas, separate from the City of Santa Cruz. Renting any dwelling for periods of not more than 30 days requires a permit. The County recognizes two types. A Non-Hosted Rental, called a Vacation Rental in SCCC 13.10.694, is a single-family dwelling, duplex, or triplex where the owner does not occupy the unit while it is rented and only renters use it. A Hosted Rental, under SCCC 13.10.690, is a short-term rental where the owner or long-term resident occupies one legal bedroom while one to three other legal bedrooms are rented, so the home must have at least two bedrooms. New Non-Hosted permits for three bedrooms or fewer are processed as Level IV administrative use permits without a public hearing; four or more bedrooms require a Level V public hearing and a one-year provisional permit. Vacation rentals are prohibited on parcels containing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) created after March 9, 2018, and in affordable-housing units, apartments, and mobile-home parks. Pajaro Dunes is governed by a separate development permit. The County maintains availability and wait lists by area, including the Live Oak, Seacliff/Aptos/La Selva Beach, and Davenport/Swanton Designated Areas. Applicants email vacation.eplanreview@santacruzcountyca.gov or contact the Unified Permit Center at (831) 454-2580 to check whether permits are available before applying.