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

Mendocino County's Zoning Ordinance (Title 20) splits into Division I (inland), Division II (Coastal Zone), and Division III (Town of Mendocino), and short-term rental rules differ by division. Historically, the only STR regulations were in the coastal regions. In the Town of Mendocino, Chapter 20.748 governs Single Unit Rentals and Vacation Home Rentals: an applicant must first obtain certification from the Department of Planning and Building Services confirming the rental is authorized by any required coastal development permit and conforms to planning and building standards, and that certification 'shall be deemed to satisfy the minor use permitting requirements.' Rentals are also subject to the County Business License Tax (Chapter 6.04). In the broader unincorporated Coastal Zone (Division II), a vacation home rental that constitutes 'development' under the Coastal Act requires a coastal development permit. Inland (Division I) areas outside the Coastal Zone and Town historically had no explicit STR permit standards. In February 2026 the Board of Supervisors directed staff to draft a countywide ordinance using a simple, over-the-counter administrative permit, rejecting caps and owner-occupancy mandates. Always confirm current requirements with Planning and Building Services, because the inland rules were not yet adopted as of mid-2026.