Colusa County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Colusa County's Zoning Code does not use the term "short-term rental." The closest regulatory category is the "recreational lodging facility," defined in Article 44-0 as an establishment providing commercial lodging to the general public on a short-term or transient basis of 30 days or less. Section 44-4.100 governs these uses wherever they are allowed outside commercial zones under Article 44-2, and it expressly covers agricultural visitor lodging, duck clubs, hunting and fishing clubs, outdoor recreation lodging, farmstays, and bed and breakfast inns. It expressly excludes campgrounds, recreational vehicle parks, and hotels or motels, so a true hotel is regulated elsewhere in the code.

Before opening, an operator must satisfy the general standards in Section 44-4.100.010: demonstrate to the Environmental Health Division that kitchen, water, and sewage facilities meet health code requirements; meet the underlying zone's development standards and the site-planning rules in Article 44-3 for parking, access and lighting; and post a business license as required by Chapters 18A and 10 of the County Code. Section 44-4.100.010(G) then adds the permit trigger: if Article 44-2 doesn't already require one, a Use Permit is mandatory whenever the proposed use exceeds these general standards, meaning larger operations, added guest rooms, or ancillary events like weddings routinely need discretionary review rather than an over-the-counter approval.