Shasta County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Shasta County, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Ordinance
- SCC 2020-05 (adopted 7/21/2020)
- Code Section
- Shasta County Code 17.88.230
- Vacation Rental
- Vacation rental permit required
- Hosted Homestay
- Approved affidavit required
- Permit Term
- 1 year; annual renewal
- Issuing Agency
- Resource Management Dept.
Summary
Unincorporated Shasta County regulates short-term rentals under Ordinance SCC 2020-05, codified at County Code Section 17.88.230. Whole-house vacation rentals need a vacation rental permit; rented rooms in an owner-occupied home need a hosted homestay affidavit. Both are issued by the Resource Management Department and require annual renewal.
Pursuant to Shasta County Code Section 17.88.230, an application for a Vacation Rental is necessary when a property owner intends to provide, for compensation, overnight accommodations in an entire one-family residence, for a period of 30 consecutive calendar days or less. Please see the Hosted Homestay application if you intend to provide only room(s) for overnight accommodations and the owner resides in the one-family residence while the room(s) is being rented. Vacation Rentals are permitted in all zone districts that permit a one-family residence by right, and in the Mixed Use District, provided that all required permits have been secured. The following items are required to be submitted prior to approval and operation of a Vacation Rental: One completed Planning Permit Master Application form; one site plan showing on-site parking location(s) with dimensions and vehicular access and trash receptacle locations; one floor plan with each room labeled by use and the room(s) to be rented clearly marked; a completed Vacation Rental Permit and Limitations on Use form signed by all recorded property owners and including name, address, telephone number(s), and email address of a local contact person capable of responding physically to the Vacation Rental property within 60 minutes of receiving a call; proof of fire inspection conducted within one year of application submittal by the local fire protection agency or CAL FIRE prior to issuance of this permit; a copy of the Certificate of Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax for the Vacation Rental from the Shasta County Tax Collector; proof of current, valid liability insurance for the property; and payment of required fees as adopted by the Board of Supervisors. Approved Vacation Rental permits are not transferable to another property or to subsequent property owners unless prior to any transfer an amended permit application is filed with the Department of Resource Management that otherwise meets all of the requirements to operate a Vacation Rental.
Full Breakdown
' The ordinance defines two types: a 'vacation rental' is an entire one-family residence rented for compensation for 30 consecutive calendar days or less, and a 'hosted homestay' is a portion of a one-family residence (individual rooms) rented for 30 days or less while the property owner resides in the residence. No person may operate a vacation rental without first obtaining a vacation rental permit, and no person may operate a hosted homestay without first filing an approved affidavit, both through the Department of Resource Management.
The Director reviews applications ministerially (no public notice required) and approves them if all applicable criteria are met. Each approval carries an initial one-year term, and permittees must obtain annual renewals to keep operating; renewal requests and fees must be received no later than the expiration date. Approvals are not transferable to another property, and not transferable to a new owner unless an amended affidavit or application is filed first. If the Director denies an application, the owner may appeal to the Planning Commission following variance and use permit appeal procedures, and the Commission's decision is final.
Violations & Fines
Operating a short-term rental without the required approval on or after November 21, 2020 is a violation of Section 17.88.230 and an infraction, enforceable under County Code Chapters 1.08, 1.12, 8.28 and Section 17.94.060 through civil remedies, citations and fines. An approved affidavit or permit may be revoked; after revocation, a reapplication cannot be approved for at least 24 months, and an unpermitted use cannot be permitted for at least 12 months after the determination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in unincorporated Shasta County?
How is a short-term rental application approved in Shasta County?
Can I transfer my Shasta County short-term rental permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shasta County
How Shasta County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare Shasta County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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