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

Napa's vacation rental program is governed by NMC Section 17.52.515 (Vacation rental permits), located in Title 17 (Zoning) of the Napa Municipal Code. The ordinance recognizes two permit categories: a 'Non-Hosted Accommodation' is a vacation rental business for which the owner (or authorized agent) is not required to reside at the vacation rental unit - effectively a whole-house rental for stays under 30 days; a 'Hosted Accommodation' is a vacation rental business for which the owner resides at the vacation rental unit and sleeps at the unit while it is being rented, with no more than two bedrooms available for transient occupancy. The City has set hard numeric caps: 41 Non-Hosted permits and 60 Hosted Accommodation permits citywide. All available permits in both categories have been fully issued. The City maintains wait lists for both permit types, but Wait List Applications are not currently being accepted - no new applications will be processed until permits become available and the respective wait list has been exhausted. Non-Hosted permits may be transferred to a new property owner using the city's Vacation Rental Permit Transfer form (transfer applications are accepted year-round); Hosted Accommodation permits are non-transferable. The current annual program fee for the 2026-2027 permit year is $674. Every permittee must hold a City of Napa Business Tax Certificate under NMC Chapter 5.04, register for Transient Occupancy Tax under NMC Chapter 3.20, and pass a Napa Fire Department life safety inspection (conducted annually between February and April). By July 31 each year, the operator must mail annual notifications to all property owners within 500 feet of the vacation rental unit disclosing the property details and occupancy limits. The Napa Vacation Rental Program is administered by the Community Development Department at 1600 First Street.