Santa Barbara County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Santa Barbara County, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Code
- LUDC Ch. 35; Sec. 35.42.193 (Lodging-Homestay)
- Rental Threshold
- 30 consecutive days or less
- Inland Zones Allowed
- All residential, AG-I, CM-LA, MU, OT-R, OT-R/LC, OT-R/GC
- Coastal Zone
- Not currently regulated (TOT still due)
- Forms
- Land Use Permit + Homestay Supplemental, Indemnification, Agreement for Payment
- Permit Term
- 1 year; renew annually
Summary
In unincorporated inland Santa Barbara County a short-term rental or homestay permit is required before advertising or renting for 30 days or less. The Coastal Zone is currently unregulated, but Transient Occupancy Tax still applies countywide.
It is illegal to advertise and/or rent property in the Inland Area of the County on a short-term basis (30 consecutive days or less) without first having obtained a short-term rental or homestay permit.
Full Breakdown
Santa Barbara County regulates short-term lodging in unincorporated areas through its Land Use and Development Code (LUDC), Chapter 35. ' A 'homestay' is a residential structure rented for 30 days or less while the owner or long-term tenant lives in a legal dwelling on the same lot at the same time. Homestays are allowed in all residential zone districts, the Agriculture I (AG-I) zone, and mixed-use zones (CM-LA, MU, OT-R, OT-R/LC, OT-R/GC). Short-term rentals are otherwise permitted in most commercial zones; homestays cover residential zones.
193, Lodging-Homestay). Critically, homestays and short-term rentals are NOT currently regulated in the Coastal Zone, though operators everywhere must still comply with Transient Occupancy Tax rules. This contrasts with California law, which leaves STR land-use regulation to local jurisdictions.
Violations & Fines
Operating in the inland area without the required permit is illegal under the LUDC and subject to County Planning & Development zoning enforcement; the County also pursues unpaid Transient Occupancy Tax with penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a county permit to short-term rent in unincorporated Santa Barbara County?
Where are homestays allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Barbara County
How Santa Barbara County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Barbara County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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