Santa Rosa, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Santa Rosa, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Yes - before renting, advertising, or listing
- Permit term
- 1 year, annual renewal (30-day grace period)
- Permit types
- Hosted (citywide) and Non-Hosted (closed to new applicants)
- Non-hosted cap
- 182 citywide, declining through attrition
- Code citation
- Santa Rosa Zoning Code Chapter 20-48
- Adopted
- Ord. 2021-011 (Oct 2021); amended Ord. 2022-008, 2023-008, 2023-011
Summary
Santa Rosa requires a Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit for every property rented for less than 30 consecutive days. The City is no longer accepting new Non-Hosted applications; only Hosted STRs (where the owner's principal residence is on-site) are available to new applicants.
A Short-Term Rental (STR) is a dwelling unit, or a portion of a dwelling unit, that is rented for less than 30 consecutive days. A permit is required before renting, advertising, or listing. Permits are issued only to the property owner. Permits are non-transferable (with limited exceptions). Permits are valid for one year and must be renewed annually. Beginning January 2025, STR operators in Santa Rosa are required to obtain a Business Tax Certificate.
Full Breakdown
Under Santa Rosa Zoning Code Chapter 20-48, a permit is required before renting, advertising, or listing a dwelling unit for periods of less than 30 days. Permits are issued only to the property owner, are non-transferable (with limited exceptions for spouses/domestic partners under ORD-2023-011), and must be renewed annually. A 30-day grace period applies after expiration. Hosted STRs require the owner to reside on-site (or in another unit on the same parcel) as their principal residence and submit a principal-residence affidavit plus two proof documents (driver's license, voter registration, vehicle registration, utility bill, etc.). Non-hosted permits are capped at 182 citywide and are being reduced through attrition; the City stopped accepting new non-hosted applications. Beginning January 2025, STR operators must also obtain a City Business Tax Certificate, and operators of four or more STRs must hold a Business Tax Certificate.
Violations & Fines
Operating an STR without a permit, advertising without including the permit number, or providing false residency information triggers administrative citations and may bar issuance or renewal of the permit. The City's tiered penalty schedule (Zoning Code Section 20-48.080, Table 48.1) imposes a citation on the first verified violation and a monetary fine on the second; a third verified violation within a rolling 12-month period results in permit revocation and permanent ineligibility for that property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a non-hosted STR permit in Santa Rosa?
What does 'Hosted' mean?
Do I need a separate Business Tax Certificate?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Rosa
How Santa Rosa compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Rosa to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sonoma County handle short-term rental permits.