Solano County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Solano 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 Authority
- Solano County Code Chapter 28 (Zoning Regulations)
- Hosted Rental Permit
- Administrative Permit (LUR 28.72.40(B)(5))
- Vacation House Rental Permit
- Minor Use Permit
- Also Required
- Business license + TOT certificate + proof of commercial insurance
- Reviewing Office
- Resource Management, Planning Services (707-784-6765)
- Fire-Zone Limit
- Not allowed in Very High FHSZ
Summary
Unincorporated Solano County does regulate short-term lodging (stays of 30 consecutive days or less) under Chapter 28 of the County Code. Hosted rentals need an Administrative Permit; non-hosted Vacation House Rentals need a Minor Use Permit, plus a business license, a TOT certificate, and proof of commercial insurance.
A vacation rental house shall be permitted only in compliance with the requirements and standards of this section and all other requirements of the applicable zoning district, subject to the issuance of a land use permit. The permit shall be subject to periodic renewal every five years and shall expire upon sale or transfer of the property.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 1868, passed April 9, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Solano County treats short-term lodging as a land-use that requires a discretionary planning permit from the Department of Resource Management, Planning Services Division, before any property is listed. The County splits short-term lodging into dwellings with a resident family present and dwellings without one. 40(B)(5). A Vacation House Rental (VHR) - a dwelling offered or used for transient occupancy without a resident family present - is the non-hosted category and, per the County's own application page, requires a Minor Use Permit. In every case the operator must also complete the Short-Term Rental Building Application, obtain a Solano County business license, register for a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate, and provide proof of commercial insurance. 30(A)(7)(c) for ASV-20 zoning). Because this is a discretionary permit, the Planning Division reviews each application against zoning, access, parking, and fire-safety standards.
Violations & Fines
Operating a short-term rental without the required Administrative or Minor Use Permit, business license, or TOT certificate is a zoning and business-license violation enforced by Code Enforcement and Planning Services, exposing the owner to abatement, fines, and denial or revocation of the operating permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does unincorporated Solano County require a short-term rental permit?
Where do I apply?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Solano County
How Solano County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare Solano County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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