Santa Barbara County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Permit Requirements (2026)

Santa Barbara County regulates short-term lodging in unincorporated areas through its Land Use and Development Code (LUDC), Chapter 35. The County's Homestays FAQ states plainly: '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.' 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. To establish a homestay you apply for a Land Use Permit plus a Homestay Supplemental Application, Indemnification Form, and Agreement for Payment, and the County reviews it for compliance with LUDC standards (Section 35.42.193, 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.