Short-term rental permit rules in Ventura, CA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Ventura requires every owner of a residential dwelling unit used as a short-term vacation rental (rental of 30 consecutive days or less) to secure an STVR permit, a city business license, and a transient occupancy registration certificate before advertising or renting (SBMC §§6.455.020, 4.155.210). New permit issuance is currently PAUSED by City Council action of Dec. 10, 2024, pending Coastal Commission certification of the Local Coastal Plan Amendment to the updated ordinance. Each dwelling unit (e.g., each half of a duplex) requires its own permit. Operators must collect a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax (SBMC §4.115.030) and carry a $1,000,000-per-occurrence STVR liability insurance policy. ADU/primary unit pairings cannot obtain STVR permits — both must be rented for terms longer than 30 days (SBMC §24.430.041).
The permit process requires filing the STVR Application plus a nuisance response plan with the Business Tax Office (501 Poli St). Upon application processing, the operator pays the non-refundable initial inspection fee, STVR permit fee, and business license fee per the city's Master Fee Schedule. Code Enforcement then conducts the initial inspection for fire, building and safety, and code compliance under SBMC §6.455.125(1). Upon approval, the permit administrator issues the STVR permit and transient occupancy registration certificate, mails a notice to occupants and owners of property within a 300-foot radius advising of the STVR use, and posts the nuisance response plan on the city website. Every offer to rent or advertisement must include the city permit number in the form 'Ventura Permit No. _____' (SBMC §6.455.045). Operating without a permit, advertising without referencing the permit number, failing to maintain the surety bond, failing to keep the response plan current, or failing to respond to a nuisance complaint within 45 minutes are all misdemeanor violations under SBMC §6.455.150. The TOT certificate is separate and required by SBMC §4.115.030 — a misdemeanor under SBMC §4.115.070 to fail to register, file returns, or remit collected tax. The business license is required by SBMC §4.155.210; suspension/revocation grounds appear in SBMC §4.155.530.
Operating, offering, or advertising an STVR without a permit is a misdemeanor under SBMC §6.455.150(1), prosecutable under Chapter 1.050 Civil Penalties. Advertising without the city permit number violates §6.455.150(5). Failure to maintain a valid surety bond (unless waived) violates §6.455.150(4). Failure to collect/remit the 10% TOT is a separate misdemeanor under SBMC §4.115.070. The permit administrator may suspend, modify, or revoke a permit under SBMC §6.455.160 for any violation on the premises.
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