Short-term rental permit rules in Visalia, CA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Since December 6, 2023, every short-term rental in Visalia must hold a city-issued STR permit, a Business Tax Certificate, and operate only in the habitable interior of a primary dwelling. Garages, ADUs, RVs, tents and other accessory structures are prohibited as STRs.
Ordinance No. 2023-11 added Visalia Municipal Code Section 17.32.166, which regulates STRs citywide in R-1 and R-M zones. Permits are processed administratively by the City Planner without a public hearing. Only one STR is permitted per parcel in any residentially zoned district, and a separate application must be filed for each parcel. Applications are submitted in person or by mail to the Business Tax window at City Hall West, 707 W. Acequia Avenue, and require notarized signatures. An accompanying Business Tax Application is required unless the owner already holds a valid Business Tax Certificate for the STR. Owners must also designate themselves or a local contact person available 24/7 to respond to complaints within 45 minutes.
Operating without a permit triggers escalating administrative fines under the STR FAQ: $100 first violation, $200 second violation, and $500 per day for each additional violation until brought into compliance. Permits are revoked by the City Planner upon any violation not corrected within 10 days of notice, or after three violations in a one-year period.
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