Humboldt County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Humboldt 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 Sections
- HCC 314-60.05 (Inland) / 313-61.05 (Coastal)
- Adopted
- March 5, 2024 (Ord. 2733/2734)
- STR Definition
- Rental of 30 days or fewer
- Ownership Cap
- Max 3 STR-permitted parcels per owner
- Transferable
- No - permits do not transfer to new owners
- Existing STRs
- Must show operation before Oct 26, 2023
Summary
Unincorporated Humboldt County requires a Short-Term Rental Permit (Administrative Permit) before operating any whole-unit or home-share rental of 30 days or fewer, with capped totals and Good Neighbor Guide affidavit.
A complete Short-Term Rental Permit application must include a current grant deed for the subject parcel, a Good Neighbor Guide, and an affidavit confirming delivery of the Good Neighbor Guide to all neighbors in the closest ten dwellings and within three hundred feet up and down the street. The Good Neighbor Guide must include the name and telephone number for a caretaker who responds to all questions or concerns timely and remedies complaints related to health and safety as well as any violations of Humboldt County Code. Short-Term Rental Permits shall not be transferred between property owners, and an individual or business shall not own more than three (3) parcels with Short-Term Rental Permits.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2788, passed May 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
05), creating an Administrative Permit for short-term rentals (STRs) in the unincorporated county. An STR is defined as the rental of an entire dwelling for 30 days or fewer, or rental of two or fewer rooms with an onsite caretaker (home-share). A complete application must include a current grant deed, a Good Neighbor Guide, and an affidavit certifying the Guide was delivered to the closest ten neighboring dwellings and to dwellings within 300 feet up and down the access road. The Good Neighbor Guide must list a caretaker name and 24-hour phone number who responds timely to health, safety, and Code complaints.
STR permits are not transferable and a single individual or business may not own more than three (3) parcels with STR permits. Existing STRs with evidence of operation prior to October 26, 2023 may apply for permits during the three-month window after the effective date. Permits will not be issued on parcels with active code violations.
Violations & Fines
Operating an STR without an Administrative Permit is a Humboldt County Code violation enforced under HCC Title III Division 5 Chapter 2 (Administrative Civil Penalties) and may trigger notices of violation, civil penalties, and inability to obtain a permit while violations remain unresolved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to rent my Humboldt County home on Airbnb or Vrbo?
What goes in the Good Neighbor Guide?
How many STR permits can one owner hold?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Humboldt County
How Humboldt County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare Humboldt County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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