Sonoma County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- Occupancy status
- Owner must keep permanent residence
- Permit expiration
- Ends when owner stops residing there
- Bedroom cap
- Max 1 guest bedroom for hosted rentals
- Per-parcel limit
- Only 1 hosted rental allowed per parcel
- Alternative path
- Whole-house rentals need separate vacation permit
Summary
Sonoma County's hosted rental and bed-and-breakfast permit only applies to homes where a household or person keeps permanent residence; the permit expires automatically once the primary owner no longer lives there or the property is sold.
A residential structure with one (1) household or person in permanent residence with one (1) bedroom rented for transient lodging, where meals may be provided. ... A zoning permit for a hosted rental expires upon sale or transfer of the property, or when the property is no longer occupied by a primary owner, whichever occurs sooner.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Sonoma County's hosted rental category, Sonoma County Code § 26-28-140, only exists as a residential structure where a household or person is in permanent residence and rents out one bedroom for transient lodging. That permanent-residence status isn't optional: § 26-88-118(e)(9) makes the zoning permit expire automatically on sale or transfer of the property, or the moment the property stops being occupied by a primary owner, whichever happens first. A separate whole-house vacation rental permit, which does not require owner occupancy, is regulated under a different section (§ 26-28-160) with its own occupancy and parking rules.
Violations & Fines
Operating a hosted rental without a valid zoning permit, or continuing after the primary owner moves out and the permit lapses under § 26-88-118(e)(9), is a zoning violation subject to county code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sonoma County require STR hosts to live on-site?
What happens to my hosted rental permit if I move out or sell?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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