Nevada County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)

Some California jurisdictions restrict short-term rentals to a host's primary residence, banning dedicated investment STRs. Unincorporated Nevada County takes the opposite approach: it imposes no primary-residence requirement. The County's Short-Term Rental FAQs state plainly that the County does not have restrictions on renting out rooms within private residences on a short-term basis, and that the County does not have restrictions on renting out primary residences on a short-term basis. Because there is no STR permit ordinance, there is also no rule requiring that an STR be the owner's primary or principal residence, and whole-home short-term rentals are not prohibited at the county level.

The one significant exception concerns accessory dwelling units (ADUs): ADUs permitted under the County's post-April 2019 ADU rules generally cannot be rented for periods under 30 days and carry a recorded deed restriction prohibiting short-term rental, with narrow exceptions (such as the Soda Springs Rural Center or qualifying agritourism). That ADU limitation is tied to the type of unit, not to a general primary-residence mandate for ordinary dwellings. Operators should still confirm the legal status of the structure they intend to rent and check the Clerk-Recorder for any recorded short-term-rental deed restriction on the parcel. Within the incorporated cities and the Town of Truckee, different and sometimes stricter rules apply.