Santa Maria, CA Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)

Santa Barbara County effectively requires a resident host for short-term rentals in residential zones. The Homestays FAQ asks 'Does someone have to live on the property long-term?' and answers: 'Yes. Either the property owner or a long-term tenant must live on the property long-term. They must also be on the property at the same time as the homestay is occurring. Proof that the property owner or long-term tenant lives on the property is required. A long-term tenant or owner is described as a person who occupies the property as the owner of the property, or who rents the property for six months or more.' This is the defining feature of a homestay: the residence must be someone's actual home, not a dedicated rental. The County's definition reinforces this - a homestay exists only while the owner or long-term tenant 'lives in a legal dwelling on the same lot at the same time as the transient occupant(s).' Purely non-resident, investor-operated short-term rentals are not permitted in residential zones; the LUDC channels non-hosted short-term rentals into most commercial zones instead. The Coastal Zone is not currently regulated. California law does not mandate primary-residence STR rules; this owner-occupancy framework is a County requirement.