Mono County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Registration Rules (2026)

Registration for a short-term rental in unincorporated Mono County involves several separate steps. The land-use side requires a Use Permit plus a Short-Term Rental Activity Permit issued by the County; the County's permit page states that 'All short-term rental activity permits also require a use permit,' that 'Activity permits are required to be renewed annually,' and that the renewal application 'must be received by August 1.' On the tax and business side, operators must hold a current Mono County business license and a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) registration certificate; the TOT FAQ notes that 'A current business license for the premises must exist before issuance of any occupancy registration certificate,' and that the TOT certificate must be 'posted in a conspicuous place on the premises at all times.' Under the December 9, 2025 amendments (GPA 25-01 / MCC Chapter 5.65), the County moved to a unified two-permit process and adopted provisions so that STR approvals do not 'run with the land' — meaning permits generally do not transfer automatically to a new owner, and a new owner must reapply. The policy package also limited STR permits to one per natural person across all land use designations and added language intended to prevent transfers through LLCs. Applicants should confirm the current registration checklist and forms with the Community Development Department, since the program was recently updated.