Santa Cruz, CA Short-Term Rentals: Registration Rules (2026)

To register a short-term rental in unincorporated Santa Cruz County, an owner must hold both a vacation rental (or hosted rental) permit and a County transient occupancy tax registration, or provide proof of registration with a verified online platform, as required by SCCC 13.10.694(D). The permit application is filed with the Planning Department and includes a completed form, an application fee deposit, scaled plot and floor plans showing on-site parking spaces and room types, a form rental or lease agreement with house rules, the County transient occupancy registration, and (for designated areas) a wait-list request. Each vacation rental permit remains valid as long as the rental operates at least three out of any five consecutive years, and each permit expires five years from the original issue date unless renewed. Renewals require proof of payment of transient occupancy tax (or platform registry) and a usage summary showing a minimum occupancy of five weekends or ten nights per calendar year. The County maintains wait lists for parcels within the Live Oak (LODA), Seacliff/Aptos/La Selva Beach (SALSDA), and Davenport/Swanton (DASDA) Designated Areas; wait-list applicants must be the current owner and the request becomes void on transfer of ownership. An annual wait-list maintenance fee of $145.00 applies. All advertising must include the vacation rental permit number.