The Board of Supervisors (BoS) held a public hearing on 9/26/2023 to adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 26C of County Code to regulate Vacation Rentals (VR) in the Coastal Zone, and authorizing submittal of the Local Coastal Program amendments to the CA Coastal Commission for certification.
The Coastal Commission certified these coastal regulations on 4/11/2024.
VRs in the Coastal Zone are now subject to the same permit requirements and performance standards that apply to the rest of the unincorporated county. New operators in the Coastal Zone must obtain a zoning permit and license, while operators who have been paying Transient Occupancy Tax prior to the effective date of the coastal ordinance are exempt from the zoning permit requirement.
All current VR operators will be provided notice of these requirements and must secure a license within one year of Coastal Commission certification.
ENFORCEMENT
The VR complaint hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and may be reached at 707-875-6619.
UNAUTHORIZED VR OPERATORS
The county has significant penalties for persons operating a VR without obtaining a license or paying the TOT (transient occupancy tax).
NEXT BoS MEETING
The Board will meet on 4/30/2024 to discuss the VR Program and receive an update from Permit Sonoma staff.
On Tuesday, April 30 at 8:30 AM PT, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will receive an update from Permit Sonoma on the progress of vacation rental licensing in the unincorporated portions of the county. Click here to see the full agenda. The vacation rental update is Item 76.