| County Proposes Business License for VRs |  LCP Comments Can Still Be Submitted | Ongoing Comment Period | |
| PRMD-LCP-Update@Sonoma-county.org |
The current inland VR Ordinance is a “zoning permit” type program where Permit Sonoma (county planning department) gives VR operators a “zoning” or a “use” permit to operate. VR operators on the coastal zone pay the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and are not required to obtain a “permit”.
That will change as Sonoma County updates their Local Coastal Plan and VR program. The county has proposed a countywide Vacation Rental program that includes the coastal zone. It is at the early stages of development. Any firm proposal will be submitted to the public for comment, and the coastal zone requirements will need to be certified by the California Coastal Commission
Comments are still being accepted for the LCP as that planning document is updated.
VR PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: Permit Sonoma wants to have countywide performance standards for vacation rentals. They will likely be “uniform across the County, but land use policy in the coastal zone will be revised for consistency with the Coastal Act.”
Permit Sonoma made power point presentations describing their overall status report on the LCP and the VR program at the July 20 Board of Supervisors workshop, and the July 26 Planning Commission hearing.
THE NEW VR PROGRAM: In addition to new performance standards, Permit Sonoma proposes moving away from “permits” to a “business license” program as other local Bay Area communities have done (Marin County, San Francisco County, Mendocino County).
There will be more information on the program’s requirements, fees, notice to neighbors, complaint resolution in coming weeks. There will be time to review and comment on the VR program when it becomes public. And of course VR operators will continue to pay TOT.
WILL REQUIRING A BUSINESS LICENSE MAKE YOU A “BUSINESS”?
No. A VR operator using a single-family-dwelling in a zoned residential district will continue as they have in the past. This residential property “use” has been allowed using a “permit”. In the proposed new program the county (planning department) will give VR operators an annual business license to rent out their private residence home on a short-term basis (if you meet the county requirements and performance standards). When asked if a VR operator was now operating a business, and not using the property for residential purposes, a Permit Sonoma planner said this:
“We understand the context of why “business” license may create problems, but the zoning code identifies a Home Occupation as “a small-scale business conducted out of a private residence or residential accessory structure”, and we have never had a HOA take issue with Home Occupation permits issued to architects, attorneys, consultants, counseling, or electronic commerce businesses.“
It’s business-as-usual for coastal zone VR operators – except they will need to get a business license in the future to operate their short-term rentals.