Market overview
Allowed, with material limits.
The City of Santa Cruz allows owner-occupied (hosted) short-term rentals with a permit, up to 250 citywide, and issues no new non-hosted or ADU-property permits; existing grandfathered non-hosted rentals may continue.
Property eligibility: Not assessed A market overview can't tell whether a specific home qualifies (zoning, permits, HOA).
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Stays of 31 nights or more fall outside the short-term rental rules here and are let as ordinary rentals.
Guests staying this long can gain tenant rights, such as protection from eviction.
Not legal advice. The legal framework, notes and sources are in the full report.
17 rules on record for Santa Cruz, 17 of them from government sources. Every rule traced to its official source. How we research
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Source: City of Santa Cruz Community Development Department (santacruzca.gov, official), checked 6 Nov 2026. Official links, citations and how to apply come with a paid plan.
Yes, with material limits. The City of Santa Cruz allows owner-occupied (hosted) short-term rentals with a permit, up to 250 citywide, and issues no new non-hosted or ADU-property permits; existing grandfathered non-hosted rentals may continue.
Yes, a license or registration is required.
Fines of up to $2,500 are on record.
Stays of 31 nights or more fall outside the short-term rental rules here and are let as ordinary rentals. Guests staying this long can gain tenant rights, such as protection from eviction.
We last checked the short-term rental rules for Santa Cruz on 6 Nov 2026.
LawfulStay tracks short-term rental rules for 5,120+ places, with every rule traced to its official source.
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