| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Status | Restricted — rules apply |
| Permit / License Required | Yes |
| Tax Rate | 14% TOT (City of Santa Cruz) on stays of 30 days or less. County TOT rate applies separately for unincorporated areas. |
| Night / Day Cap | 30 days or less per stay (STR defined as <30 days). No annual rental-day cap explicitly stated, but Non-Hosted permits are frozen. |
| Minimum Stay | No minimum stay specified; maximum stay is 30 consecutive days. |
| Permit Fee | City STR permit: $341 (effective Jan 1, 2026, per 2026 Fee Schedule). County Non-Hosted (Vacation Rental) application: $1,757.90 (≤3 bedrooms) or $3,3 |
| Penalties | City: Code compliance enforcement; permit revocation. County: 2+ significant violations within 12 months triggers Level V public hearing for permit re |
| Primary Residence Required | Yes for Hosted STRs (owner or long-term resident must occupy one legal bedroom during guest stay). Non-Hosted permits are no longer issued by the City |
| Occupancy Limit | Parking-based: 1 on-site space required for studio/1-bedroom, 2 spaces for 2+ bedrooms. Exact guest headcount per unit is property-specific. |
Short-term rentals in Santa Cruz, California are allowed but subject to significant restrictions under local regulations as of 2026. Hosts operating on Airbnb, VRBO, or other vacation rental platforms must obtain proper licensing: Yes. The associated permit fees are City STR permit: $341 (effective Jan 1, 2026, per 2026 Fee Schedule). County Non-Hosted (Vacation Re.
Short-term rental operators in Santa Cruz should be aware of these tax obligations: 14% TOT (City of Santa Cruz) on stays of 30 days or less. County TOT rate applies separately for unincorporated areas..
Key operational rules for vacation rental hosts in Santa Cruz include: Primary residence requirement: Yes for Hosted STRs (owner or long-term resident must occupy one legal bedroom during guest stay). Non-Hosted permits ar. Rental day cap: 30 days or less per stay (STR defined as <30 days). No annual rental-day cap explicitly stated, but Non-Hosted permits a. Occupancy limit: Parking-based: 1 on-site space required for studio/1-bedroom, 2 spaces for 2+ bedrooms. Exact guest headcount per unit i. Minimum stay: No minimum stay specified; maximum stay is 30 consecutive days..
Zoning considerations for short-term rentals in Santa Cruz: City: Hosted STRs permitted in residential zones; Non-Hosted STRs frozen (no new permits issued); ADU STR permits not issued. County: Allowed in all zones permitting residential use; vacation rentals . Density rules: City: Cap of 250 Hosted STR permits citywide (no waitlist as of 2026, actively accepting applications). County: Countywide cap on non-hosted (vacation. Insurance: Not explicitly mandated by ordinance, but documentation of insurance reflecting rental use is strong.
Hosts who fail to comply with Santa Cruz's short-term rental regulations may face enforcement action. City: Code compliance enforcement; permit revocation. County: 2+ significant violations within 12 months triggers Level V public hearing for permit revocation. Violations include noise citations, mis-.
Platform obligations for services like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com operating in Santa Cruz: Online hosting platforms are required under the new County STR Ordinance (Ordinance 5497, effective April 2026) to remove unpermitted listings. Permit/registration number must be displayed in all list.
Apply for your STR permit or registration directly through the official government portal.
Official Source ↗Airbnb and short-term rentals are legal in Santa Cruz but subject to restrictions. Hosts must comply with local permit requirements and zoning rules. City Ordinance Ch. 24.12 Part 18 effective October 2017; County new consolidated Short-Term Rental Ordinance (repealing SCCC §§13.10.690 & 13.10.694, adding §§13.10.695 & 13.10.696) adopted by Board o
Yes. Santa Cruz requires the following for short-term rental operation: Yes.
Short-term rental hosts in Santa Cruz are subject to the following tax obligations: 14% TOT (City of Santa Cruz) on stays of 30 days or less. County TOT rate applies separately for unincorporated areas..
Hosts who operate without proper permits in Santa Cruz may face enforcement. City: Code compliance enforcement; permit revocation. County: 2+ significant violations within 12 months triggers Level V public hearing for permit revocation. Violations include noise citations, mis-advertising capacity, health/safety non-compliance.
The City of Santa Cruz and the unincorporated Santa Cruz County are governed by separate ordinances. The City no longer issues Non-Hosted or ADU STR permits; existing ones may continue. The County's 2025/2026 overhaul implemented countywide permit caps, platform removal obligations, tenant protections, and a 1-permit-per-owner rule. Violation of County permit (2+ significant violations in 12 month
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