Chapter 17.34

PROHIBITION OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS

The purpose of this chapter is to set forth regulations prohibiting Short-Term Rentals, to protect the residential character of Calistoga's neighborhoods and is declaratory of existing law. (Ord. 778, 11/18/2025)

For purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases are defined as follows:

• A. "Booking Transaction" means any reservation or payment service, whether provided directly or through a hosting platform or other intermediary, that facilitates a Short-Term Rental of a Dwelling Unit, or portion thereof, within the City of Calistoga in exchange for consideration.

• B. "Hosting Platform" means a marketplace in whatever form or format which facilitates Short-Term Rentals through advertising, matchmaking, or any other means, using any medium of facilitation, and from which the Operator of the platform derives revenues, including fees from Booking Transactions or advertising revenue, from providing or maintaining the marketplace.

• C. "Operate" means the operation of a Short-Term Rental, and includes the acts of establishing, offering, maintaining, or listing for rent a Short-Term Rental or Short-Term Rental Property.

• D. "Operator" means the Person who offers, maintains or lists for rent a Short Term Rental or Short-Term Rental property.

• E. "Person" means any natural Person, firm, association, partnership, business trust, corporation, company, or organization of any kind.

• F. "Dwelling unit" means a room or connected rooms constituting a separate housekeeping establishment containing independent cooking and sleeping facilities for occupancy by its owner(s), or by tenants who rent or lease the unit for a period of thirty (30) or more consecutive days. For purposes of this chapter, "Dwelling Unit" does not include a hotel, motel, bed and breakfast inn, inn, or resort, each as defined in this Title.

• G. "Short-Term Rental" or "Short-Term Rental Property" means a Dwelling Unit, or any portion of a Dwelling Unit, that is rented or offered for rent for a period of 30 consecutive days or less.

• (Ord. 778, 11/18/2025)

• A. No Person shall Operate any Short-Term Rental or Short-Term Rental Property within the City of Calistoga.

• B. No hosting platform shall complete or facilitate a Booking Transaction for any Short-Term Rental or Short-Term Rental Property located within the City unless the use is expressly authorized by this Code.

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/CA1828 on 2026-05-11

City of Calistoga, CA

ZONING

§ 17.34.030

§ 17.34.040

• (Ord. 778, 11/18/2025)

• A. The City may issue a notice of violation or administrative citation for any violation of this chapter to any Person, Operator or Hosting Platform for a violation of any provision of this chapter or other provisions of the Code pursuant to Title 1 of this Code.

• B. Each and every day, or portion thereof, that a violation of this chapter exists constitutes a separate and distinct violation for which a notice of violation or administrative citation may be issued by the City.

• C. A violation of any provision of this chapter, or failing to comply with any mandatory requirement hereof, shall constitute a misdemeanor. The fine amount for each violation shall be one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence or any other section of this chapter, a violation of this chapter may, in the discretion of the enforcement officer, be charged and prosecuted as an infraction.

• D. Pursuant to Government Code Section 36900(d), for infractions that pose a threat to public health or safety, the fine shall be, at a minimum, one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) for an initial violation of this chapter, three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) for a second violation of the same provision within one (1) year, and five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) for each subsequent violation of the same provision within one (1) year. For purposes of this subsection, operation of a Short-Term Rental in violation of this chapter shall be deemed to pose a threat to public health or safety.

• E. For fines imposed under subsection D of this section, the City Manager or their designee may grant a hardship waiver to reduce the amount of the fine upon a showing by the responsible party that they have made a bona fide effort to comply after the first violation and that payment of the full amount of the fine would impose an undue financial burden on the responsible party. No such waiver shall be granted for subsequent violations.

• F. The City Manager, or designee, shall have the authority to request the City Attorney to issue and serve administrative subpoenas on hosting platforms and/or Operators to obtain specific information regarding Booking Transactions for Short-Term Rental listings located in the City, including, but not limited to, the names of the Persons responsible for each listing, the address of each such listing, the length of stay for each such listing and the price paid for each stay, to determine whether the Booking Transaction violates this chapter. Any subpoena issued pursuant to this section shall not require the production of information sooner than thirty (30) days from the date of service. A Person that has been served with an administrative subpoena may seek judicial review during that 30 day period.

• (Ord. 778, 11/18/2025)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/CA1828 on 2026-05-11

City of Calistoga, CA

ZONING

§ 17.35.010

§ 17.35.020