Humboldt County Municipal Code § 60.05 Short-Term Rentals

The purpose and intent of this section (the “Short-Term Rental Ordinance”) is to protect and

promote the public health, safety and welfare, support tourism and economic development, protect housing stock, preserve the quality of neighborhoods, and balance the needs of property owners, tenants, and neighbors.

Short-term rentals may be permitted in zoning districts where residential use is a

permitted use subject to these regulations.

In addition to all materials required for a permit pursuant to Section 312-5.2, a complete

application for a Short-Term Rental Permit shall include the following:

neighbors in the closest ten (10) dwellings and within three hundred (300) feet up and down the street, if applicable.

owner. If the property owner withdraws consent at any time when the permit is active, the permit is immediately revoked.

include the people who own the corporation or controlling corporation via an ownership roster or operating agreement identifying all parties involved within the LLC or other corporation(s) for said owner or operator.

Provide documentation describing the educational activities or

experiences in which the tenants will participate in as an immersive encounter with agricultural living.

No permits for whole dwelling unit short-term rentals shall be issued during the

first two (2) months following the effective date of this section but applications from individuals operating existing short-term rentals will be received. Three (3) months after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section, the Department will issue permits for qualifying locations with existing short-term rentals. An existing short-term rental shall be determined based on evidence of operation prior to October 26, 2023. If the number of permits issued for existing short-term rentals exceeds the cap identified in subsection 314-60.05.10.2.1, then no permits will be issued for new short-term rentals until the number of permitted short-term rentals in the County falls below the cap. A permit shall not be issued on a parcel with active violations.

A short-term rental meeting the requirements herein shall be

permitted with an Administrative Permit.

A short-term rental seeking exception from standards identified in

subsections 314-60.05.9.1 and 314-60.05.10.3 may only be allowed upon issuance of a Special Permit.

safety, and welfare of the community; and

In addition to following the procedures identified in

Section 312-8.1, Notice of Application Submittal, notice shall be sent to all owners and occupants of property accessed through shared private road system.

All Short-Term Rental Permits (including nonconforming

approvals) shall lapse two (2) years after the effective date of the permit unless all of the following requirements are met:

and Building Department, indicating a desire to continue operation; provided, that there is evidence of hosting stays; and

Continuous use of a short-term rental without resolution of the violation(s) of this section

may result in code enforcement action, permit suspension or permit revocation.

Consistent with the procedures in Section 312-14, a short-term rental

permit may be suspended or revoked for violations of the Short-Term Rental Ordinance and/or violations of permit terms or conditions.

This section applies to home-share rentals which are a short-term rental of a

portion of a dwelling unit where the caretaker remains in residence.

Exception to standards in subsections 314-60.05.9.1.1.3 and

314-60.05.9.1.1.4 may be sought with a Special Permit.

maintained in working order, and information related to all emergency exits shall be provided inside the dwelling unit.

compost shall be appropriately disposed of at least weekly.

Overnight occupancy shall not exceed two (2) per

bedroom plus one (1), excluding children under twelve (12).

subsection 314-60.05.9.1.2.4 may be sought with a Special Permit.

The caretaker shall reside within the dwelling unit and be

present when rooms are occupied by guests.

The maximum noise levels allowed in all outdoor areas and indoor common

areas of the property are as follows: sixty-five (65) dB during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and sixty (60) dB from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.

Prior to the operation of the short-term rental, the permit

holder shall submit to the Planning and Building Department a signed affidavit certifying the delivery of a Good Neighbor Guide to all neighbors with dwellings within three hundred (300) feet of the short-term rental as the crow flies, and to the nearest five (5) neighbors up and down the access road. The Good Neighbor Guide shall also be submitted to the Planning and Building Department and must be present and available for tenants in all short-term rentals. The Good Neighbor Guide must contain, at a minimum, the following:

outage), as well as any violations of Humboldt County Code timely.

public service facilities (e.g., hospitals, police stations, fire stations).

Each home-share rental shall provide one (1) off-street parking space per

rented bedroom. Where legal on-street parking is available, one (1) on-street parking space may count toward the minimum number of parking spaces required.

This section applies to short-term rental of whole dwelling units. Short-term rentals

may be rented for the whole or a portion of the year. A residence which is rented on a short-term basis for sixty (60) consecutive days or fewer out of the year does not count against the cap; provided, that it is occupied as long- term housing for the remainder of the year.

Dwellings subject to a recorded covenant, agreement, deed

restriction or other recorded document to which the County is a party that limits the use of the dwelling to affordable housing, or otherwise prohibits use as a short-term rental.

Act. Dwellings on lots approved pursuant to Section 66411.7 of

Chapter 1 of Division 2 of Title 7 of the California Government Code (SB 9 – “The California H.O.M.E. Act”) shall not be permitted as short-term rentals.

Dwellings permitted pursuant to the alternative owner

builder (AOB) provisions of Section 331.5-4 shall not be permitted as short-term rentals.

effect at the time of original permit issuance. A Short-Term Rental Permit application may be submitted concurrently with the Building Permit application. The permit for the short-term rental shall not be approved until after the certificate of occupancy is issued by the Building Division.

short-term rentals in the Greater Humboldt Bay Area Short-Term Rental Cap Area which is comprised of the following Community Plan Areas: Trinidad-Westhaven Community Plan Area (CPA), McKinleyville CPA, Fieldbrook-Glendale CPA, Blue Lake CPA, Arcata CPA, Jacoby Creek CPA, Freshwater CPA, Eureka CPA, Fortuna CPA, Hydesville-Carlotta CPA and the Rio Dell-Scotia CPA. In addition to the two percent (2%) cap on short-term rentals in the Greater Humboldt Bay Area, not more than two percent (2%) of housing stock within each Community Plan Area can be used for short-term rentals. Farm stays and homes listed on the local, State, or Federal Historic Registry are exempt from the cap.

Humboldt Bay Area Short-Term Rental Cap Area may be permitted as short-term rentals with the exception of Shelter Cove which has no limit. If the cap is exceeded, a short-term rental may be approved with a Special Permit.

submitted for sixty (60) days from the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section. The Department shall assess the status of the cap within ninety (90) days of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section. No applications for new permits will be accepted within the area subject to the cap within ninety (90) of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section.

Short-term rentals in Agriculture Exclusive Zone, Agriculture

General Zone, Forestry Recreation Zone, and Timberland Production Zone may only be permitted as farm stays except as follows:

term rentals shall be as allowed consistent with these provisions; and

acres, short-term rentals may be considered with a Special Permit; and

as allowed consistent with these provisions.

Exception to standards in subsections 314-60.05.10.3.1.3 and

314-60.05.10.3.1.4 may be sought with a Special Permit.

maintained in working order, and information related to all emergency exits shall be provided inside the short-term rental.

compost shall be appropriately disposed of at least weekly.

established RMA, the permit-holder shall be a member in good standing.

per bedroom plus one (1), excluding children under twelve (12).

Prior to the operation of the short-term rental, the permit holder shall

submit to the Planning and Building Department a signed affidavit certifying the delivery of a Good Neighbor Guide to all neighbors with dwellings within three hundred (300) feet of the short-term rental as the crow flies, and to the nearest five (5) neighbors up and down the access road. The Good Neighbor Guide shall also be submitted to the Planning and Building Department and must be present and available for tenants in all short-term rentals. The Good Neighbor Guide must contain, at a minimum, the following:

well as any violations of Humboldt County Code timely.

facilities (e.g., hospitals, police stations, fire stations).

No direct light shall spill onto adjacent properties or create glare above the property.

These provisions apply to parcels that are within a

Community Plan Area, are less than ten (10) acres in area, and where the short-term rental is located within one thousand (1,000) feet of the nearest neighboring residence. Exception to standards in subsections 314-60.05.10.6.1 through 314-60.05.10.6.2.5 may be sought with a Special Permit.

Each short-term rental may not exceed the following

neighborhood concentration limitations, except within the Shelter Cove Community Plan Area where this standard does not apply:

access road (one (1) dwelling for roads with less than ten (10) dwellings); and

the proposed short-term rental, measured as a six hundred (600) foot radius from the center of the dwelling used for the short-term rental.

the access road (one (1) dwelling for roads with less than five (5) dwellings).

Gatherings and parties shall have no more than twice

the maximum occupancy of the short-term rental, only allowed during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (not eligible for stay). If gatherings are intended, they must be included in the application for the short-term rental and the application must include provisions for parking, which can be on street where allowed.

The maximum noise levels allowed in all outdoor areas and indoor common areas

of the property are as follows: sixty-five (65) dB during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and sixty (60) dB from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.

holder shall install noise sensor and provide recorded data to the Planning and Building Department upon request.

Each short-term rental shall provide one (1) off-street parking space per rented

bedroom. Where legal on-street parking is available, one (1) on-street parking space may count toward the minimum number of parking spaces required.