7.110 Short-Term Vacation Rentals.

This Section establishes requirements and conditions for the establishment and operation of short-term vacation

rentals within residential, planned unit development, and mixed-use zoning districts.

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

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A. Purpose. The purpose of this section and the standards outlined below is to serve visitors of Petaluma, to

ensure that short-term vacation rentals are compatible with residential and mixed use, and planned unit districts,

and to preserve the character of the neighborhoods in which they are located.

B. Permit Required.

1. Short-term vacation rentals. Short-term vacation rentals are a permitted use only in residential, planned

unit development, and mixed use zoning districts and only pursuant to a valid Short-Term Vacation Rental

Permit issued in accordance with this section by the Planning Director or designee of the Planning Director.

2. Notice to Neighbors. Upon approval of a Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit, all property owners within

100 feet of the permitted Short-Term Vacation Rental shall be noticed in writing. Such notice shall include the

location of the short-term vacation rental, number of rooms available for short-term vacation rental, and

contact information of the locally-available manager.

C. Requirements Applicable to All Short-Term Vacation Rentals.

1. Guest Manual. The Host shall provide a written manual to guests providing the local manager’s contact

information, the Performance Standards set forth in Chapter 21 of the Implementing Zoning Ordinance,

parking limitations, and other helpful information to minimize conRict within the neighborhood.

2. Signs. On-site signage is prohibited.

3. Business License. All short-term vacation rentals require a valid Business License issued in accordance

with Chapter 6.01 of the Petaluma Municipal Code.

4. Transient Occupancy Tax. Short-term vacation rentals are subject to and must satisfy all applicable

requirements of the City’s transient occupancy tax.

5. Adversiting Short-Term Rentals. In every advertisement for the Short-Term Vacation Rental, the Permittee

shall include the City issued Permit Number. It is a violation of this code to advertise a unit that does not have

a valid short-term vacation rental permit.

6. Accessory Dwelling Units. An accessory dwelling unit permitted after September 7, 2017, shall not be

permitted as a short-term vacation rental, consistent with Section 7.030(K).

D. Requirements Applicable to Hosted Short-Term Vacation Rentals. A Short-Term Vacation Rental in which the

permittee occupies the property with the guests and is subject to the following requirements:

1. Limit on Maximum Number of Occupants. No more than 2 overnight occupants per bedroom plus 2

additional occupants are permitted.

a. No more than two bedrooms in the dwelling may be furnished for compensation. (See section 7.100

for Bed and Breakfast requirements.)

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

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b. If the entire dwelling is an accessory/secondary unit, it may be furnished for compensation as a

Hosted Short-Term Vacation Rental, provided that the guests constitute one party, which may be

evidenced through a single rental agreement for the entire dwelling.

2. Manager. The permittee must be available at all times and be able to respond to complaints within 1

hour.

E. Permit Requirements Applicable to Non-Hosted Short-Term Rentals. A Short-Term Vacation Rental in which the

permittee does not occupy the property with the guests and is subject to the following requirements:

1. Limits on Occupants.

a. The entire dwelling may be furnished for compensation, provided that the guests constitute one

party, which may be evidenced through a single rental agreement for the entire dwelling.

b. No more than 2 overnight occupants per bedroom plus 2 additional occupants are permitted.

2. Limitation on Days. The dwelling as a non-hosted vacation rental may be furnished for compensation for

no more than 90 days during any calendar year.

3. Manager. A manager located within 45 miles of the City must be available at all times and be able to

respond to complaints within 1 hour.

F. Short-Term Vacation Rentals in Planned Unit Developments. A permit shall be issued for a Short-Term Vacation

Rental in a Planned Unit Development unless said PUD guidelines explicitly prohibit short-term vacation rentals.

Consistency with CC&Rs or other private covenants shall be the responsibility of the permittee and are not

regulated by the City as part of the permitting process.

G. Dispute Resolution. Upon receipt of three or more complaints in a calendar year about a Short Term Vacation

Rental, with the consent of the parties involved, the City may refer the parties to a third party mediator. The cost

shall be shared equally by the parties involved, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

H. Application Process. The application process for a Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit shall be as follows:

1. Application for Permit. Application for a Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit shall be made to the Director

on a form provided by the City.

2. Fee. The fee that applies to process applications for Short-Term Vacation Rental Permits shall be set by

the City Council resolution.

3. Parking. The application must show that the applicant can provide:

a. Parking. On-site parking for the existing residential use shall be provided as required in Table 11.1

for Dwelling Single Family or Multiple Household, as applicable. The Planning Manager, in his or her sole

discretion, may give credit for up to two uncovered spaces on the abutting public street if there is legal

non-conforming parking on the site; or

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

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b. Parking Exception. Applicants that are unable to meet the parking requirements in Section H.3.a. due

to existing legal non-conforming parking and/or site constraints, may obtain a Parking Exception upon

approval of a Minor Conditional Use Permit as prescribed in Section 24.060. Applications for a Parking

Exception must provide documentation demonstrating that adequate on-street parking is available to

accommodate the proposed short term vacation rental and the other existing uses on the site.

4. Safety. All short-term vacation rentals must provide smoke detectors, CO2 detectors, be adequately

heated, and otherwise satisfy all applicable requirements of the California Building Standards Code as in

eTect in the City.

5. Duration. Short-Term Vacation Rental Permits shall be valid through the end of the calendar in which

they are issued. All Short-Term Vacation Rental Permits shall expire on December 31, unless a renewal

application is approved.

6. Permit Approval. A Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit application shall be approved if all applicable

requirements are satisQed; otherwise, the application shall be denied.

I. Renewal of Permit.

1. Permittees may apply to renew Short-Term Vacation Rental Permits on forms provided by the City.

2. Permit renewal applications do not require notice in accordance with Section B.

3. The Director shall issue a renewal of a Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit if the permittee satisQes all

applicable requirements pursuant to this Chapter; otherwise such renewal applications shall be denied. The

Director may deny a renewal application if he or she determines that any of the following have occurred

during the 12 months prior to the renewal application:

a. Failure to timely remit Transient Occupancy Taxes; or

b. More than three veriQed violations of this section; or

c. The Director determines that permittee has provided false information in the application or

previous renewal application; or

d. An authorized oScial has given notiQcation or health or safety violations or non-compliance on the

property.

J. Revocation of Permit. Upon conQrmation of three or more veriQed violations of this section or other

information alleging that a short -term vacation rental has violated or is in violation of any applicable laws,

regulations, or other requirements, including, but not limited to, the requirements of this section, the Planning

Director or a designee of the Planning Director may commence permit revocation proceedings in accordance with

Section 24.060(G). Once a Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit has been revoked, continued use of the Short –Term

Vacation Rental at that location is prohibited and subsequent applications may not be Qled within one (1) year

from the date of revocation.

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

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K. Appeal. Appeal of decisions of the Planning Director pursuant to this section may be brought pursuant to