Sec. 4-202. - Definitions.

The following words and phrases have the meanings provided by this section. Citations to federal and state law refer to the act, statute, or regulations as may be amended from time to time.

A.

"Certification" means the approval issued by the director to a certified property manager.

B.

"Certified property manager" means an individual authorized by certification to manage a vacation rental.

C.

"Department" means the permit and resource management department.

D.

"Director" means the director of the permit and resource management or the director's designee.

E.

"Individual" means a natural person.

F.

"Land use permit" means a permit authorizing a vacation rental issued under the Sonoma County Zoning Code (Chapter 26).

G.

"Operate/operating a vacation rental" includes allowing tenancy of a vacation rental, entering into a rental agreement or otherwise arranging tenancy, and advertising a vacation rental (e.g. online posting, social media, sign, flyer).

H.

"Parcel" means a legal parcel of record in compliance with the California Subdivision Map Act (California Government Code Section 66410 et. seq.) and the Sonoma County Subdivision Ordinance (Chapter 25).

I.

"Person" includes an individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation, limited liability company, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, syndicate, tribe, or any other group or combination acting as a unit, and the plural as well as the singular.

J.

"Property owner" means a person with an ownership interest in the real property upon which a vacation rental is located or proposed. If the property is held in trust, "property owner" includes the present beneficiaries, but not the trustee, unless the trustee is also a present beneficiary. "Property owner" does not include a person with an ownership interest that is solely a security, lien, or encumbrance.

K.

"Vacation rental" means the tenancy of residential property for a term of thirty (30) days or less that is subject to transient occupancy tax. Vacation rental does not include a hosted rental or a bed and breakfast inn.

(Ord. No. 6427, § III(Exh. A), 5-16-2023)