Sonoma County · Renting & eviction

Renting in Sonoma County: the rules that apply

Sonoma County's own rules first, then the state law underneath — with the code text for every value.

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Key points

Rent increases — Sonoma County rule Eviction and just cause — Sonoma County rule Relocation payments — Sonoma County rule Notices — Sonoma County rule Security deposits — state law Retaliation — state law Harassment and lockouts — state law Repairs and habitability — state law Landlord entry — state law Short-term rentals — Sonoma County rule Hotel and short-term rental tax — Sonoma County rule

Sonoma County adds its own rules on rent increases, eviction and just cause, relocation payments, notices, short-term rentals and hotel and short-term rental tax on top of California's statewide rules. Each value below links to the section of the Sonoma County Municipal Code it was read from (checked October 2026).

Each rule below is marked Sonoma County code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Sonoma County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Sonoma County have their own codes and their own pages.

Rent increases

Sonoma County code 70% of the CPI percent change or 4%, whichever is less. No more than 5% of the current base rent.

All 11 Sonoma County rules on rent increases, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Eviction and just cause

Sonoma County code What Sonoma County's code adds
Allowed at-fault reasons	default in payment of rent exceeding one month's rent Applies: Covered residential tenancies in unincorporated Sonoma County; protection invoked at most twice yearly; after two defaults above one month, any later default that calendar year qualifies § 4-256 · code text A default in the payment of rent shall be an "at-fault just cause" for termination pursuant to Civ. Code Section 1946.2 (b)(1) and this article only when the amount due and owing as the basis of the default exceeds one month's rent for the rental unit. any subsequent default in payment of rent Applies: Covered residential tenancies in unincorporated Sonoma County; after two defaults above one month rent in the same calendar year § 4-256 · code text If a default in the payment of rent of an amount greater than one months' rent occurs two times in a calendar year, any subsequent default in such calendar year shall be an "at-fault just cause" for termination pursuant to Civ. Code Section 1946.2 (b)(1) and this article.
Units covered	Residential rental units in unincorporated Sonoma County, except Act-exempt units unless made nonexempt; qualifying restricted affordable housing included Applies: State/federal law, regulations and contract restrictions preserved; emergency protections may apply more broadly § 4-254 · code text Applicability of this article. This article applies to all residential rental units in the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County except for those units that are exempted by the Act and not expressly made non-exempt by this Section 4-254(b) hereof. It shall further apply more broadly where enumerated in Section 4-258. (b) Limitation on exemptions from the Act. Within the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County, the following rental units, exempted from the just cause protections of the Act by Civil Code Section 1946.2(e) are hereby made non-exempt, except where the application of this article to a rental unit would violate law, regulation, or contractual requirements of the federal government or the state of California applicable to such rental unit: Housing restricted by deed, regulatory restriction contained in an agreement with a government agency, or other recorded document as affordable housing for persons and families of very low, low, or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, or subject to an agreement that provides housing subsidies for affordable housing for persons and families of very low, low, or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code or comparable federal statutes.

CA state law Underneath, California law still applies. Just cause required: After 12 months of lawful occupancy, the owner may terminate only for a just cause stated in the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(a)). Just-cause eviction in California — the full state rule →

Relocation payments

Sonoma County code What Sonoma County's code adds
Amount	the monthly fair market rent for the rental unit being vacated, or the actual monthly rental rate for the rental unit, whichever is more Applies: Covered no-fault termination in unincorporated Sonoma County under section 4-254, including qualifying affordable housing; fair market rent is HUD Santa Rosa Metro FMR for equivalent unit size in the applicable fiscal year § 4-257 · code text the amount of the relocation payment shall be equal to the monthly fair market rent for the rental unit being vacated, or the actual monthly rental rate for the rental unit, whichever is more. the difference between actual rent and fair market rent Applies: Covered no-fault termination in unincorporated Sonoma County under section 4-254, including qualifying affordable housing; Fair market rent is greater than actual monthly rent and the landlord waives last month's rent in lieu of payment to the tenant; fair market rent is HUD Santa Rosa Metro FMR for equivalent unit size in the applicable fiscal year § 4-257 · code text landlord shall pay the difference between actual rent and fair market rent to tenant no later than the date upon which tenant's last month rent would have been due but for the waiver.
When it is paid	no later than the date upon which tenant's last month rent would have been due but for the waiver Applies: Covered no-fault termination in unincorporated Sonoma County under section 4-254, including qualifying affordable housing; Landlord elects to waive last month's rent pursuant to Civil Code Section 1946.2(d)(2) in lieu of payment to tenant, and fair market rent exceeds actual monthly rent § 4-257 · code text landlord shall pay the difference between actual rent and fair market rent to tenant no later than the date upon which tenant's last month rent would have been due but for the waiver.
When relocation is owed	Landlord seeks to recover possession of a rental unit based on a no-fault just cause as defined in the Act Applies: Covered no-fault termination in unincorporated Sonoma County under section 4-254, including qualifying affordable housing § 4-257 · code text If a landlord seeks to recover possession of a rental unit within the terms of Section 4-254(a) where such recovery of possession is based on a no-fault just cause as defined in the Act, the amount of the relocation payment shall be equal to the monthly fair market rent for the rental unit being vacated, or the actual monthly rental rate for the rental unit, whichever is more.

CA state law Underneath, California law still applies. No-fault eviction relocation assistance: One month's rent (as relocation payment or rent waiver), paid within 15 calendar days of the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(d)(3)(A)). Relocation under California's just-cause law — the full state rule →

Notices

Sonoma County code Yes—file a copy of any notice terminating tenancy with the county of Sonoma at the Sonoma County Tenant Protections Portal within three days after serving the notice, and concurrently complete the required landlord informational submissions State the cause for the termination and any information required under the article

All 7 Sonoma County rules on notices, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Security deposits

CA state law Sonoma County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Security deposit cap: One month's rent, on top of the first month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), (c)(6)). Deposit return deadline: 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, with an itemized statement of any deductions (Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1)). California security deposit law — the full state rule →

Retaliation

CA state law Sonoma County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Retaliation protection period: For 180 days after a tenant complains about habitability (to the landlord or an agency), the landlord may not evict, raise rent or cut services in retaliation (Civ. Code § 1942.5(a), (b)). Retaliatory eviction in California — the full state rule →

Harassment and lockouts

CA state law Sonoma County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Lockouts and self-help eviction banned: A landlord may not change locks, remove doors or windows, or remove the tenant's belongings to force a tenant out (Civ. Code § 789.3(b)). Utility shutoffs banned: A landlord may not cut off water, heat, electricity, gas or other utilities to force a tenant out (Civ. Code § 789.3(a)). Tenant harassment and lockouts in California — the full state rule →

Repairs and habitability

CA state law Sonoma County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Duty to keep the unit habitable: The landlord must deliver a unit fit to live in and repair conditions that make it untenantable (Civ. Code § 1941). Repair and deduct: A tenant may make a repair the landlord neglects and deduct the cost from rent, up to one month's rent, no more than twice in any 12 months (Civ. Code § 1942(a)). Habitability and repair-and-deduct — the full state rule →

Landlord entry

CA state law Sonoma County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Landlord entry notice: Reasonable written notice, presumed to be 24 hours, and entry only during normal business hours (Civ. Code § 1954(d)(1), (e)). Landlord entry notice in California — the full state rule →

Short-term rentals

Sonoma County code What Sonoma County's code adds
Allowed	Only in a detached single-family home, alone or with its legal guesthouse. Applies: Coastal vacation rentals; not in ADUs, JADUs, two-unit or lot-split units, Williamson Act parcels, timeshares or deed-restricted units. § 26C-325.10 · code text 2. Allowable Structures. A vacation rental is only allowed in the following: i. A detached single family dwelling unit. ii. A detached single family dwelling unit together with its legally established guest house. 3. Restricted Structures. A vacation rental is not allowed in the following: i. A structure subject to a recorded governmental restriction, including covenants or agreements for an affordable housing unit, agricultural employee unit, farmworker housing, or a farm family dwelling. ii. A structure on a parcel under a Land Conservation (Williamson) Act contract. iii. A timeshare. iv. Any dwelling unit on a lot created pursuant to Government Code § 66411.7 or local ordinance adopted to implement Government Code § 66411.7. v. Any dwelling unit created pursuant to Government Code § 65852.21 or local ordinance adopted to implement Government Code § 65852.21. vi. An accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit.
Cap on rentals	Capped at 5% or 10% of single-family homes in the district. Applies: Only where the X district caps vacation rentals; no new rentals once the cap is met; fractions rounded down. § 26-79-020 · code text The X district may be applied to cap vacation rentals at five percent (5%) or ten percent (10%) of the single-family dwellings in the proposed X district boundaries when the cap is imposed. 1 vacation rental per parcel. Applies: Applies to vacation rentals under the coastal zoning code. § 26C-325.10 · code text Only one (1) vacation rental is allowed per parcel.
Permit or registration	A zoning permit and a vacation rental license are required. Applies: Coastal vacation rentals; some legal rentals operating October 26, 2018 to October 26, 2023 need no permit until ownership changes. § 26C-325.10 · code text Zoning permit and vacation rental license (Chapter 4, Article VII) required.

Hotel and short-term rental tax

Sonoma County code What Sonoma County's code adds
Tax rate	12% of the rent. Applies: Applies to stays at any lodging. § 12-11 · code text For the privilege of occupancy at any lodging, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of twelve percent (12%) of the rent charged.
Who collects it	The operator collects the tax from guests and pays it to the tax collector. § 12-14 · code text The operator named on the face of this registration certificate shall be responsible to collect from transients the transient occupancy tax and remitting such tax to the tax collector.

Other Sonoma County rules on this

Sonoma County's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Mobilehome Park Space Rent Stabilization (Ch. 2, Art. XIX) — mobilehome park spaces only

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Does a landlord in Sonoma County need a reason to evict?

Sonoma County's code: default in payment of rent exceeding one month's rent (Covered residential tenancies in unincorporated Sonoma County; protection invoked at most twice yearly; after two defaults above one month, any later default that calendar year qualifies) (§ 4-256); any subsequent default in payment of rent (Covered residential tenancies in unincorporated Sonoma County; after two defaults above one month rent in the same calendar year) (§ 4-256). State law: After 12 months of lawful occupancy, the owner may terminate only for a just cause stated in the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(a)).

Does a Sonoma County landlord have to pay relocation?

Sonoma County's code: the monthly fair market rent for the rental unit being vacated, or the actual monthly rental rate for the rental unit, whichever is more (Covered no-fault termination in unincorporated Sonoma County under section 4-254, including qualifying affordable housing; fair market rent is HUD Santa Rosa Metro FMR for equivalent unit size in the applicable fiscal year) (§ 4-257); the difference between actual rent and fair market rent (Covered no-fault termination in unincorporated Sonoma County under section 4-254, including qualifying affordable housing; Fair market rent is greater than actual monthly rent and the landlord waives last month's rent in lieu of payment to the tenant; fair market rent is HUD Santa Rosa Metro FMR for equivalent unit size in the applicable fiscal year) (§ 4-257). State law: One month's rent (as relocation payment or rent waiver), paid within 15 calendar days of the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(d)(3)(A)).

How much can a Sonoma County landlord charge for a security deposit?

Sonoma County has no local rule on this that we found (checked October 2026); state law applies: One month's rent, on top of the first month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), (c)(6)).

Can I rent out my home short-term in Sonoma County?

Sonoma County's code: Only in a detached single-family home, alone or with its legal guesthouse. (Coastal vacation rentals; not in ADUs, JADUs, two-unit or lot-split units, Williamson Act parcels, timeshares or deed-restricted units.) (§ 26C-325.10); Capped at 5% or 10% of single-family homes in the district. (Only where the X district caps vacation rentals; no new rentals once the cap is met; fractions rounded down.) (§ 26-79-020).

What is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in Sonoma County?

Sonoma County's code: 12% of the rent. (Applies to stays at any lodging.) (§ 12-11); The operator collects the tax from guests and pays it to the tax collector. (§ 12-14).

General information, not legal advice.

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Sonoma County Municipal Code — full text

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Building on your lot in Sonoma County

Sonoma County overview