Short-term rentals in Sonoma County: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Sonoma County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Sonoma County's code says

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.

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Frequently asked questions

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

County rule: coastal vacation rentals need a zoning permit and a vacation rental license, only in detached single-family homes, 1 per parcel.

Short-term rentals in Sonoma County

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What Sonoma County's code says

Who this affects

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