Sonoma County Short Term Rental Updates and prohibited neighborhoods

On August 2, The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved updates to the Vacation Rental Ordinance, including a prohibition on new vacation rentals in R1- Zoned areas (low-density residential, which typically include residential areas that are not in a downtown area but are still connected to public utilities), allowing for caps to be placed on vacation rentals in areas of concentration and establishing restrictions on corporate ownership of vacation rentals in Sonoma County. 

The county already prohibits vacation rentals in neighborhoods zoned for mid and high-density housing.

Existing vacation rentals will not be affected by the ownership or zoning changes voted on today. 

In addition to prohibiting new vacation rentals in R1, the board also voted to allow for establishing limits on new vacation rentals in areas of concentration. These caps would effectively reduce the number of vacation rentals over time as the permits would cease upon the sale of the properties. The board also voted to restrict the ability to hold future vacation rental permits on "natural persons" of trusts, rather than corporate entities. Individuals may only hold one vacation rental permit at a time. 

New rules regarding rentals include: quiet hours from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. — a one hour increase from the current 10 p.m. start time — a cap on guests set by number of bedrooms, parking standards and other rules such as limits on outside burning like campfires.

The board also approved a new vacation rental license program that will standardize the requirements for all vacation rental permit holders outside cities.

The approved regulations are due to take effect in 30 days and will apply to unincorporated Sonoma County.