Vacation Rentals
The Board of Supervisors approved Vacation Rental Ordinance Amendments on January 26, 2021. The amendments are now in effect.
The moratorium on issuance of new vacation rental permits is now lifted. The Planning Department has commenced processing applications for new vacation rentals. Please note, the three Designated Areas, which are the Live Oak Designated Area (LODA); the Seacliff/Aptos/La Selva Beach Designated Area (SALSDA); and the Davenport/Swanton Designated Area (DASDA) are currently at capacity. There is currently a Wait List for new permits in these areas. For more information on how to submit a Wait List request, please review the Wait List request information below.
WAIT LIST REQUESTS
The Planning Department is currently maintaining a Wait List for Vacation Rental and Hosted Rentals permits in the three Designated Areas (LODA, SALSDA, and DASDA). Permits will be issued on a first-applied, first-issued system, with evaluation of permit availability occurring on a bi-annual basis (June 1st and December 1st). There is a $145.00 annual Wait List fee to maintain a space on the List.
To submit a Wait List Request, please complete the Wait List Form and email it to: vacation.eplanreview@santacruzcounty.us for review and signature. Applications will not be accepted without signature. Following receipt of signature, please drop off the completed form with the cashier during Planning Counter business hours, or mail it, along with the annual Wait List Fee ($145.00 check made out to the County of Santa Cruz) to:
County of Santa Cruz
Planning Department
Attn: Vacation Rental Processing
701 Ocean Street, Room 400
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
To check your placement on the most up-to-date Wait List, you may view the current Wait List.
In Santa Cruz County, property owners may rent part or all of their home as a short-term rental (less than 30 days) with a permit.
Short-term rental of an entire home requires a Vacation Rental Permit. Vacation Rentals are different from “Hosted Rentals” and “Bed and Breakfasts” (short-term rental of a portion of a home where the property owner is on site during the rental).
Following is some key information about Vacation Rentals in Santa Cruz County.
Vacation Rental Ordinance (as amended 1/26/21)
Emergency Contacts for Vacation Rentals
Map of Active Vacation Rentals in the County
Vacation Rental Application
Apply for a Vacation Rental/Renewal Permit
All permit application submittals are being taken in remotely via the department’s online “ePlan” portal. To submit an application for a Vacation Rental Permit or Renewal, please visit the ePlan Review Page.
For more information about the ePlan process, please refer to the attached ePlan Discretionary Permit Overview and Application Process Guidelines.
Questions? Visit the Planning Counter, email us at Planning.ZoningInfo@santacruzcounty.us or call the Zoning Information Line at (831) 454-2130.