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1. When does the Ordinance go into effect?

As of Oct. 13, 2021, the urgency ordinance is in effect.

Some portions of the urgency ordinance have timelines depending on when the short-term rental operator registers(ed) to pay the City’s Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and Santa Rosa Tourism Business Improvement Area (BIA) assessments (see below).

2. What is a short-term rental?

A short-term (sometimes called vacation) rental is defined as a residence where the owner rents out a bedroom(s) or the entire property for guests staying 30 days or fewer. Short-term rentals can be hosted or non-hosted.

3. What is the difference between a hosted and a non-hosted short-term rental?

A hosted short-term rental is defined as one where the host lives and sleeps in the dwelling unit, or lives and sleeps in another legal dwelling unit on the same parcel, throughout the short-term rental period. Hosted short-term rentals are allowed only in the host’s primary residence. Hosted rentals are permitted throughout the City with no distance requirements between them or another short-term rental of any kind.

A non-hosted short-term rental is defined as a rental where the host or owner does not live and sleep in the dwelling unit during the short-term rental period. Starting Dec. 4, the City will not allow a newly proposed non-hosted short-term rental within 1,000 feet of another non-hosted short-term rental.

4. How do I decide if I am a hosted or non-hosted short-term rental?

See the definitions of hosted and non-hosted above. If you have questions, email the City at [email protected].

Some short-term rental owners or hosts may choose to operate both hosted and non-hosted short-term rentals in the same residence but at different times. For instance, the owner/operator of a hosted short-term rental may rent the entire residence as a non-hosted short-term rental while out of town and rent out bedrooms while in town. In these situations, the short-term rental operation is classified as a non-hosted short-term rental.

5. What is an operator in good standing versus a new operator?

An operator in good standing will have registered to pay the City’s Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and Santa Rosa Tourism Business Improvement Area (BIA) assessments for each short-term rental on or before October 7, 2021, OR an operator in good standing will have registered to pay the City’s TOT and BIA for each short-term rental between October 7 and October 27 and provided with their Short-Term Rental Permit Application, proof of prior short-term rental activity during 2021.

Short-term rental operators in good standing must submit a Short-Term Rental Permit Application prior to December 3, 2021 to retain operator in good standing status. Operators in good standing may continue to rent, advertise, or offer a short-term rental at the address listed on the Short-Term Rental Permit Application while awaiting city approvals and when operating in compliance with all other ordinance requirements.

New short-term rental operators are any operators who do not fit the definition of an operator in good standing. New operators may apply for a new Short-Term Rental Permit starting Dec. 4, 2021 , and must obtain city approvals prior to renting, offering, or advertising a short-term rental.

6. What registrations or permits are required for a short-term rental to operate in compliance with the Ordinance?

All short-term rental operators must register to pay the City’s Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and Santa Rosa Tourism Business Improvement Area (BIA) assessments for each short-term rental and obtain a Short-Term Rental Permit for each short-term rental.

Operators in good standing (see above) must submit a complete Short-Term Rental Permit Application accompanied by the Short-Term Rental Permit application fee of $1, 129 by December 3, 2021 to retain operator in good standing status. Operators in good standing may continue to rent, advertise, or offer a short-term rental at the address listed on the Short-Term Rental Permit Application while awaiting city approvals and when operating in compliance with all other ordinance requirements.

New operators (see above) can register for TOT and BIA assessments now and may submit a Short-Term Rental Permit Application starting Dec. 4. To initiate the TOT and/or BIA registration process, please submit the registration form (https://www.srcity.org/DocumentCenter/View/1512/Transient-Occupancy-Tax-Registration-Form-PDF?bidId=) to [email protected] If you have questions about this process, please visit srcity.org/TOT. New operators must obtain city approvals prior to renting, offering, or advertising a short-term rental.

A Short-Term Rental Permit may only be issued to an Owner and only for a dwelling unit at a fixed location and address. Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and Junior ADUs are prohibited from use as short-term rentals.

7. Do I need to obtain a Business Tax Certificate?

Any short-term rental owner who operates four or more short-term rentals within Santa Rosa city limits must also obtain a Santa Rosa Business Tax Certificate. Visit https://srcity.org/315/Business-Tax for more information about how to apply for a Business Tax Certificate.

8. What requirements must a short-term-rental operator follow to be in compliance?

Compliance with the ordinance requires short-term rental owners to:

• Obtain a Short-Term Rental Permit
• Register for TOT and BIA assessments
• Follow and adhere to applicable local, state, and federal codes and laws;
• Limit short-term renters to two people per bedroom not to exceed 10 people, including children over 3 years old;
• Limit daytime guests to no more than half the number of guests staying overnight (short-term renters) at any one time during the hours of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (i.e. 8 short-term renters limits the rental property to 12 people maximum during the daytime hours);
• Maintain quiet hours from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.;
• Adhere to parking requirements;
• Prohibit the use of amplified sound onsite;
• Prohibit the use of the property as an event space (wedding, corporate events, etc.);
• Adhere to use requirements for firepits, outdoor fireplaces, and barbeques/grills;
• Install a landline telephone or VoIP line with a battery back-up that receives the most current, local “reverse 911” program;
• Disclose to guests any recording devices (cameras, microphones, etc.) that have been placed on the property;
• Post emergency evacuation materials provided by the City of Santa Rosa onsite for all guests;
  • Know Your Alerts flyer (English / Spanish)
  • Evacuations Checklist (English / Spanish)
  • Property's Evacuation Zone within the City (Use the look-up tool here to find evacuation zone and path.)
• Adhere to advertising and listing requirements; and
• Ensure the property remains available for inspection by City staff upon request at any time.

Violations of the Ordinance will result in a $500 fine for a first offense. If additional violations are received within one year, the fine increases to $1000 for a second offense and $2,000 for a third offense plus revocation of the Short-Term Rental Permit.

9. Where can a short-term rental operate in the City?

Hosted short-term rentals can operate anywhere in the City and within any distance of another short-term rental of any kind.

Non-hosted short-term rentals can operate in the following zoning districts including those located within an overlay district (e.g. -H, -DSA, etc):

• Core Mixed Use (CMU)
• Station Mixed Use (SMU)
• Maker Mixed Use (MMU)
• Neighborhood Mixed Use (NMU)
• Rural Residential (RR)
• Single Family Dwelling (R-1)
• Residential Planned Development (PD), where not explicitly prohibited
• Medium Density Multi-Family Residential (R-2)
• Multi-Family Residential (R-3)
• Transit Village Residential (TV-R)
• Office Commercial (CO)
• Neighborhood Commercial (CN)
• Community Shopping Center (CSC)
• General Commercial (CG), and
• Transit Village-Mixed (TVM)

For assistance with determining the zoning district your property is located in, please see https://srcity.org/1263/Find-Your-Zoning-District.

Starting Dec. 4, the City will not allow a newly proposed non-hosted short-term rental within 1,000 feet of another non-hosted short-term rental.