Short Term Rental Ordinance

The County of Santa Cruz is implementing the Short Term Rental Ordinance, a project focused on amending the Santa Cruz County Code to repeal the previous Hosted Rental and Vacation Rental Ordinances. This legislative action aims to clarify regulations for vacation and hosted rentals, establish countywide and designated area caps on the number of rentals, and create guidelines for online advertising platforms. Additionally, the project includes the implementation of a response hotline and the establishment of new limitations and enforcement provisions for short term rentals. The project is being executed countywide and was approved by the Board of Supervisors on August 19, 2025. It has been granted a common sense exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act under Section 15061(b)(3), as the amendments are considered minor adjustments with no significant anticipated environmental impacts. The initiative is managed by the Department of Community Development and Infrastructure, with Fernanda Dias Pini serving as the primary point of contact.