Short-Term Vacation Rentals
General Information
A short-term vacation rental, also known as a vacation rental, is the rental of an entire privately owned house, townhouse unit, condominium unit, apartment or other residence, or any space within a dwelling unit rented independently, for stays of less than 30 days. A short-term rental does not include bed and breakfasts, hostels, motels, or other hotel establishments.
Vacation rentals may occur within a single or two-family dwelling with approval of a Vacation Rental permit. Vacation rentals may offer either:
- Hosted accommodation, which means a vacation rental business for which the owner or authorized agent sleeps on the property of the vacation rental unit while it is being rented for transient occupancy; or
- Nonhosted accommodation, which means a vacation rental business for which the owner or authorized agent does not reside at the vacation rental unit while it is being rented for transient occupancy.
Applications
In order to operate or advertise for a short-term vacation rental, approval of a Vacation Rental Permit and approval of a Business License is required. The following items are required to be included with a Vacation Rental application submittal:
- Vacation Rental permit application fee of $826.00 (Vacation Rental fee $556.00 + CEQA Exemption fee $270.00 = $826.00)
- Signed Vacation Rental Submittal Checklist
- Completed Planning Application Form
- Project Narrative
- Site Plan
- Floor Plans
- Elevations
For further information relating to Vacation Rental permit applications, submittal requirements, and processes see “Vacation Rental Information Sheet and Application Guide”.
Quick Guide to Requirements:
Noise Restriction Quiet hours are required between 10pm and 7am. | Special Events Weddings, corporate events, |
Parking Each vacation rental must provide one legal off-street parking space for each guest vehicle. On street parking may be allowed through Vacation Rental permit approval. | Interior Posting Each rental is required to post detailed information for renters, including the rental’s occupancy limit, trash disposal requirements, parking, and conditions of approval. |
Occupancy Limits Each rental is required to post detailed information for renters, including the rental’s occupancy limit, trash disposal requirements, parking, and conditions of approval. | Complaint Resolution You will be required to designate a contact person to respond to complaints regarding your property. The designee shall, upon notification that renters and/or guests of his or her vacation rental have violated any house rules, promptly act to stop the violation, and prevent a recurrence of the violation. |
Fire Safety Working fire extinguishers, smoke | Advertisements All STR advertisements must include the property’s Vacation Rental permit number, the maximum number of occupants, and the maximum number of parking spaces available onsite. |
Accessory Dwelling Units
Short-term rentals of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) for which a building permit was issued on or after January 1, 2020, is strictly prohibited per State law. If an ADU obtained a building permit before January 1, 2020, short-term rentals may be allowed. If you have any questions or are unsure if your ADU is permitted, please contact the Planning Division.
Annual Renewals
Vacation Rental permits and Business Licenses are valid for one year and are required to be renewed to continue operating a property as a vacation rental. During review of a Vacation Rental Renewal, the City will consider the vacation rental’s compliance with the Winters Municipal Code Vacation Rental Chapter (17.54), compliance with the property’s specific conditions of approval, and any complaints and/or violations that occurred during the previous year.