Short-Term Rental Ordinance
Housing Element Program HE-19
An STR ordinance is needed to provide additional regulations with a clear permit path for these uses and enforcement mechanisms. Based on feedback from City Council and Planning Commission in 2025 and 2026, staff presented draft Zoning Ordinance amendments to define regulations for establishment of STRs in appropriate locations (generally areas zoned for hotels, commercial uses, and multi-residential areas) as well as for homeshares. The draft ordinances have been revised multiple times and are found below with the staff reports.
The 2023-2031 Housing Element, Housing Element Program HE-19, directs the City of Santa Barbara to develop a short-term rental (STR) ordinance to regulate the location and permitting of vacation rentals to incentivize long-term housing over transitory use. A key goal of the ordinance is to create a reliable permit path for STRs and establish operational standards so property owners, residents, and visitors know where STRs are allowed and how they can be licensed and operated.
Types of Short-Term Rentals.
- An STR is the rental of a whole residential unit, or portion thereof, for a period of 30 consecutive days or less and is considered residential use of property. These units are assumed to be non-hosted or rented as a vacant house.
- A Homeshare is a short-term rental that is the primary residence of either the property owner or designated host that involves the rental of a portion of the residential unit for a period of 30 consecutive days or less, while the owner or host is physically present.
