Events

Be sure to checkin here for upcoming important events, county and city meetings, and virtual meetups that affect our community.
View our events also on our Calendar page.

Upcoming Meetings and Events

May 14, 2024

The Board of Supervisor will consider final adoption of an Ordinance to Update Civil Penalties on vacation rentals, that was first presented to the Board on April 30, 2024.

According to documents presented by the County on April 30:

"Vacation Rentals operating without required permits or licenses are subject to a penalty of 10 times the normal application fees. The Board directed staff to return with an amendment to County Code Section 1-7.1 to modify civil penalties for such rentals to provide a range of potential penalties. Modifying the penalty to instead allow a range from 3 to 10 times the application fee, would allow staff to consider the relevant facts of the violation and assess the penalty accordingly. The penalties would range from approximately $1787 to $5956 for unlicensed vacation rentals, and $4,245 to $14,150 for operations without a zoning permit or license.

The Code Enforcement Division of Permit Sonoma develops internal protocols to apply penalties consistently and equitably by taking factors into consideration such as the operator’s awareness of County requirements and history of past violations. When an operator receives a notice of violation, they may appeal the determination - typically within 10 days of the notice of violation. The appeal is then considered at an abatement hearing before a Hearing Officer consistent with abatement procedures specified in Sec. 1-7.3 of County Code.”

You can write your Public Comment to the Board of Supervisors or attend the meeting.

EMAIL:

Public comments can be submitted via email to Board of Supervisors at bos@sonoma-county.org

IN PERSON:

April 22, 2024 to April 24, 2024

Board of Supervisors Chambers

575 Administration Drive 102A

Santa Rosa, CA 95405

May 21, 2024 Local Coastal Plan

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will once again, look at the Local Coastal Plan. The Local Coastal Plan will then go to the Coastal Commission for review and certification in a public hearing who's calendar can be viewed here.

Agenda and documents for the May 21st meeting, can be found here.

SCCH supports all coastal zone homeowners having the option to choose how they wish to purpose their home, and the County should not prohibit lower cost housing from being used as a vacation rental, as the cost of other properties that are higher value, will ultimately price low to moderate income families from enjoying the coast. This will help ensure maximum public access because without lower cost visitor serving facilities, members of the public with low or moderate incomes would be more limited in their ability to access and enjoy the coast. Creating an ordinance that only allows wealthy homes to be used as vacation rentals, only allows the wealthy to stay in Sonoma County.

If you own a home in the Coastal Zone or want to get involved and lend your support locally, please visit our friends at: Sonoma Coast Vacation Rental Owners, or The Sea Ranch Hosting Coalition

PUBLIC COMMENTS can be made via email and in person. Please include agenda item #.

Email comments, to the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org.

In Person: 575 ADMINISTRATION DRIVE, SANTA ROSA, CA 95403 |BOARD CHAMBERS – ROOM 102A

May 21, 2024

Annual BIA Renewal‐ Resolution of Intent

We believe the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is poised to hear a BIA tax increase for those of us who earn less than $350K per year from our short-term rentals, both hosted and unhosted, as they were on Nov. 1st, 2022. The agenda and documents will be found here.

Currently, if you earn less than the $350K threshold, you have not had to pay the BIA to the County. Some of you live in cities within the County where you pay a BIA to your city.

If the County has its way, all cities, except Healdsburg and the city of Sonoma, will be hit with two BIA taxes to pay, one city and one county.

Here are some of our concerns:

1. We are skeptical that this increase would be good for hosts, or the county. Most travelers are dealing with inflation difficulties, and gasoline costs are still very high, so why would we want to make Sonoma County a more expensive to visit at this time? We need more travelers, not less.

2. When a BIA expansion was first presented to the supervisors on November 1, 2022, there was no language in the proposed ordinance that would ensure the funds raised from short-term owners would be dedicated to the promotion of small lodging businesses.

3. Back in 2022, the owners of these businesses only received notice of this expansion postmarked on October 19, 2022, and the protest period is only a short period of time with two public Board of Supervisors meetings on November 1, 2022, and December 13, 2022.

4. Also in 2022, no county wide survey of these small lodging businesses was conducted to determine if they supported the assessment area expansion and increase in assessment.

5. Taxation without representation is never a good thing. We do not feel that Sonoma Tourism has paid enough attention to short-term rentals. They have largely served the needs of the hotels. The portion of their website that is dedicated to short-term rentals, is still difficult for travelers to navigate and book a hosted or non-hosted short-term rental.

Some areas for improvement for their website that we noticed:

On the Make Reservations Tab, all types of lodging should be represented, not just hotels.
Hosted rentals need to be equally represented as well.
Increase the search and booking functions for short-term rentals to have additional “Amenity” searches such as: search by the number of people, number of rooms, hosted/unhosted, pool and hot tub, patio/deck/outdoor area, BBQ, dishwasher/washer/dryer, LGBTQ-welcoming, and pet-friendly etc.
Add functions which allow short-term rentals to be found on a map as well as by location, like: near mountains, near river, near lake, near beach, countryside, city center, near cultural venues, near specific town/city. The current alphabetical order of vacation rental listings makes little sense.

We encourage all hosts to write a Public Comment, then send it to the Board of Supervisors, bos@sonoma-county.org, and most importantly share IN PERSON during the Board meeting.

In person:

Board of Supervisors Chambers 575 Administration Drive 102A Santa Rosa, CA 95403

June 4, 2024

Annual BIA Renewal‐ PUBLIC HEARING

Currently, if you earn less than the $350K threshold, you have not had to pay the BIA to the County. Some of you live in cities within the County where you pay a BIA to your city.

If the County has its way, all cities, except Healdsburg and the city of Sonoma, will be hit with two BIA taxes to pay, one city and one county.

Here are some of our concerns:

2. Taxation without representation is never a good thing. We do not feel that Sonoma Tourism has paid enough attention to short-term rentals. They have largely served the needs of the hotels. The portion of their website that is dedicated to short-term rentals, is still difficult for travelers to navigate and book a hosted or non-hosted short-term rental.

3. When a BIA expansion was first presented to the supervisors on November 1, 2022, there was no language in the proposed ordinance that would ensure the funds raised from short-term owners would be dedicated to the promotion of small lodging businesses.

4. Back in 2022, the owners of these businesses only received notice of this expansion postmarked on October 19, 2022, and the protest period is only a short period of time with two public Board of Supervisors meetings on November 1, 2022, and December 13, 2022.

5. Also in 2022, no county wide survey of these small lodging businesses was conducted to determine if they supported the assessment area expansion and increase in assessment.

We encourage all hosts to write a Public Comment, then send it to the Board of Supervisors, bos@sonoma-county.org, and most importantly share IN PERSON during the Board meeting.

In person:

Board of Supervisors Chambers 575 Administration Drive 102A Santa Rosa, CA 95403

July 9, 2024

Transient Occupancy Tax Ordinance ‐ First Reading

Past Meetings

April 30, 2024

Vacation Rental Update and Establish Vacation Rental Advertising Enforcement Component.

We wanted to update you on the coming changes to the short-term rental ordinance in Sonoma County that the Supervisor will look at on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at 2:15PM.

It is Agenda item 76 and text & documents are here.

We have begun talking to the supervisor about the harshness of the penalties for operating a short-term rental without the proper licenses and permits, and here are some positive changes that are coming.

If the measure passes, Permit Sonoma staff will now have some discretion as to the level of a fine based upon.

"Vacation Rentals operating without required permits or licenses are subject to a penalty of 10 times the normal application fees. The Board directed staff to return with anamendment to County Code Section 1-7.1 to modify civil penalties for such rentals to provide a range of potential penalties. Modifying the penalty to instead allow a range from 3 to 10 times the application fee, would allow staff to consider the relevant facts of the violation and assess the penalty accordingly. The penalties would range from approximately $1787 to $5956 for unlicensed vacation rentals, and $4,245 to $14,150 for operations without a zoning permit or license.

We believe this approach to be more fair and just, as it will be a more reasonable approach to assessing fines.

There will also be an update from Permit Sonoma (PRMD) to the Supervisors about how the vacation rental license program is working – which will be a great opportunity for hosts to give feedback on lighting requirements, LLC ownership, and other topics important to the home sharing community.

You can write your Public Comment to the Board of Supervisors, and most importantly, WE NEED YOU TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT.

EMAIL

Comments, to the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org.

IN PERSON

Board of Supervisors Chambers

575 Administration Drive 102A

Santa Rosa, CA 95405

Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting using one of the three following methods, BUT YOU CAN NO LONGER MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON ZOOM OR LIVESTREAM:

1. WATCH LIVESTREAM:

https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Once the meeting has started, click the “In Progress” hyperlink to begin viewing.

2. LISTEN TO MEETING IN ZOOM:

Participate by computer, tablet, or smartphone application:

Go to: https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/95248209696?pwd=bGYrd2dmTm15OHBYWVlpY1JWcXNCUT09

Enter meeting ID: 952 4820 9696

Enter Password: 919371

Listen through Zoom by phone:

Dial +1 (669) 900 9128

Enter meeting ID: 952 4820 9696

Enter password: 919371

April 22, 2024 at 2:45pm

BUDGET WORKSHOPS - Board of Supervisors

Review the current Transient Occupancy Tax Board established financial policies.

The Board of Supervisors will review the current Transient Occupancy Tax Board established financial policies, and consider additional deliberations, at their Budget Workshops during the Economic Development Board presentation on Monday, April 22, at 2:45pm.

Here is the Agenda, Schedule and Presentation.

As hosts in Sonoma County and cities within, we strive to be welcoming to all. We understand the importance the county places on the TOT revenue it receives from short-term rentals. We are happy to see this revenue used to make our community a better and more enjoyable place for people to visit, but also to sponsor artistic projects and fund needed public services for those living in our cities and towns. Yet, at the same time, the county has sought to severely restrict the average person from engaging in this economic opportunity; they have created legislation to outright ban future vacation rentals in certain areas, even in historically tourist-serving locations, which will only lead to a decrease in generating vital future revenue.

STR’s have been a longtime economic boost for our economy, providing local jobs and businesses in the surrounding area. Service jobs in restaurants, wineries, pubs, outdoor tourist attractions, waiters, bartenders, busboys, house cleaners, gardeners, pool maintenance, etc.

Short-term rentals provide a way for families and others to visit our wineries, and the coast in a more cost-effective way. A reduction in short-term rental supply, raises prices for all lodging in the county.

Short-term rentals not only help Sonoma County’s economy; they’re critically important to Sonoma families, as well, and may be an increasingly important option for those of us trying to adjust to an ever more challenging set of circumstances. One never knows when some unexpected event in their life (i.e., loss of a job, care of a loved one, divorce or death of a spouse) and they find themselves needing to earn extra income—offering a home short-term could be the only way to make ends meet.

You can write your Public Comment to the Board of Supervisors or attend the meeting.

EMAIL:

Public comments can be submitted via email to Board of Supervisors at bos@sonoma-county.org

IN PERSON:

April 22, 2024 to April 24, 2024

Board of Supervisors Chambers

575 Administration Drive 102A

Santa Rosa, CA 95405

Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting using one of the three following methods, BUT YOU CANNOT MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT VIA ZOOM:

1. WATCH LIVESTREAM:
https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
Once the meeting has started, click the “In Progress” hyperlink to begin viewing.
April 22, 2024

2. LISTEN TO MEETING IN ZOOM:
Participate by computer, tablet, or smartphone application:
Go to: https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/97061936400?pwd=ZE9FT3VmNDlkQWdzaFU2ZEFGMlk0QT09
Enter meeting ID: 970 6193 6400
Enter Password: 919371

3. LISTEN TO ZOOM BY PHONE:
Dial +1 (669) 900 9128
Enter meeting ID: 970 6193 6400
Enter password: 919371

April 11, 2024

Sonoma County Coastal Zone Vacation Rental Regulations - California Coastal Commission

The public hearing for the proposed County Vacation Rental Regulations for the Coastal Zone (Permit & License requirements) is scheduled for Thursday, April 11, 2024, at the 9AM meeting of the California Coastal Commission in Long Beach, CA.

Agenda and documents for the Thursday, April 11 meeting can be viewed here and it is item TH9b. You can find all documents on the CCC site under Agendas, and then click on April 11, and then scroll down to North Central Coast.

Sonoma County LCP Amendment Number LCP-2-SON-23-0042-1 (Vacation Rental Requirements). ,

Report , Exhibits , Correspondence

Agenda Description:

Public hearing and potential action on request by Sonoma County to amend the LCP Implementation Plan to establish new regulations regarding vacation rentals, and if the Commission does not take a final action, possible action to extend the deadline for final Commission action on the amendment.

SCCH supports all coastal zone homeowners having the option to choose how they wish to purpose their home, and the County should not prohibit lower cost housing from being used as a vacation rental, as this will ultimately price out low to moderate income families from enjoying the coast. This will help ensure maximum public access because, without lower cost visitor serving facilities, members of the public with low or moderate incomes would be more limited in their ability to access and enjoy the coast. Creating an ordinance that only allows wealthy homes to be used as vacation rentals, only allows the wealthy to stay in Sonoma County. Neither Sonoma nor the Coastal Commission know the effect on public access of the County’s proposed restrictions on structures, ownership and occupancy, and so the Commission should insist on monitoring and review of the availability of vacation rentals on the Sonoma Coast.

You can view the public comment we have submitted to the California Coastal Commission here: Sonoma County Proposed Vacation Rental Regulation

There are 3 ways you can participate and make a Public Comment at the California Coastal Commission meeting.

ZOOM: Fill out a Speaker Request Form HERE, and the California Coastal Commission will email you a Zoom link for the April 11 meeting. It is highly recommended you fill out a speaker request form no later than 5PM, April 10.

EMAIL:

Public comments can be submitted to the California Coast Commission at: northcentralcoast@coastal.ca.gov

IN PERSON:

Long Beach City Hall
Council Chambers
411 W. Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802

September 26, 2023

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors – Proposed Coastal Zone Vacation Rental Regulation Update

The Board of Supervisors will hold a hearing on the Local Coastal Plan 0n Tuesday, September 26th at 1:50 PM, it is item #27 and documents can be found here.

We are concerned there is language in the Local Coastal Plan that will be used to prohibit certain homes from being purposed short-term. Please find below the public comments from Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts, The Sea Ranch Hosting Coalition, Sonoma Coast Vacation Rental Owners, for the board of supervisor meeting.

Our most important concerns are the impact to public access on the coast, the ownership restrictions they propose and the opportunity for the public to comment regarding the changes to vacation rentals on the coast. Additionally, we have questions about the meaning of what a “recorded governmental restriction” actually means. Can we get a clearer definition?

PUBLIC COMMENTS can be made to the Board of Supervisors by email or in person. UNFORTUNATELY, THE BOARD WILL NOT ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENTS VIA ZOOM. Please include agenda item number #27

Email comments, to the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org.

In Person: 575 ADMINISTRATION DRIVE, SANTA ROSA, CA 95403 |BOARD CHAMBERS – ROOM 102A

You can watch the meeting here: https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/95953003079?pwd=TGhKdVJEeWlUbDJxSzVpY1U2VmxOUT09

Meeting ID: 959 5300 3079

Enter Password: 919371

Impact on public access to the coast

The California Coastal Commission exists in large part to preserve access for all Californians to their coast. Indeed, the creation of the Coastal Commission stemmed from a dispute over public access to part of the Sonoma County coast in particular. Vacation Rentals form most of the available transient accommodation on the Sonoma coast. There are few hotels or other lodgings. Vacation Rentals have an outsize importance for preserving public access, since our coast is not easily accessible on a day trip basis for most Californians.

Despite this background, the County has conducted no study and offers no evidence of the impact of their proposed policies on public access to the coast. The County simply states, without evidence or even argument, that “this Amendment conforms to the Local Coastal Program, in that it does not negatively impact public coastal access”. [1]

In fact, the policies will obviously negatively impact public access through restrictions on Vacation Rental ownership, structures in which Vacation Rentals may be operated and occupancy restrictions. The question is not whether, but how much.

The policy does exempt existing rentals from these regulations and so any potential impact will take place slowly, as existing rentals cease operation or change hands and new ones are established.

At the very least, the County should have a plan for monitoring the impact of the policy on public access over time, in a way that is transparent to the public and the Coastal Commission. This should include publication of data, readily accessible to the general public on Vacation Rental activity in the Coastal Zone, including:

Number of licenses issued and revoked each year
Number of licenses actually in use (per TOT records)
Number of Zoning Permits
Number of Zoning Permits actually in use (per TOT records)
Total rented nights each year (per TOT records) for permitted and unpermitted properties
Total rented person-nights each year (per TOT records based on maximum occupancy) for permitted and unpermitted properties
Total available person-nights each year (based on maximum occupancy of in-use licenses) for permitted and unpermitted properties

This data would allow the public, the County and the Coastal Commission to observe the impact of the new policies by comparing the above metrics between permitted (new) and unpermitted (grandfathered) properties over time. Over a small number of years it should be possible to estimate the long-term impact, either re-assuring the public and the Commission that public access is preserved or allowing the County to change course in good time, if necessary.

Opportunity for Public Comment

The County notes the approval of many of these regulations at prior meetings at which public comments were received over Zoom. The regulations themselves have benefited from public suggestions from Sonoma County homeowners and are considerably improved compared to their early versions as a result. However, it is difficult for many Coastal zone homeowners to participate in person because: a) the coastal zone is 55 miles along the coast with many owners needing to travel a long distance to the physical meeting; b) some owners are out of the area and are impacted by what the county is proposing; c) traveling to the meeting from the rural part of District 5 can be a hardship for older owners, or employed owners who cannot take a half day off work to participate in this important meeting.

The County should re-institute public comments by Zoom at the earliest opportunity. Those who use online public comments for abuse, do so explicitly to disrupt and degrade the important work of the Board of Supervisors. They should not be allowed to succeed in this by cutting off the opportunity for legitimate public scrutiny and comment.

Ownership restrictions

The new Vacation Rental license places ownership restrictions on Vacation Rentals, which have typically been described as follows:

Limit licenses to properties owned by natural persons or trusts, and limit Vacation Rental licenses to one per individual

[For example, in the staff report to the 8/2/22 Board of Supervisors meeting at which the License was approved [2] and on numerous other occasions].

However, the License contains a stricter requirement:

A property owner may only have an ownership interest in one licensed vacation rental at a time.

This requirement forces joint property owners to change their property ownership arrangements to obtain the promised right to one license per individual. The public, and possibly the Supervisors, have been misled about this detail.

The requirement for joint owners to change ownership arrangements to obtain one license per individual is extremely onerous for those affected. The County is presumably concerned that an individual might operate many vacation rentals by signing up loosely-related others to own a small slice of each and apply for the license. But this is also complex and risky, and so unlikely to occur at a significant scale.

The County should amend this requirement to align with the summary description given at multiple public hearings. They should limit the number of Licenses a single individual can hold to one. If further protection is needed against people “gaming the system” then, additionally, the number of ownership interests in license properties could be limited to two.

Recorded Government Restrictions

The proposed Zoning Permit restricts Vacation Rentals from “A structure subject to a recorded governmental restriction”. We have received and welcome confirmation from County staff [3] that this refers only to a restriction placed on a specific individual structure, per the examples contained in this clause. This narrow intent could be usefully made clearer in the ordinance, in the County’s submission to the Coastal Commissions and / or in the Coastal Commission’s approval.

[1] https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11094383&GUID=E57424C5-56A3-4ACC-B056-46BD2A035670

[2] Staff report to 8/2/22 Board of Supervisors https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11094384&GUID=173788A5-327F-412F-AFA0-3EE3CBD65B78

[3] Correspondence from Doug Bush to Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts on 9/18/23: “The intent of that provision is to make clear that the ordinance does not over-ride unique conditions that have been recorded on specific properties, such as those conditions that have been used to protect deed-restricted affordable housing. The inclusion of the examples in the ordinance itself (e.g., farmworker housing) makes clear that this is intended to apply only in unique cases and that banning vacation rentals in general is not the intent.“

Sonoma County July17, 2023

Board of Supervisors final discussions on the Local Coastal Plan's update

On Monday, July 17, 2023, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will convene for their final meeting to conclude discussions on the Local Coastal Plan's update. District 5 Supervisor, Linda Hopkins, intends to put forth a late-stage change aiming to impose potential limitations on vacation rentals along the coast.

We invite you to join hosts in resisting this abrupt change. Express your thoughts through public comment at the July 17th Board Of Supervisors meeting. You can either attend in person, participate via Zoom, or email your comment to bos@sonoma-county.org. If you have ties in a different Sonoma district, write to your Supervisor, urging them to reject Hopkins' rushed alteration to the Local Coastal Plan process.

Please visit our friends at: Sonoma Coast Vacation Rental Owners, or The Sea Ranch Hosting Coalition If you own a home in the Coastal Zone or want to get involved and lend your support locally.

Windsor June 7, 2023 6 PM

Windsor Town Council, consider adoption of Short-Term Rental Zoning Ordinance

WE NEED YOUR VOICES TO BE HEARD by telling your story to your elected officials by phone and email and showing up at the Windsor Town Council Meeting June 7 . The agenda and documents will be posted here.

1. YOUR STORY: For those of you that rent out your house sometimes to families or groups, we need them to hear how this helps your family with much needed income. Examples might include teachers who travel during the summer but want to stay living in the community, retirees who sometimes fly off to see grandchildren, or perhaps you need the space for family to visit sometimes, and other times you need the income, or perhaps you need the funds for much needed repairs. For those of you with second homes, does this income help you keep and maintain your home, but you use it as a place to rest with your own family and friends sometimes.

2. VENDOR STORIES: Housekeepers, gardeners, pool cleaners, electricians, plumbers, appliance repair, and other maintenance people benefit from this activity. We need to hear their stories. As one example, with Short-Term Rentals, house cleaners earn a higher hourly wage on average, and have more frequent work. THIS IS A VALUABLE part of our economy that the council needs to hear. Please ask your vendors to voice their stories as well.

3. LOCAL COMMERCE STORIES: Do you refer your guests to restaurants, wineries, breweries, cafés, gift shops and other local establishments that benefit from your hosting? If so, please urge them to lift their voices with yours.

4. NEIGHBORS STORIES: Invite supportive neighbors you have a great relationship with to share their positive experiences with your property in a letter to the Town Council or in person!

5. GUEST STORIES: Have you hosted families after a local disaster? Have them share how your non-hosted rental provided immediate lodging when they lost their home or sought shelter after one of our fires or floods.

You can write and call your city council member, and most importantly, WE NEED YOU TO JOIN THE MEETING.

EMAIL:

Public comments can be submitted via email to the Council by 12:00 p.m., on the day of the meeting: towncouncil@townofwindsor.com.

ZOOM:

Members of the public may participate in the meeting at 6:00 p.m. or on Zoom: (Waiting for link)

IN PERSON:

June 7, 2023 at 06:00 p.m.

Civic Center Council Chambers

9291 Old Redwood Highway, Building 400

Windsor, CA 95492

June 6, 2023, at or after 5 PM
Santa Rosa City Council Public Hearing

City Council meeting – June 6, 2023, at or after 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers (100 Santa Rosa Avenue) or via Zoom (Zoom link provided in the meeting agenda the week prior to the meeting date here)

Provide Feedback & Receive Updates on the Comprehensive Ordinance Development

Contact the City to provide feedback at shorttermrentals@srcity.org.
Sign up to be notified of future updates and engagement opportunities by subscribing here.

April 27, 2023, at or after 4:30 PM
Santa Rosa Planning Commission Public Hearing

Planning Commission meeting – April 27, 2023, at or after 4:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers (100 Santa Rosa Avenue) or via Zoom (Zoom link provided in the meeting agenda the week prior to the meeting date here)

Provide Feedback & Receive Updates on the Comprehensive Ordinance Development

Contact the City to provide feedback at shorttermrentals@srcity.org.
Sign up to be notified of future updates and engagement opportunities by subscribing here.

April 24, 2023

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Public Hearing on Short-Term Rentals

The Supervisor will consider Vacation Rental Rezoning what includes X Zone BANS and CAPS in certain areas, the Vacation Rental Business License Ordinance, and transient Use Of Fractionally-Owned Residential Properties at the Board of Supervisors Chambers 575 Administration Drive 102A, Santa Rosa, CA 95405. Agenda and item documents will be posted by the County here.

April 4, 2023, 2:30 PM

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors – Local Coastal Plan – Adoption

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will consider the Local Coastal Plan adoption at the Board of Supervisors Chambers 575 Administration Drive 102A, Santa Rosa, CA 95405. It is item # 48 Agenda and item documents have been posted by the County. Your public comment can be email to the Supervisors at bos@sonoma-county.org. Please provide your name, the agenda item number #48, and your comment. For Coastal Zone advocacy, we encourage Sea Ranch homeowners to click here, or Bodega homeowners here.

There are three ways to participate:

Public Comments can be submitted by emailing the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org. Please provide your name, the agenda item number #30, and your comment.

ZOOM

Participate by computer, tablet, or smartphone application: Go to: https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/97343248831?pwd=T0haMW1iU0Zmb213QUJOOTN0L1A0dz09
Enter meeting ID: 973 4324 8831
Enter Password: 919371

PHONE

Dial +1 (669) 900 9128 Enter meeting ID: 973 4324 8831 Enter password: 919371

IN PERSON

April 4, 2;30 PM. Board of Supervisors Chambers 575 Administration Drive 102A Santa Rosa, CA 95403

March 16, 2023 1PM

Important Meeting-Planning Commission-CAPS on Vacation Rentals and Exclusion Zones Proposed

THIS IS AN IN PERSON ONLY MEETING-NO ZOOM AVAILABLE

We believe CAPS on Vacation Rentals are a CAP on the economy and jobs in our county. The County wants to limit the number of new licenses per person, which by itself seems fair and sufficient. CAPS take away the rights of homeowners to use their homes as Vacation Rentals for all or part of the year.

The County of Sonoma is proposing to rezone certain parcels to add the Vacation Rental Exclusion (X) Combining Zone, Vacation Rental 5% Cap (X5) Combining Zone, or Vacation Rental 10% Cap (10x) Combining Zone as directed by the Board of Supervisors. The agenda is here, meeting materials are here.

The planning commission will consider rezoning certain properties to restrict or exclude Vacation Rentals, which will have an effect on homeowners' ability to establish a new vacation rental. This rezoning will not restrict continued operation of an existing permitted rental.

The following areas are affected by this rezoning:

1. Vacation rental Exclusion (X) Combining Zone applied to certain parcels within the Gates Road, Glen Ellen, Hughes Chicken Colony, Kenwood, Palmer Avenue, Theodore Lane, and Waldrue Heights neighborhoods within the 1^st Supervisorial District.

2. Vacation Rental Exclusion (X) Combining Zone applied to certain parcels within the Armstrong Woods Road, Drake Road, Guernwood Park, and Neeley Road neighborhoods in the 5^th Supervisorial District.

3. Vacation Rental 5% Cap (X5) Combining Zone applied to certain parcels within the Chiquita Road and Norton Road neighborhoods in the 4^th Supervisorial District.

4. Vacation Rental 5% Cap (X5) Combining Zone applied to certain parcels within the Austin Creek, Hacienda, Monte Rio, Northwood, Rio Dell, Summerhome Park, and Villa Grande neighborhoods in the 5^th Supervisorial District.

5. Replace the current Vacation Rental Exclusion (X) Combining Zone in the Fitch Mountain neighborhood with a Vacation Rental 10% Cap (X10) Combining Zone and expand the rezoned area to include all parcels between the Russian River and the City of Healdsburg in the 4^th Supervisorial District.

WE NEED YOUR VOICES TO BE HEARD by telling your story.

4. NEIGHBORS STORIES: Invite supportive neighbors you have a great relationship with to share their positive experiences with your property in a letter to the Town Council or in person!

You can write your Public Comment to the Planning Commission, and most importantly, WE NEED YOU TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT.

EMAIL:

Public comments can be submitted via email to the Project Planner Gary Helfrich Gary.Helfrich@sonoma-county.org by March 15, 5:00 p.m.

IN PERSON:

March 16, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

Board of Supervisors Chambers

575 Administration Drive 102A

Santa Rosa, CA 95405

March 14, 2023, 2PM

Sonoma County Board of Supervisor Public Hearing – Tiny Homes

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will consider a Zoning Ordinance update to allow for Tiny Homes on wheels. Agenda and item documents are posted by the County here. In 2022, the Supervisors directed planning department staff to return with a Zoning Ordinance that limited temporary units to Residential Use only, NO vacation rentals.

SCCH believes EVERYONE, regardless of income level, should be able to participate in the home-sharing community for the following reasons:

Allowing Short-term rental use of tiny homes or tiny homes on wheels would be an affordable way for middle to lower income folks to take part in the home-sharing community and earn needed income. One never knows when some unexpected event in their life (i.e., loss of a job, care of a loved one, divorce or death of a spouse) and they find themselves needing to earn extra income – offering a tiny home or tiny home on wheels short-term could be the only way to make ends meets.

Allow individuals to permit alternative eco-friendly forms of housing for long or short-term use, like tiny homes, tiny homes on wheels, RV’s or yurts to help middle and lower-income folks earn needed income by sharing an economical living space. The County has allowed nationwide companies like Autocamp in our area to do this. Sonoma Canopy Tours’ Sonoma Treehouse and Safari West has been offering alternative lodging for years. Give the average person a chance!

There are three ways to participate:

Public Comments can be submitted by emailing the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org. Please provide your name, the agenda item number #30, and your comment.

ZOOM

Participate by computer, tablet, or smartphone application: Go to: https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/96184608353?pwd=UDY0d3R3bGlKNm5MbURocGRRTFY5Zz09 Enter meeting ID: 961 8460 8353 Enter Password: 919371

PHONE

Participate in Zoom by phone: Dial +1 (669) 900 9128 Enter meeting ID: 961 8460 8353 Enter password: 919371

IN PERSON

March 14, 2PM. Board of Supervisors Chambers 575 Administration Drive 102A Santa Rosa, CA 95403

March 1, 2023

Windsor Town Council, consider adoption of Short-Term Rental Zoning Ordinance

What happens in Windsor on March 1, could happen in your city or part of the county next.

Windsor is on the cusp of not only banning NEW short-term rentals, but has drafted actual legislation to take away the licenses of CURRENT short term rental hosts, even if they have been operators in good standing for years. March 1, Town Council meeting documents are here, and it is item 11.1,

If Windsor does this, every town, city, and even the unincorporated areas in Sonoma are at risk of losing their permits or licenses to operate, EVEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN HOSTING FOR YEARS.

WE NEED YOUR VOICES TO BE HEARD by telling your story to your elected officials by phone and email and showing up at the Windsor Town Council Meeting March 1

4. NEIGHBORS STORIES: Invite supportive neighbors you have a great relationship with to share their positive experiences with your property in a letter to the Town Council or in person!

You can write and call your city council member, and most importantly, WE NEED YOU TO JOIN THE MEETING.

EMAIL:

Public comments can be submitted via email to the Council by 12:00 p.m., on the day of the meeting: towncouncil@townofwindsor.com.

ZOOM:

Members of the public may participate in the meeting at 6:00 p.m. or on Zoom: https://townofwindsor.zoom.us/j/89338659973 or by dialing 877-853-5247 and entering Zoom Webinar ID: 893 3865 9973

IN PERSON:

March 1, 2023 at 06:00 p.m.

Civic Center Council Chambers

9291 Old Redwood Highway, Building 400

Windsor, CA 95492

February 15, 2023

Windsor Town Council, consider adoption of Short-Term Rental Zoning Ordinance

The Windsor Town Council will meet on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at 06:00 p.m. to consider an ordinance to establish requirements for hosted and non-hosted short-term rentals. It is agenda item 12.1, and documents can be found here.

There are three policy positions you’re welcome to consider for your public comment:

Oppose 300’ Radius Between Non-Hosted Rentals

This means each rental takes away the rights of many owners around it to also rent their homes.

A 300’ radius is arbitrary and allows one owner to essential control the right to a vacation rental on a given block or street.

It allows someone to obtain a permit and not use it, only to stop others from doing so.

Radius limits adversely affect neighbors within the limit. One never knows when some unexpected event in their life (i.e., loss of a job, care of a loved one, divorce or death of a spouse) and they find themselves needing to earn extra income-offering a home short-term could be the only way to make ends meets.

It limits our local economy and revenue to small business such as restaurants, cafés, breweries, wine bars, specialty retail shops, attractions, and others by stifling tourism.

It rewards wealthier homeowners with larger lots to benefit from this rule.

This will create a planning department management nightmare and drain on staff any time a homeowner inquires about obtaining a permit, or a home is sold and the homeowners and potential buyers want to know whether they are eligible for a vacation rental permit or not. What is the potential staff and resource cost to this?

We believe this is an arbitrary, ineffective way to achieve the stated policy goal, and will only encourage more rentals in more affluent areas where homes are far apart, putting smaller hosts at a disadvantage.

Support Permit Limits of Non-Hosted Rentals

We agree with the Windsor Planning Commission recommendation in 2022 that a better way to regulate the number of vacation rentals is to limit the number of permits an owner or entity can be issued.

If the allowed issued is a reasonable number, radius limits, density limits, proximity caps, zoning restrictions or cap on overall number of non-hosted short-term rentals will not be necessary.

This would be fair to Windsor residents, since everyone would maintain the same rights, and limits.

If Windsor limits the number of licenses issued per person in the new VR ordinance, current non-hosted rental owners with more than an allowed number should be able to operate/grandfathered in, as they were permissible at the time, and owners have come to depend and rely on the income generated.

Support No Downtown Concentration Limits of Non-Hosted Rentals

Allowing Short-Term Vacation Rentals would bring vibrancy back to the downtown area as tourist are more apt to visit restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, wine tasting rooms, breweries, entertainment venues and other local attractions.

This overnight visitor segment would also generate significant employment and sales tax revenue.

During the 2008 economic downturn, many specialty retail businesses in the west side downtown area went out-of-business, and several prime properties were bought-up by investors, and turned into “office type” establishments.

Having a mix of guests and residents in the downtown area would encourage more “neighborhood friendly” businesses back to the area, benefiting both long-term and short-term folks.

We support performance standards, monitoring, and notification of vacation rentals in the downtown area, so any nuisance can be dealt with, so short-term rentals can maintain their current high standing.

There are three ways to participate

EMAIL:

Public comments can be submitted via email to the Council by 12:00 p.m., on the day of the meeting: towncouncil@townofwindsor.com.

ZOOM:

Members of the public may participate in the meeting 6:00 p.m. on Zoom: https://townofwindsor.zoom.us/j/89338659973
or by dialing 877-853-5247 and Enter Webinar ID: 893 3865 9973

IN PERSON:

Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 06:00 p.m.

Civic Center Council Chambers

9291 Old Redwood Highway, Building 400

Windsor, CA 95492

January 19, 2023 at 2:00 pm

Sonoma County Hospitality Association Vacation Rental Zoom with Permit Sonoma

the Sonoma County Hospitality Association is hosting a Zoom meeting for Vacation Rental owners, hosts, and property managers Thursday, January 19th at 2:00 pm with Tennis Wick, Director of Permit Sonoma and other Permit Sonoma staff.

Please join us to get an update on vacation rentals and have your questions answered.

The meeting will cover:

Update on the new 24/7 complaint hotline. How is it going? How many complaints have been received? What types of complaints have been received? Actions taken? What has been the feedback from VR owners, hosts and property managers and what has been the feedback from neighbors who have complained?
How many permits in the pipeline from spring 2022 have been approved, how many have been denied, and how many remain in the pipeline? :When does Permit Sonoma expect processing of all permits in the pipeline to be completed?
Update from Permit on next steps from last BOS meeting on VR's? What is the current thinking on caps, density limits, maps of restricted areas, exclusion zones, etc.? What public outreach has been conducted? Next steps/timing?
Progress on Business License program, details and next steps?
Next steps on issues to come before the Planning Commission and BOS? Timing?
How is the collection of annual monitoring fees going? How are processing of forms such as change of manager/change of owner going?
How can vacation rental owners, hosts, and managers provide more input and have a seat at the table with Permit Sonoma? What help does Permit Sonoma need from us?

REGISTER HERE to reserve a spot for this (free) virtual meeting. If you had registered for the meeting on Wednesday, January 11th, your name has been moved to the list for January 19th. Please submit any questions or comments to Liza Graves, President, Sonoma County Hospitality Association at liza@beautiful-places.com by Tuesday, January 16th so we can make sure they are covered during this meeting. Participants will also have an opportunity to ask questions or make comments during the meeting. Any questions submitted already have been captured. Feel free to let other owners, managers and hosts know about this meeting.

Meeting Results

If you were unable to join the January 19th conversation or if you would like to review the seminar again, please visit this YouTube link to the seminar. A copy of the draft ordinance covered in the seminar is available on our website. Click here for a copy.

January 10, 2023 10AM-11:30AM CANCELLED
Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee

The January 10, 2023, Economic Development Meeting on Short-term Rentals has been CANCELLED. City staff said they are working on next steps for the ordinance amendments, and once these steps have been determined, the Santa Rosa Short-Term Rental Website will be updated and an email blast will be sent via the STR list. Possibly, as soon as the second week in January.

Hosts can sign to be notified directly by the City of future updates and engagement opportunities by subscribing to the list here.

December 12, 5:30PM-7:30PM
Santa Rosa Community Short-Term Rental Meeting

Your voice about the future of Short-Term Rentals in Santa Rosa and your ability to operate is needed once again.

THIS IS ANOTHER CHANCE TO BE HEARD.

Dec. 12th from 5:30 to 7:30 the forum will take place online. YOU NEED TO REGISTER for the meeting.

We need your voice to make sure that regulations going forward are a win-win for hosts, neighbors and the city of Santa Rosa.

Please see the details below for how to REGISTER for the meeting so that you can provide input.

[Español abajo]

Join us for a community meeting
on short-term rentals

On Dec. 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the City of Santa Rosa will be conducting a second online community meeting to gather input about potential modifications to the City’s short-term rental (STR) ordinance. You can watch a recording of the first community meeting held Nov. 14, 2022 here.

The Dec. 12 virtual meeting will allow the public another opportunity to provide feedback about how to improve the City’s current STR regulations before potential ordinance amendments are brought before the Planning Commission and City Council at public hearings in 2023.

If you are interested in joining us for this meeting, and learning about the potential updates, register by clicking the link below.

Únase a nosotros para una reunión comunitaria
en alquileres a corto plazo

El 12 de diciembre, de 5:30 p. m. a 7:30 p. m., la Ciudad de Santa Rosa llevará a cabo una segunda reunión comunitaria en línea para recopilar información sobre posibles modificaciones a la ordenanza de alquiler a corto plazo (STR, por sus siglas en inglés) de la Ciudad. Puede ver una grabación de la primera reunión comunitaria realizada el 14 de noviembre de 2022 aquí.

La reunión virtual del 12 de diciembre brindará al público otra oportunidad para brindar comentarios sobre cómo mejorar las regulaciones actuales de STR de la Ciudad antes de que las posibles enmiendas a las ordenanzas se presenten ante la Comisión de Planificación y el Concejo Municipal en audiencias públicas en 2023.

Si está interesado en unirse a nosotros para esta reunión y conocer las posibles actualizaciones, regístrese haciendo clic en el enlace de abajo.

Regístrate ahora

December 6, 2022 at 2:55PM

Board of Supervisors Meeting – Supervisors will be voting on amendments to the local building code

On December 6th, the Supervisors will be voting on amendments to the local building code. These new regulations will be effective January 1, 2023. On August 30, 2022, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors considered upcoming code amendments and provided direction to staff regarding the triennial building code cycle and housing options. One of the options is temporary housing or tiny homes. The California Residential Codes defines a “tiny house” as a dwelling 400 square feet or less, excluding lofts. It is item #66 and documents can be found here. Agenda here.

Temporary Housing or “tiny” housing option considered are:

Tiny homes – for residential use only

Tiny homes on wheels – for residential use only

SCCH believes EVERYONE, regardless of income level, should be able to participate in the home-sharing community for the following reasons:

Allowing Short-term rental use of tiny homes or tiny homes on wheels would be an affordable way for middle to lower income folks to take part in the home-sharing community and earn needed income. One never knows when some unexpected event in their life (i.e., loss of a job, care of a loved one, divorce or death of a spouse) and they find themselves needing to earn extra income – offering a tiny home or tiny home on wheels short-term could be the only way to make ends meets.

Allow individuals to permit alternative eco-friendly forms of housing for long or short-term use, like tiny homes, tiny homes on wheels, RV’s or yurts to help middle and lower-income folks earn needed income by sharing an economical living space. The County has allowed nationwide companies like Autocamp in our area to do this. Sonoma Canopy Tours’ Sonoma Treehouse and Safari West has been offering alternative lodging for years. Give the average person a chance!

The County needs to hear from you!

PUBLIC COMMENTS can be made via Zoom, email, and in person. Please include agenda item number.

JOIN THE ZOOM MEETING: Participate by computer, tablet, or smartphone application:

Go to: https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/95745356157?pwd=NHRmME9UY01ENmxKSjBpUG51OG9pQT09

Enter meeting ID: 957 4535 6157

Enter Password: 919371

Participate in Zoom by phone: Dial +1 (669) 900 9128

Enter meeting ID: 957 4535 6157

Enter password: 919371

Email comments, to the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org.

In Person: 575 ADMINISTRATION DRIVE, SANTA ROSA, CA 95403 |BOARD CHAMBERS – ROOM 102A

Santa Rosa Community Short-Term Rental Meeting, November 14, 5:30PM-7:30PM

The City of Santa Rosa will be conducting an online community meeting on November 14, 2022, from 5:30-7:30PM to gather input about potential modifications to the City’s short-term rental (STR) ordinance. This virtual meeting will allow the public at large to voice their opinions about the current status of STRs in Santa Rosa, as well as examine the effectiveness of the City’s current ordinance, before potential amendments are brought before the Planning Commission and City Council at public hearings in 2023.

Talking points for Santa Rosa hosts:

Limiting the number of new non-hosted rental permits one owner can be issued, is a limitation on its own. If the allowed issued is a reasonable number, zoning restrictions, 1000' radius limit or cap on overall number of non-hosted short-term rentals will not be necessary, and it will allow everyone who wants to take part in this economic activity. This would be fair to Santa Rosa homeowners, since everyone would maintain the same rights, and limits. One never knows when some unexpected event in their life (i.e., loss of a job, care of a loved one, divorce or death of a spouse) and they find themselves needing to earn extra income – offering a home short-term could be the only way to make ends meets.

Short-Term Rental Permit Application Fee and Duration – We propose an initial fee should be $150 per STR bedroom, renewable every two years for permits in good standing at a fee of $75 per bedroom. Other cities charge far less than our current fee. San Francisco is only $450 for two years. Why start over every year, this is more work for City staff than is necessary.

Enforcement and Penalties – Focus instead on noise, nuisance and safety issues. Our main concern regarding penalties, is that it seems to us that all infractions are treated the same. Forgetting to include your TOT# in a listing – is not the same infraction as letting a wild house party rage on until 3 am. If our goals are to stop noise and nuisance problems, why would we give these very different infractions the same weight? Fines for noise nuisance and safety infractions should be harsh and swift.

Parking Requirements – Short-term rentals should be allowed to create and/or contract for off-street spaces to meet the occupancy/ parking requirement for their permit. Instead of a “required front”, which many long-term residents don’t follow, parking could be approved by submitting a photo to the permit department, to assure spaces are appealing, safe, and unobtrusive.

Daytime guests-Hours and limits – Daytime Hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10 p.m. should be aligned with the City ordinance. Limit the total number of daytime guests to 16 people for all Short-Term Rentals. This allows for people to have meals together, such as 8 couples for a lunch, or 4 couples plus their children. All noise, nuisance, parking and safety regulations must be observed. The current ordinance makes illegal a short-term rental of one bedroom having another couple over for lunch.

Events that follow occupancy, noise, and safety rules – Gatherings should be allowed that meet occupancy and parking limits, noise levels and other related criteria. No law should be created that prohibits the right of the people to peacefully assemble.

Zoning Districts – Restricting all non-hosted short-term rentals to only certain districts seems arbitrary and unfair. Many non-hosted rentals are seniors and owners who rely upon the extra income earned by renting their home out short-term.

Renters and Owners – Many other jurisdictions give the same rights to owners and renters (with the landlord's permission) for hosted short-term rentals. This is a more egalitarian approach, allowing people at all income levels to participate, not just those of us lucky enough to own property. Imagine a single mom renter whose kid goes off to college. She needs the room available when they are home, but can host people at other times, so she can pay her child's college expenses. This is also true for seniors who sometimes want their grandchildren to visit.

Host – The Urgency Ordinance states the owner must be present during hosted short-term stays. The practical problem here is sometimes an owner may need to leave on an emergency, have an impromptu business trip come up etc. that makes it impossible to follow the ordinance without cancelling guests at the last minute. Why not make it owner or immediate, such as spouse, sibling, adult child, or responsible adult? This gets around the legal problem that could occur. In unhosted situations, there is no requirement to have someone present, so this minor change makes it easy for all to comply.

Education - In order to obtain a permit, hosts should be required to take an online best practices course and pass a test of the material. The course could focus on helping hosts and their guests comply with the ordinance.

At the Nov. 14, meeting, please talk about how STR rentals helps you, your family, your business, your community and what you’d like changed in the ordinance. Ask your friends and family, who support what you do, to turn out and speak up as well.

Click here to reserve a spot through Eventbrite on the City’s website

To join this Zoom meeting:

Online: https://srcity-org.zoom.us/j/82872609516

Phone: 877 853 5257 (US Toll-free)

Meeting ID: 828 7260 9516

Meeting Paused by Sonoma County Tourism

Sonoma County Supervisor Consider BIA Tax Increase

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is poised to vote this November on a BIA tax increase for those of us who earn less than $350K per year from our short-term rentals, both hosted and unhosted.

Currently, if you earn less than the $350K threshold, you have not had to pay the BIA to the County. Some of you live in cities within the County where you pay a BIA to your city.

If this passes, all cities, except Healdsburg and the city of Sonoma, will be hit with two BIA taxes to pay, one city and one county.

The Sonoma County Tourism is holding two town halls on Zoom to discuss this topic. Tues Oct 25th at 6 PM and Thurs Oct 27th at 12 PM.

Here are some of our concerns:

1) We are skeptical that this increase would be good for hosts, or the County. Most travelers are dealing with inflation difficulties, recovering from the pandemic, and just starting to travel again. Gasoline costs are still very high. Why would we want to make Sonoma County a more expensive to visit at this time? We need more travelers, not less.

2) If this does go forward, why should we drop the threshold from the current $350K to $0. Why not consider something that is inline with the county's middle Income : 121% to 140% of Area Mean Income (AMI)?

3) Taxation without representation is never a good thing. We do not feel that Sonoma Tourism has paid enough attention to short-term rentals. They have largely served the needs of the hotels. Why has it been this way since 2004? Their board is primarily made up of traditional hotels.

We would like to have a brief ZOOM meeting to discuss these specific developments on Sunday. Oct. 30, 2022 at 5:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8114423809?pwd=cFh4ajFYU05HNnFlWHhiZTZwYnNuUT09
Meeting ID: 811 442 3809
Passcode: 481586

The County’s scheduled timeline for action is as follows:

October 18, 2022 – Adoption of Notice of Intention by Board of Supervisors

October 21, 2022 – Mailing to all lodging properties (within 7 days of adoption of Notice of Intention and at least 10 days before public meeting)

November 1, 2022 – Public meeting at Sonoma County Board of Supervisors

December 13, 2022 – Public hearing and adoption of Ordinance amending existing BIA Ordinance

January 1, 2023 – Changes go into effect

Lower Russian River MAC, on Thursday, Oct 20, 2022 at 5:30 PM, will hear a presentation by Gary Helfrich from Permit Sonoma regarding implementation of the 2022 Vacation Rental Ordinance.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/92511241288?pwd=ZXFWY3g4T1Y4MzcyZEhvNGI3bTRHdz09

Passcode: 584049

Or One tap mobile: US: +16694449171,,92511241288# or +16699009128,,92511241288#

A ban on new non-hosted short-term rentals in R1 and “R1 like” zones is anticipated to be addressed, along with – allowing caps to be placed on vacation rentals, prohibiting new vacation rentals in certain areas, and other restrictions. This will have an adverse effect on restaurants, small businesses, and jobs, in a historically tourist area, and the average homeowner the option to propose a property short-term. And considering current eruptions of violence, no tourists could mean more crime! Documents for the meeting can be found here.

We strongly support keeping the historical character of the Lower Russian River are.

a) The Lower Russian River area and its beauty is accessible to the public, just as the California coast.

b) The Guerneville area has long been a recreational place for folks from the Bay Area. Tourists and visitors are an inseparable part of the Lower Russian River.

On Aug 2, 2022, the Supervisors moved forward to limit the number of new vacation rental permits to 1 permit per person, and excluded corporate ownership.

We believe, limiting the number of non-hosted rental permits one owner can be issued, is a limitation on its own.

We oppose additional limitations like a vacation rental ban in R1 or “R1 like” zones throughout the County.

a) Limiting the number of non-hosted rental permits one owner can be issued, is a limitation on its own. Future owners of multiple properties will only be able to purpose up to the allowed permit limit.

b) Banning vacation rentals in R1 zones, or “R1 like zones” will significantly restrict the average homeowner from engaging in this economic opportunity.

c) By only allowing non-hosted rentals in AR and RR zones, which are generally more affluent properties, you will create a situation where only the wealthy will be able to own a vacation rental and only the wealthy will be able to stay in a vacation rental.

d) Most historical and central areas where visitors want to be in Guerneville are in R1 zones. RR and AR zones are sometimes too remote from downtown and pose risk to visitors driving back to their rental.

e) RR and AR zones are not substantially different from R1 zones in the Lower Russian River. (Sometimes only a sewer is what makes them different). Banning of R1 zones in the LRR could quickly create over saturation in RR and AR zones and defeat the purpose of the R1 ban.

Limiting the number of non-hosted rental permits one owner can be issued, is a limitation on its own. If we do this, there is no need for caps or other exclusions, and it will allow everyone who wants to take part in this economic activity. This is recommended rather than rely on arbitrary regulations like caps or R1 Zone ban, since every homeowner would retain the same rights and restrictions. This would prohibit big interests from coming and swooping up properties, but allow the average owner the option to propose a property short-term. One never knows when some unexpected event in their life (i.e., loss of a job, care of a loved one, divorce or death of a spouse) and they find themselves needing to earn extra income – offering a home short-term could be the only way to make ends meets.

Recommend Sound Level Meters – Instead of a R1 “R1 like” Zone ban or caps, make sure all noise is dealt with swiftly by requiring non-hosted short-term rentals in R1 Zones to install a sound level meter which notifies the owner when excessive sounds are detected. This helps stop a party before it starts, without breaking any privacy laws. This is a more surgical approach to keeping homes safe and neighbors happy, than instituting an outright ban. Additionally, we should put in place significant fines for noise infractions on the part of guests. This will highlight for hosts to monitor more closely the activity taking place at their homes.

The County should be aware Short-term rentals create jobs, providing a living wage job to housekeepers / landscapers / pool cleaners / electricians / plumbers / managers, etc. According to local hosts, hourly price for a housekeeper is around $35-$60. This is significantly higher than wages offered by traditional hotels and motels. No tourists = no jobs = more crime and drug abuse!

October 4, 2022, 1:45 PM

Board of Supervisors Meeting – Recommended Draft of the Local Coastal Plan

The Board of Supervisors will hold a hearing on the Planning Commission Recommended Draft of the Local Coastal Plan on Oct. 4 at 1:45 PM. Meeting details are posted here and documents here.

If you own a home in the Coastal Zone or want to get involved and lend your support locally, please visit our friends at: Sonoma Coast Vacation Rental Owners, or The Sea Ranch Hosting Coalition

Once adopted, the Local Coastal Plan will be reviewed by the California Coastal Commission and certified for consistency with the California Coastal Act. Once certified, Permit Sonoma will seek additional public input and update the Coastal Zoning Ordinance and Coastal Administrative Manual to implement the Local Coastal Plan policies.

We urge you to speak up!

PUBLIC COMMENTS can be made via Zoom, email, and in person. Please include agenda item #30.

Join by Zoom (Enter meeting ID: 956 4563 1678 Enter Password: 919371) or participate by phone:Dial +1 (669) 900 9128
Enter meeting ID: 956 4563 1678
Enter password: 919371

Email comments, to the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org.

In Person: 575 ADMINISTRATION DRIVE, SANTA ROSA, CA 95403 |BOARD CHAMBERS – ROOM 102A

September 21, 2022, 6:00pm

Windsor Town Council - public hearing considering extending temporary moratorium

The Town Council will consider extending the current temporary moratorium by an additional ten months and fifteen days, to expire on August 5, 2023, on the issuance of new short-term rental business licenses in the Town of Windsor. The meeting will be held in the Town Council Chambers, Building 400, 9291 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor, and via Zoom webinar.

Notice of Public Hearing is here. Town Council agenda, hearing documents, and staff reports are accessible on the Town’s website here. Contact: Patrick Streeter, Community Development Director, by email at pstreeter@townofwindsor.com or (707) 838-5313 for more information or to provide comments.

We urge you to speak up!

Placing a moratorium on vacation rentals negatively affects average folks, in their time of need. Will a permit even be available for them? One never knows when some unexpected event in their life (i.e., loss of a job, care of a loved one, divorce or death of a spouse) and they find themselves needing to earn extra income—offering a home or room short-term could be the only way to make ends meet.

Hosted rentals allow anyone to use a portion of their home, for additional, flexible income. This extra income helps people make ends meet or meet their goals. Restricting hosted rentals, also limits the supply of affordable accommodations to singles, couples and lower and middle income individuals. Hosted rentals also have someone on site to handle noise nuisance and safety issues.

A moratorium on hosted and non-hosted rentals limits the supply of homes for all types of visitors to Windsor. When you limit supply, costs only rise. Our city has already become a very expensive place to visit, but a whole family can stay in a four bedroom VR for less than the price of four rooms in a hotel, in many instances – and have more amenities.

Jobs and Wages: A cap on STR's is a cap on businesses, jobs and wages. Short-term rentals create jobs, providing a living wage job to housekeepers / landscapers / pool cleaners / electricians / plumbers / waiters, and other restaurant and hospitality workers.

PUBLIC COMMENTS can be made in person, via Zoom and emailed. Please include the agenda item number.

In Person: Town of Windsor |9291 Old Redwood Highway Bldg. 400 |Windsor, CA 95492

On Zoom: https://townofwindsor.zoom.us/j/89338659973
or by dialing 877-853-5247 and Enter Webinar ID: 893 3865 9973

Email comments, to the Council by 12:00 p.m., on the day of the meeting: towncouncil@townofwindsor.com.

(For further information, please call Town Hall: (707) 838-1000)

September 15th, 5:30 - 7:30pm

Sonoma Coast MAC Meeting - Vacation Rental Ordinance presentation

A presentation will be given by Ross Markey and Gary Helfrich from Permit Sonoma regarding the 2022 Vacation Rental Ordinance - in the 5th Supervisory District. A potential ban on new non-hosted short-term rentals in R1 and R1 "like" zones is anticipated to be addressed along with other restrictions. Full final agenda and complete packet attached here.

Anyone, regardless of where they live, can join and participate in the meeting.

The meeting will be on Zoom and on Facebook live, links below.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supervisorlyndahopkins

Zoom: https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/96903154846?pwd=N0JJNk55MDBsQitXb28waGNueXhjdz09

Passcode: 459853

Or One tap mobile : US: +16694449171,,96903154846# or +16699009128,,96903154846#

After the event, videos of the meeting will be available both on Facebook and on YouTube under Sonoma County 5^th District. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supervisorlyndah

August 30, 2022

Board of Supervisors Meeting – Mandatory Update to the Local Coastal Plan

On Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at 1:50 PM, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will hold a public workshop to provide an update on the Local Coastal Plan. Once the Board reviews and adopts the Local Coastal Plan, the Board adopted Local Coastal Plan will go to the Coastal Commission for review and certification in a public hearing. It is agenda item #54 and documents are here.

If you own a home in the Coastal Zone or want to get involved and lend your support locally, please visit our friends at: Sonoma Coast Vacation Rental Owners, or The Sea Ranch Hosting Coalition

PUBLIC COMMENTS can be made via Zoom, email, and in person. Please include agenda item #54.

ZOOM: https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/95105367810?pwd=dkY2eGtQenh1STFxSTV1YlkxRzJjUT09

Enter meeting ID: 951 0536 7810

Enter Password: 919371

Participate in Zoom by phone:

Dial +1 (669) 900 9128

Enter meeting ID: 951 0536 7810

Enter password: 919371

Email comments, to the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org.

In Person: 575 ADMINISTRATION DRIVE, SANTA ROSA, CA 95403 |BOARD CHAMBERS – ROOM 102A

August 30, 2022, 8:30 AM

Board of Supervisors Meeting - Upcoming Code Amendments

Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at 8:30 AM, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will consider upcoming code amendments and to provide direction to staff regarding the triennial building code cycle and housing options. One of the options is tiny homes. The California Residential Codes defines a “tiny house” as a dwelling 400 square feet or less, excluding lofts. It is item #47 and documents can be found here. Agenda here. In November, the Supervisors will be voting on amendments to the local building code. These new regulations will be effective January 1, 2023.

Two “tiny” housing option being considered are:

Tiny homes – for residential use only

Tiny homes on wheels – for residential use only

SCCH believes EVERYONE, regardless of income level, should be able to participate in the home-sharing community for the following reasons:

Allowing Short-term rental use of tiny homes or tiny homes on wheels would be an affordable way for middle to lower income folks to take part in the home-sharing community and earn needed income. One never knows when some unexpected event in their life (i.e., loss of a job, care of a loved one, divorce or death of a spouse) and they find themselves needing to earn extra income – offering a tiny home or tiny home on wheels short-term could be the only way to make ends meets.

Allow individuals to permit alternative eco-friendly forms of housing for long or short-term use, like tiny homes, tiny homes on wheels, RV’s or yurts to help middle and lower-income folks earn needed income by sharing an economical living space. The County has allowed nationwide companies like Autocamp in our area to do this. Sonoma Canopy Tours’ Sonoma Treehouse and Safari West has been offering alternative lodging for years. Give the average person a chance!

The County needs to hear from you!

PUBLIC COMMENTS can be made via Zoom, email, and in person. Please include agenda item #47.

ZOOM: https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/95105367810?pwd=dkY2eGtQenh1STFxSTV1YlkxRzJjUT09

Enter meeting ID: 951 0536 7810

Enter Password: 919371

Participate in Zoom by phone:

Dial +1 (669) 900 9128

Enter meeting ID: 951 0536 7810

Enter password: 919371

Email comments, to the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org.

In Person: 575 ADMINISTRATION DRIVE, SANTA ROSA, CA 95403 |BOARD CHAMBERS – ROOM 102A

August 17, 2022, 6pm

Town of Windsor Town Hall meeting – Urgency Ordinance Moratorium

The Town of Windsor Town Council will hold a public meeting at its regular meeting on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at 6:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in the Windsor Council Chambers, Building 400, 9291 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor. The Town council will consider adoption of an urgency ordinance to create a temporary moratorium on the issuance of new short-term rental business licenses. If adopted, the urgency ordinance would be in place for 45-days, unless extended by Town Council. It is agenda item #13.1

There are three proposed moratoriums for the Council to consider.

The first would prohibit all new STRs.
The second would prohibit all new non-hosted STRs, but new STRs would be allowed, as long as the owner lived on site while the STR was being rented.
The third would prohibit new STRs owned by corporations and other types of legal entities, but would allow new STRs owned by natural persons, trusts, and estates.

All three moratoriums would allow property owners with existing valid business licenses to continue operating UNTIL THERE BUSINESSES LICENSES EXPIRE. That will not occur until January 1, 2023, and it is anticipated a permanent ordinance will be adopted prior to that date.

A moratorium on hosted and non-hosted rentals limit the supply of homes for all types of visitors to Windsor. When you limit supply, costs only rise. Our city has already become a very expensive place to visit, but a whole family can stay in a four bedroom VR for less than the price of four rooms in a hotel, in many instances – and have more amenities.

Jobs and Wages: A cap on STR's is a cap on businesses, jobs and wages. Short-term rentals create jobs, providing a living wage job to housekeepers / landscapers / pool cleaners / electricians / plumbers / waiters, and other restaurant and hospitality workers.
Placing a moratorium on vacation rentals negatively affects average folks, in their time of need. Will a permit even be available for them? One never knows when some unexpected event in their life (i.e., loss of a job, care of a loved one, divorce or death of a spouse) and they find themselves needing to earn extra income—offering a home short-term could be the only way to make ends meet.
Grandfathering of Current Permit Holders. This is a fair position because existing permit holders relied upon the existing permitting process and economics when they purchased their home.

Hosted rentals allow anyone to use a portion of their home, for additional, flexible income. This extra income helps people make ends meet or meet their goals. Restricting hosted rentals, also limits the supply of affordable accommodations to singles, couples and lower and middle income individuals. Hosted rentals also have someone on site to handle noise nuisance and safety issues.

Staff reports and agendas are available on the Town’s website prior to the Town Council meeting at www.townofwindsor.com/721/Agendas-Minutes-Videos. Email comments: Contact: Patrick Streeter, Community Development Director at: pstreeter@townofwindsor.com or 707-838-5313 for more information or to provide comments.

PUBLIC COMMENTS can be made via Zoom, email, and in person. Please include agenda item #13.1

On Zoom: https://townofwindsor.zoom.us/j/82680701671
or by dialing 877-853-5247 and Enter Webinar ID: 826 8070 1671
Email comments, to the Council by 12:00 p.m., on the day of the meeting: towncouncil@townofwindsor.com.
In Person: Town of Windsor |9291 Old Redwood Highway Bldg. 400 |Windsor, CA 95492

August 9, 2022, 5pm

Santa Rosa City Council Meeting – Public Hearing Short-Term Rental Ordinance Amendment and Non-hosted moratorium

The Santa Rosa City Council will act on a proposed Zoning Code text amendment urgency ordinance and fee adoption resolution during its regularly scheduled public meeting on August 9, 2022, at or after 5 p.m.

As currently drafted, the Zoning Code text amendments would:

set a maximum number of 215 non-hosted STR permits to be issued citywide; (THIS CAP IS THE MOST EGREGIOUS AND IMPORTANT TO STOP)
clarify the enforcement penalties that apply to permit holders and operators in good standing.

The Fee adoption resolution would:

establish an STR Permit annual renewal fee.

Items for this council meeting are posted at here, Official Notice of Public Hearing

Caps on Vacation Rentals limit the supply of homes for all types of visitors to Santa Rosa. When you limit supply, costs only rise. Our city has already become a very expensive place to visit, but a whole family can stay in a four bedroom VR for less than the price of four rooms in a hotel, in many instances – and have more amenities.

Jobs and Wages: A cap on STR's is a cap on businesses, jobs and wages. Short-term rentals create jobs, providing a living wage job to housekeepers / landscapers / pool cleaners / electricians / plumbers / waiters, and other restaurant and hospitality workers.

Effects on the Economy: Caps also make it harder for middle-class and working-class people to share in the economic benefit of sharing their home sometimes. By placing a cap on the number of non-hosted rentals, you will create a situation where only the wealthy will be able to own a vacation rental and only the wealthy will be able to stay in a vacation rental.

Limiting the number of non-hosted rental permits one owner can be issued, is a limitation on its own. If we do this, there is no need for caps or radius limits, and it will allow everyone who wants to take part in this economic activity. One never knows when some unexpected event in their life (i.e., loss of a job, care of a loved one, divorce or death of a spouse) and they find themselves needing to earn extra income – offering a home short-term could be the only way to make ends meets.

Enforcement and Penalties: Focus instead on noise, nuisance and safety issues. Our main concern regarding penalties, is that it seems to us that all infractions are treated the same. Forgetting to include your TOT# in a listing – is not the same infraction as letting a wild house party rage on until 3 am. If our goals are to stop noise and nuisance problems, why would we give these very different infractions the same weight?

PUBLIC COMMENTS can be made via Zoom, email, and in person.

ZOOM: HTTPS://SRCITY-ORG.ZOOM.US/J/86208178715, or 877-853-5257 AND ENTER WEBINAR ID: 862 0817 8715

EMAIL PUBLIC COMMENT: Public Comments can be submitted by emailing the entire City Council at cc-comment@srcity.org. Please provide your name, the agenda item number #15.1, and your comment.

IN PERSON: City Hall, City Council Chamber – 100 Santa Rosa Avenue

August 2, 2022, 8:30 AM

Board of Supervisors Meeting – Vacation Rental Ordinance for Unincorporated & Coastal Zone Areas

Beginning at 8:30 AM, Tuesday, August 2nd, the Sonoma County Supervisors will be meeting to consider taking action on Item #15.1. This is a comprehensive revision to the vacation rental ordinance to address concentration, operation, and entitlement (permitting vs. licensing). All documents are available online here. Since this is heard early morning, we may know at 8:30 AM if discussion on Item #15 will be pushed back to a later time in the day. If necessary, plan your day accordingly, so you can be prepared to share your Public Comment on Zoom. Public Comments can also be submitted by emailing the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org.

While the Coalition supports legislation that addresses operation and performance standards, there are concerns with the County also considering updates to the zoning code, prohibiting new vacation rentals in the R1 Zone and amending the vacation rental exclusion combining zone to include the option of imposing either a 5% cap, 10% cap or combination of both. This will have an adverse effect on restaurants, small businesses, and jobs in our County, and the average homeowner the option to propose a property short-term.

The current proposed changes will affect EVERYONE! Your public comment is crucial, so we are not faced with greater restrictions in the future. We have provided the following points below, that you’re welcome to incorporate into your public comment.

1. We support Sec. 4-204 – B. Property Owner and Licensee Requirements.

1. The licensee must be a property owner, except if the vacation rental property is held in trust, in which case the trustee may apply for a license on behalf of the trust beneficiaries.

2. All property owners must be individuals.

3. Each property owner must consent to the application.

4. A property owner may only have an ownership interest in one licensed vacation rental at a time.

5. Subsections 2 and 4 do not apply to a nonconforming vacation rental that was legally operating prior to September 2, 2022.

We would reiterate the Coalitions position that it is more fair to limit the number of permits one owner can be issued. This is recommended rather than rely on arbitrary regulations like a 5%, 10% cap or R1 Zone ban, since every homeowner would retain the same rights and restrictions. This would prohibit big interests from coming and swooping up properties, but allow the average owner the option to propose a property short-term. One never knows when some unexpected event in their life (i.e., loss of a job, care of a loved one, divorce or death of a spouse) and they find themselves needing to earn extra income-offering a home short-term could be the only way to make ends meets.

2. We oppose a vacation rental ban in R1

b) Banning vacation rentals in R1 zones will significantly restrict the average homeowner from engaging in this economic opportunity.

3. We Oppose caps, and believe it is more fair to limit the number of permits one owner can be issued, since every homeowner would retain the same rights and restrictions. However, if the Supervisors wish to pursue caps, the current proposal of 10% density for vacation rentals in the Russian River area is minimal for an area that has historically been a second home destination. Consider a percentage cap that is in line with current averages for the Russian River area, and 10% for the rest of unincorporated Sonoma County (excluding the Coastal Zone), and allocate a certain portion of the funds collected that go into the general fund from permitting fees and TOT be used to increase affordable housing projects within Sonoma County.

4. Recommend Sound Level Meters – Instead of a R1 Zone ban or 5%, 10% cap in specific areas, make sure all noise is dealt with swiftly by requiring non-hosted short-term rentals in R1 Zones to install a sound level meter which notifies the owner when excessive sounds are detected. This helps stop a party before it starts, without breaking any privacy laws. This is a more surgical approach to keeping homes safe and neighbors happy, than instituting an outright ban. Additionally, we should put in place significant fines for noise infractions on the part of guests. This will highlight for hosts to monitor more closely the activity taking place at their homes.

5. Reconsider Decibel Levels – Decibel levels listed in the vacation rental license ordinance are excessively restrictive and increase the possibility of frivolous noise complaints by neighbors. The allowable daytime decibel levels should be increased by 50% and the nighttime decibel levels should be increased by 20%. Based on testing and the use of a decibel monitoring app, homes that border busy roads (like Highway 12) will have an average outdoor decibel level of 60 just from cars passing by without any occupants in a home.

6. Oppose – The Remove of the allowance for additional daytime guests. Current County guidelines prohibit larger events, and allow families to gather for normal activities such as Birthday, lunches, and dinners. These should not be prohibited, so long as gatherings comply with parking requirements and noise guidelines.

7. Oppose Excluding VR in specific areas – If the County is requiring vacation rental guests to evacuate during VOLUNTARY orders, why must they then exclude vacation rentals in areas, “where because of topography, access or vegetation, there is a significant fire hazard”, since guests will be the first to leave? There are wineries in these areas, farmstays, and home based businesses that have visitors, clients, and guests, that are even more transient – are they going to be banned? You have people staying in campgrounds at night, in or near, these areas year-round. Are you going to prohibit overnight camping? Why single out vacation rentals, when they have a property manager to inform them to leave, and a manual to instruct them in the event of an emergency.

8. Recommend 30 days to appeal a suspension or revocation – A licensee, property manager, or their representative should be allowed 30 calendar days to appeal. Some licensees or owners live out of the area. The appeal should be “postmarked” within this time period to allow for due process. A proper appeal will require time and effort to understand the facts alleged and prepare a proper appeal for the county to consider. A 10 day time period offered by the County, with the mail service, and distances, gives an owner practically no time to effectively represent themselves in such an important situation as an appeal. An owner should be allowed to be represented by a 3rd party. Virtual hearings (e.g., Zoom) should be allowed upon request, especially if the owner lives in another county or state.

9. Separating residents who applied for non-hosted rental permits after March 17th, when they have spent money, time and other resources to prepare well-thought-out applications, is arbitrary and unfair. Instead of rewarding tax paying citizens who took the time to follow the rules, you are punishing them for not knowing that you would back date this moratorium to a date they had not heard of when they started. Is this even legal?

10. The Supervisor should be aware Short-term rentals create jobs, providing a living wage job to housekeepers / landscapers / pool cleaners / electricians / plumbers / managers, within their districts. According to local hosts, hourly price for a housekeeper is around $35-$60. This is significantly higher than wages offered by traditional hotels and motels.

11. Recommendation – Business Licenses or Vacation Rental Licenses? Call it what it is – a “Vacation Rental Licenses”.

PUBLIC COMMENTS can be made via: email and Zoom.

EMAIL PUBLIC COMMENT: Public Comments can be submitted by emailing the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org. Please provide your name, the agenda item number #15, and your comment.

JOIN THE ZOOM MEETING

Go to: https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/96755537687?pwd=WDFuN2U4VW5QUURjNzZPKzZOZ1ZMZz09

Enter meeting ID: 967 5553 7687

Enter Password: 919371

Participate in Zoom by phone:

Dial +1 (669) 900 9128

Enter meeting ID: 967 5553 7687

Enter password: 919371

June 13, 2022, 8:45 AM

Board of Supervisors Consider Extending Urgency Ordinance

Monday, June 13, 2022, at 8:45 AM, the Board of Supervisors will consider extending the Urgency Ordinance to create a temporary moratorium on new vacation rental permits in non-Coastal Zone unincorporated Sonoma County to a term of one year ending on May 9, 2023. This will have an adverse effect on restaurants, small businesses, and jobs in our County. The County says the purpose of extending the moratorium is to allow sufficient time for the Board to consider updates to the zoning code, a new vacation rental license ordinance, and prohibiting new vacation rentals in the R1 Zone and amending the vacation rental exclusion combining zone to include the option of imposing a 5% cap. It is agenda item #39, and County documents can be found here.

We have provided policy positions that you can use to write to your elected officials and to speak with at upcoming meetings.

1. The County must prove that VR's cause detrimental impacts and pose a risk to the public safety, health, and welfare of the county and its residents. The county has not proven this and has no data to back up its claim.

2. Why are we calling for a moratorium on Vacation Rentals when it is important to note that the number of short term rental permits as reported by Permit Sonoma staff has actually decreased over the last two years from 1,932 to 1,873?

See attached screenshots from the Board of Supervisors meeting on 8/18/2020, when the cap was set at 1,932 permits, and a spreadsheet from the Planning Commission meeting on 5/5/2022, with the number of permits at 1,873 (excluding the Coastal Zone)

3. Separating residents who applied for non-hosted rental permits after March 17th, when they have spent money, time and other resources to prepare well-thought-out applications, is arbitrary and unfair. Instead of rewarding tax paying citizens who took the time to follow the rules, you are punishing them for not knowing that you would back date this moratorium to a date they had not heard of when they started. Is this even legal?

4. A moratorium hinders all of the small businesses that rely on visitors to support the local economy, jobs, in restaurants, book stores, cafés, and other destinations. As residents of the county work to overcome the harsh effects of the COVID Pandemic shutdowns, the last thing we need is to shut down a driver of our economy.

5. Placing a moratorium on vacation rentals negatively affects average folks, in their time of need. Will a permit even be available for them? One never knows when some unexpected event in their life (i.e., loss of a job, care of a loved one, divorce or death of a spouse) and they find themselves needing to earn extra income—offering a home short-term could be the only way to make ends meet.

6. The Eyler Report states, “In terms of effects on single-family housing units’ prices, data considered in this report show little to NO CONNECTION between a rise in single-family housing units offered as short-term rentals and single-family home prices.” Does the county not believe this conclusion?

7. While the Eyler report makes a tenuous link between short-term rentals and longer term rental prices, the vacation rental permits in Sonoma County have FALLEN over the last two years, and rents have increased due to other factors.

8. Last May, the planning commission passed a recommendation for a 5% cap of Vacation Rentals in specific zones in Sonoma County and a ban on them in all R1 zones. This is unfair to residents who live in these areas and want to engage in this economic activity. What do the Supervisors who oversee these areas have to say about this?

9. A 5% Cap would devastate many tourist related parts of our local economy, especially the traditionally tourist related Russian River, where just 425 vacation rentals presently make up just 11% of total single family homes or 3,626 units.

10. Using data from the Eyler report that Sonoma County commissioned, it is estimate this 5% cap would remove 726 units Countywide, impact gross revenue of $21M and TOT tax revenue $2.6M per annum as these units are removed from the market. They would likely sit empty as second homes, generating no visitors or no income for local businesses. According to Sonoma County Tourism, each visitor to Sonoma County generates $165 per trip.

We urge you to speak up!

Public Comment may be made live during the Zoom meeting or emailed to the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org. Please provide your name, and agenda Item #39.

Join by Zoom – Monday, June 13, 2022, at 8:45 AM

JOIN THE ZOOM MEETING:
Webinar Link https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/95826127226?pwd=S0ZWL2hHR3lWL29OTWp2dTlRSW1uQT09
Enter meeting ID: 958 2612 7226
Enter Password: 353649
Participate in Zoom by phone:
Dial +1 (669) 900 9128

June 29, 2022

Planning Commission Meeting – Draft Local Coastal Plan

The Planning Commission will hold a special meeting on June 29 to decide whether to recommend the Draft Local Coastal Plan to the Board of Supervisors. A complete package of all materials, including responses to comments and the staff report, will be available at least 7 days prior to the Planning Commission. The Draft Local Coastal Plan Update is scheduled to be considered by the Board of Supervisors at their August 30, 2022 meeting. The final step is certification by the California Coastal Commission, which is anticipated in November 2022. Please use this updated link to access project materials for the Draft Local Coastal Plan Update.

May 10, 2022, 10:00am

Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee—Vacation Rental Ordinance Update

The Committee will report on issues related to permitting and enforcement; update on revised approach to ordinance; estimated timeline moving forward. Meeting agenda and presentation.

Zoom Link

Phone 669-219-2599

WEBINAR ID: 869 2031 4138

Click here to learn “How To Make A Public Comment On Zoom”

We have provided the follow questions and policy positions that you can use to write to your elected officials and to speak with at upcoming meetings. Verbal comments during the meeting will be allotted 3 min. Written comments must be submitted by Monday, May 9 at 5PM to EconomicDevelopment@srcity.org

For Santa Rosa Hosts:

1. This is your chance to speak publicly and let the Economic Development Committee know how the permit application process is going so far. What input do you have for them?

2. Are there parts of the STR Ordinance that you would like to see changed or improved upon? Do you think the application fees are too high? Are the regulations too strict with regard to daytime guests? Has it been too hard to apply?

3. Were you fined unfairly? Did you have it retracted?

4. What changes would you like them to make to the more permanent ordinance?

5. Why have more fines been issued, than permits? At the start of this process, why not put resources into helping hosts comply, rather than into investigating and punishing.

Here is what SCCH sent the Santa Rosa Planning Department in February as suggestions for fixes to the current law:

As Santa Rosa looks to implement a more permanent ordinance, our Coalition wanted to weigh in on a few key policy areas.

1. Short-Term Rental Permit Application Fee and Duration

We propose an initial fee should be $150 per STR bedroom, renewable every two years for permits in good standing at a fee of $75 per bedroom. Other cities charge far less than our current fee. San Francisco is only $450 for two years. Why start over every year, this is more work for City staff than is necessary.

2. Daytime guests-Hours and Limits

Daytime Hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10 p.m. should be aligned with the City ordinance. Limit the total number of daytime guests to 16 people for all Short-Term Rentals. This allows for people to have meals together, such as 8 couples for a lunch, or 4 couples plus their children. All noise, nuisance, parking and safety regulations must be observed. The current ordinance makes illegal a hosted rental of one bedroom having another couple over for lunch.

3. Parking Requirements

Short-term rentals should be allowed to contract for off-street spaces to meet the occupancy/ parking requirement for their permit.

4. Events that follow occupancy, noise, and safety rules

Gatherings should be allowed that meet occupancy and parking limits, noise levels and other related criteria. No law should be created that prohibits the right of the people to peacefully assemble.

5. Host

The Urgency Ordinance states the owner must be present during hosted short-term stays. The practical problem here is sometimes an owner may need to leave on an emergency, have an impromptu business trip come up etc. that makes it impossible to follow the ordinance without cancelling guests at the last minute. Why not make it owner or immediate, such as spouse, sibling, or adult child? This gets around the legal problem that could occur. In unhosted situations, there is no requirement to have someone present, so this minor change makes it easy for all to comply. Allowing an immediate family member of the owner to host a Short-Term Rental also creates stable and affordable housing situations for them. Adult children, retiring parents, and siblings are examples.

6. Renters AND Owners

Many other jurisdictions give the same rights to owners and renters (with the landlord's permission) for hosted short-term rentals. This is a more egalitarian approach, allowing people at all income levels to participate, not just those of us lucky enough to own property. Imagine a single mom renter whose kid goes off to college. She needs the room available when they are home, but can host people at other times, so she can pay her child's college expenses. This is also true for seniors who sometimes want their grandchildren to visit.

7. 1000’ Radius between vacation rentals

We believe a better way to regulate the number of non-hosted rentals is to limit the number of permits one owner can be issued, which is a position favored, by the majority of SCCH hosts who responded to our July 2021, Survey. If the allowed issued is a reasonable number, zoning restrictions, 1000' radius limit or cap on overall number of non-hosted short-term rentals will not be necessary. This would be fair to Santa Rosa homeowners, since every resident would maintain the same rights, and limits.

May 10, 2022, 1:30pm

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors—Vacation Rental Ordinance Update

The Board of Supervisors will consider adopting an Urgency Ordinance to create a temporary moratorium on new vacation rental permits in the unincorporated areas of the County (excluding the Coastal Zone). It is agenda item #23, and County documents can be found here.

We have provided policy positions hosts can use to write to their elected officials and to speak with at upcoming meetings.

3. A moratorium hinders all of the small businesses that rely on visitors to support the local economy, jobs, in restaurants, book stores, cafés, and other destinations. As residents of the county work to overcome the harsh effects of the COVID Pandemic shut downs, the last thing we need is to shut down a driver of our economy.

4. Placing a moratorium on vacation rentals negatively affects average folks, in their time of need. Will a permit even be available for them? One never knows when some unexpected event in their life (i.e., loss of a job, care of a loved one, divorce or death of a spouse) and they find themselves needing to earn extra income—offering a home short-term could be the only way to make ends meet.

5. The Eyler Report states, “In terms of effects on single-family housing units’ prices, data considered in this report show little to NO CONNECTION between a rise in single-family housing units offered as short-term rentals and single-family home prices.” Does the county not believe this conclusion?

6. While the Eyler report makes a tenuous link between short-term rentals and longer term rental prices, the vacation rental permits in Sonoma County have FALLEN over the last two years, and rents have increased due to other factors.

7. Last week, the planning commission passed a recommendation for a 5% cap of Vacation Rentals in specific zones in Sonoma County and a ban on them in all R1 zones. This is unfair to residents who live in these areas and want to engage in this economic activity. What do the Supervisors who oversee these areas have to say about this?

Public Comment may be made live during the Zoom meeting or live, in person, in the Council Chambers, or emailed to the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org. Please provide your name, and agenda Item #23.

Join by Zoom, Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at 1:30PM

JOIN THE ZOOM MEETING:
Webinar Link https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/92394763585?pwd=cEFmVWZvaUtBWmlDNTB4cWtwTU9Ddz09
Enter meeting ID: 923 9476 3585
Enter Password: 919371
Participate in Zoom by phone:
Dial +1 (669) 900 9128

May 10, 2022, 6pm

Sebastopol Planning Commission Meeting

The City of Sebastopol's Planning Commission will be discussing updates to the City's Vacation Rental ordinance. The City has engaged a Consultant from Harmari, the firm that is contracted to review and monitor short-term rental compliance for the City. In this meeting the Consultant will introduce the update process, receive feedback and respond to question from Commissioners and the public.

We have provided policy positions that you can use to write to your elected officials and to speak with at upcoming meetings.

Please pay close attention to “how to limit non-hosted rentals”, and “hosted rentals limited to only 2 bedrooms”, as we strongly oppose these.

The City's staff report can be downloaded here (note, however, that most of the information is the past reports/comments received). It is agenda item #6A

We urge you to speak up!

Public Comment may be made live during the Zoom, or emailed to the Planning Commission via Planning Director – Kari Svanstrom, at ksvanstrom@cityofsebastopol.org

May 5, 2022, 1pm

Planning Commission Hearing – Unincorporated and Coastal Zone Areas

the Planning Commission will hear proposed updates to the County vacation rental ordinance for the unincorporated areas.

We have provided a full, detailed explanation of the proposed policy positions that you can use to write your public comment at the upcoming meeting. Comments can be emailed to the planning commission PlanningAgency@sonoma-county.org and made via Zoom.

The main objections to the pending regulations before the planning commission are below.

1. Caps on Vacation Rentals are a cap on our local economy, small businesses and jobs. Discouraging tourists from coming to Sonoma County hurts us all. Limits on noise and nuisance are the more relevant issue. See pages 5-7.

2. Excluding vacation rentals in zones R1, R2, and R3, in unincorporated areas, favors more wealthy homeowners to purpose their homes as vacation rentals.See pages 1-5.

3. The Exclusion Vacation Zone are too broad and make it easy for the BOS or Permit Sonoma to ban vacation rentals in a wide variety of areas, thereby limiting supply and raising prices. See the detailed exclusions below in pages 9-13.

4. By only allowing detached structures to be purposed as Vacation Rentals, condo and apartment owners are banned from participating in this economic activity. This again favors wealthy homeowners. Page 35.

To view Planning Commission meeting info., and County documents, click here.

Webinar Information:
• Zoom Webinar: Join Meeting >>
• Telephone: 1 (669) 900-9128
• Webinar ID: 987 4595 7918
• Password: 865523

April 5, 2022, 8:30am – Item was pulled from agenda, but hosts spoke during the time of public comment.

Board of Supervisors Meeting – Vacation Rental Ordinance for Unincorporated & Coastal Zone Areas

Receive Project Update on the vacation rental ordinance in the unincorporated areas and coastal zone. This is a comprehensive revision to the vacation rental ordinance to address concentration, operation, and entitlement (permitting vs. licensing). Please find links to our policy document. The documents for the April 5,meeting can be accessed via this link. The Planning Commission March 17, 2022 agenda and materials can be accessed via this link.

March 17, 2022, 1pm

Planning Commission Hearing – Unincorporated and Coastal Zone Areas

Planning Commission Hearing for the comprehensive revision to the vacation rental ordinance in the unincorporated areas and coastal zone, to address concentration, operation, and entitlement (permitting vs. licensing). Please find links to our policy document. Meeting details and documents will be posted here.

January, 25, 2022 at 5:30pm

Windsor Planning Commission Meeting

The Commissioners will come back on January 25, 2022, to work on a revised draft of the short-term rental resolution. They need to decided if limiting the number of permits one individual or entity can be issues is sufficient, OR if other limits are necessary: e.g., restrict non-hosted rentals in certain residential zones, citywide cap on total number of non-hosted short-term rentals, etc.

Click here for an audio recording of the preceding January 11, Commission meeting. Check here for audio recording of January 25, Commisson meeting.

January 20, 2022 at 1pm

Sonoma County Planning Commission

Planning Commission UPDATE - 1/19/2022 "Staff will be recommending continuance of the item, Short Term Vacation Rentals and it will be fully noticed at a later date"

Public Hearing for the proposed changes to the short-term rental ordinance for the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County and the Coastal Zone. Chick, here to view meeting documents and Zoom link. Documents will be posted 3 days before the meeting. Staff will bring the item back for a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors in January 2022. Click here for previous SCCH Recommended Policy Positions, for the Nov. 13,2021 Planning Commission Hearing.

January 13, 2022 at 1pm

Sonoma County Planning Commission

Sonoma County Planning Commission will continue the virtual public hearing opened on July 26 2021 to receive public comment, consider recommendations, and provide policy direction on the Public Review Draft of the Local Coastal Plan. At this reopened hearing, the Planning Commission will conduct a preliminary review of the Cultural and Historic Resources Element and the Land Use Element (which includes vacation and hosted rentals). Link to the meeting agenda is here. Members of the public can watch, listen, and participate by calling in or by using the Zoom application and following this link. Materials for the reopened January 13, 2022 continued hearing can be found here:January 13, 2020 LCP Packet. Please send comments, recommendations, and questions to Local Coastal Plan Email

January 11, 2022

Windsor Planning Commission Meeting

Public hearing for the town of Windsor's proposed short-term rental ordinance. Click here to view the November 29, 2021 Community Meeting regarding the Draft Vacation Rental Ordinance. Click here for an audio recording of the January 11, Commission meeting.

December 30, 2021 at 5:30

Disctrict 4 Vacation Rental Ordinance Update Workshop

Gary Helfrich from Permit Sonoma (PRMD) presented a Zoom meeting “workshop” on the upcoming updates to Sonoma County’s Vacation Rental Ordinance. The meeting for District 4 was intended to answer questions and solicit input from the public regarding changes to existing rules for the entire unincorporated Sonoma County. Check here for notes.

November 29, 2021 at 6pm

Windsor Planning Commission Meeting

Community Meeting regarding the Draft Vacation Rental Ordinance. Click here to view the November 29, 2021 Community Meeting regarding the Draft Vacation Rental Ordinance.

November 18, 2021 at 1PM

Sonoma County Planning Commission Meeting

Public hearing for the proposed changes to the short-term rental ordinance for the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County and the Coastal Zone. Chick to view SCCH recommended policy positions for the meeting. View agenda documents and meeting details.

August 10, 2021

Santa Rosa Short-term Rental Ordinance 10 a.m., City Hall, Mayor's Conference Room

Staff will discuss short-term rentals with the Economic Development Subcommittee. This meeting will provide an opportunity for staff to present options, receive direction, and discuss next steps for the potential ordinance.

Agenda materials are not yet available, but will be posted here. At this time, public comments can be emailed to shorttermrentals@srcity.org. The short-term rental webpage is available here.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://srcity-org.zoom.us/j/98914438391

Call In: 1-669-219-2599

Webinar ID: 989 1443 8391

September 29 - STR-Industry Focused Virtual Public Meeting - A virtual, industry-focused public meeting to discuss the proposed Short-Term Rental Urgency Ordinance with short-term rental owners and others who benefit from the short-term rental industry. While all members of the public are welcome to attend, the meeting is targeted for those who operate and own short-term rental properties within the Santa Rosa city limits. Visit Santa Rosa to view Draft Urgency Ordinance and Survey Results.

Online: https://srcity-org.zoom.us/j/89983736818
By phone: (888) 475 4499 (Toll Free); Use Meeting ID: 899 8373 68

Steps to review and comment on this draft urgency ordinance

Go here to view and/or download the document for review.
Compile your comments and note the relevant pages and sections those comments are intended for.
Send an email with the subject line “STR Draft Ordinance Comments” and your feedback to shorttermrentals@srcity.org.

In the body of the email, please include your name and address followed by your comments and the pages/sections that your comment or comments are intended for. Any comments pertaining to the ordinance overall can be placed at the end of your email.

The deadline to submit comments is Oct. 8, 2021, to provide staff time to review all comments before the Oct. 12 City Council meeting. After Oct. 8, feedback can be submitted using the regular public input process for public meetings.

Survey Report

From August 18 through 30, the City of Santa Rosa requested feedback from the community to help in the development of a short-term rental urgency ordinance. After compiling the data and all responses, those results can be found in the report "Short-Term/Vacation Rental Urgency Ordinance: Community Input Survey Data Compilation” that can be viewed here or in the window below.

October 7, 2021 at 1:05 pm

Planning Commission Hearing — LCP Vacation Rental Ordinance

On October 7, 2021 at 1:05 pm, the Sonoma County Planning Commission will continue the virtual public hearing opened on July 26, 2021 to receive public comment, consider recommendations, and provide policy direction on the Public Review Draft of the Local Coastal Plan. Staff is recommending that the Planning Commission consider additional extensions of this hearing to future dates to allow sufficient time for public input and for staff to respond to policy direction from the Commission as a result of the hearing.

Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting by calling in or by using the Zoom application:

Zoom Webinar: Join Meeting

Telephone: 1 (669) 900-9128
Webinar ID: 978 9132 6576
Password: 270511

The Planning Commission meeting Zoom link and agenda can be found here: https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Planning-Commission/Calendar/Planning-Commission-Meeting-October-7-2021/ Please note that the agenda and meeting link are posted 3 days prior to the meeting. Materials from the July 26 hearing, including materials being presented on October 7 continued hearing can be found here: Local Coastal Plan Update.

Please send comments, recommendations, and questions to PRMD-LCP-Update@sonoma-county.org , phone 707-565-2404, or mail Permit Sonoma, Local Coastal Plan Update, 2550 Ventura Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403.

Please encourage anyone you know that is interested in participating to subscribe to the LCP email list at: https://service.govdelivery.com/accounts/CASONOMA/subscriber/new?topic_id=CASONOMA_309.

The public is invited to attend and participate in this continued hearing. While there is no deadline for submitting comments, you are encouraged to provide written input as soon as possible to allow staff time to review the comments and provide responses for consideration by the Commission.

The Planning Commission is only the beginning of the public review process. The Planning Commission hearing is not limited to a specific deadline or date and may take multiple meetings to provide direction to staff and finalize the development of the Planning Commission Recommended Draft to the Board of Supervisors. The draft will be scheduled for public hearing(s) before the Board of Supervisors at a later date. Once the Board reviews and adopts the Local Coastal Plan, the Board adopted Local Coastal Plan will go to the Coastal Commission for review and certification in public hearing.

After certification, the Local Coastal Plan will be implemented though an updated Coastal Zoning Ordinance and revised Administration Manual. These documents are subject to the same public review, hearings, and certification process as the Local Coastal Plan, with opportunities for public input and recommendations at each step.

October 12, 2021

Santa Rosa City Council Meeting

Public hearing for the proposed short-term rental Ordinance. Santa Rosa Short-term website & survey.

Where to find us:

hello@sonomacountycoalitionofhosts.org

+1-707-596-3451

Sonoma County, California, United States

Created with

Events

Upcoming Meetings and Events

May 14, 2024

May 21, 2024 Local Coastal Plan

May 21, 2024

June 4, 2024

July 9, 2024

Past Meetings

April 30, 2024

﻿April 22, 2024 at 2:45pm

April 11, 2024

April 22, 2024 at 2:45pm