Hosted Rental Application Period Opens

On June 18, the County of Santa Cruz will begin accepting applications for short-term hosted rental permits, allowing property owners to lawfully rent one or two bedrooms within a home to guests.

Under a new County law, all hosted rentals must have a permit and comply with conditions approved by the Board of Supervisors. For the first 90 days of the program through September 17, only hosts currently operating a hosted rental that has been in operation since at least Dec. 5, 2017 may apply for a permit.

For more information and list of requirements, go to http://www.sccoplanning.com/PlanningHome/ZoningDevelopment/HostedRentals.aspx.

Everyone with an existing hosted rental in operation since Dec. 5, 2017 is eligible for a hosted rental permit, regardless of any other limits, as long as they apply by September 17. Permits will be available to new operators after Sept. 17, provided the total number of permits at that time is no greater than 250.

After Sept. 17, the number of hosted rental permits countywide will be capped at 250 and be subject to certain limitations within highly visited coastal areas.

Hosted rental permits cost $145.20 and may be obtained over the counter from the County’s Planning Department for applicants with a completed application. To be eligible, applicants must submit an application form and documentation of having paid Transient Occupancy Taxes.

For documentation on Transit Occupancy Taxes, contact the Santa Cruz County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office at http://www.santacruzcounty.us/Departments/Auditor-ControllerHome.aspx.