Supes approve vacation rental rules

Existing vacation rentals with up to six guest rooms will require a $150 annual permit while the fee for new and larger rentals could be as high as $3,800, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors ruled Tuesday.

There are some 640 rentals in the county. All must be registered with the county by January 1.

The $150 fee will apply to rentals new to the market that have up to five guest rooms and no more than two structures. New businesses with more than five units, and existing rentals with seven or more guest rooms, must obtain a use permit. That requirement could boost the fees to $3,800.

The Nov. 9 ruling completes an ordinance first studied nearly a year ago. Critics have said the more rules, higher fees will impact tourism, while proponents called for more oversight for an industry that was largely unregulated.
The ordinance goes in to effect January 1. It does not apply to certain contracts signed before that date.