What should Bodega Bay hosts know about vacation rental permits are not?

Vacation rental permits are NOT transferable; they expire upon the sale or transfer of the property.

What should Bodega Bay hosts know about short-term rentals are strictly prohibited?

Short-term rentals are strictly prohibited in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior ADUs.

What zoning rules apply to STRs in Bodega Bay?

Most of Bodega Bay is subject to a 5% cap zone; as of 2024, many of these zones have no remaining capacity for new permits.

What should Bodega Bay hosts know about outdoor amplified sound (speakers, music)?

Outdoor amplified sound (speakers, music) is prohibited at all times in vacation rentals.

Bodega Bay

Moderate

California · Bodega Bay (Unincorporated Sonoma County)Updated Apr 4, 2026

Gold-standard verification

1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 4, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Bodega Bay is an unincorporated community governed by Sonoma County, which requires a multi-step permitting and licensing process, strictly prohibits rentals in ADUs, and enforces caps in specific high-density zones.

Restriction level

Severity 10

Classification

Moderate

10

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
No STR-specific permit required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

To run an STR in Bodega Bay, you must get a zoning permit, a business license, and a tax certificate from Sonoma County. You or your property manager must pass a certification exam, and you must have a local contact person available 24/7 to respond to issues within 30 minutes. Permits do not transfer when a property is sold, and new rentals are currently limited by caps in many coastal neighborhoods.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$1,414

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Vacation rental permits are NOT transferable; they expire upon the sale or transfer of the property.
2Short-term rentals are strictly prohibited in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior ADUs.
3Most of Bodega Bay is subject to a 5% cap zone; as of 2024, many of these zones have no remaining capacity for new permits.
4Outdoor amplified sound (speakers, music) is prohibited at all times in vacation rentals.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

Sonoma County allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family Residence, Condo.
Sonoma County: Properties with affordable housing restrictions or subsidies cannot be used for short-term rentals.
Sonoma County: Short-term rentals are strictly prohibited in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior ADUs.

Requirements7 rules

Sonoma County STR warning: Short-term rentals are strictly prohibited in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior ADUs.
Sonoma County STR warning: Vacation rental permits are NOT transferable; they expire upon the sale or transfer of the property.

Application process6 rules

Sonoma County STR permit - Step 3: Register for TOT Certificate. Obtain a Transient Occupancy Tax number from the Sonoma County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector. Required documents: Business Information, Property Details. Time: 1-2 weeks.

Fees & costs1 rule

Sonoma County charges a registration fee of $1414.

Taxes1 rule

Sonoma County charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.12%.

Limits & restrictions1 rule

Sonoma County: Most of Bodega Bay is subject to a 5% cap zone; as of 2024, many of these zones have no remaining capacity for new permits.

Safety requirements1 rule

Sonoma County requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step

Upgrade to Pro

Unlock: 4-Step Application Guide

Get step-by-step application guides and access to all 51+ markets.

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Bodega Bay

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Create a free account

Regulation details

Create a free account

How to get permitted

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently asked questions

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Bodega Bay?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Bodega Bay?

3Are there restrictions on ADUs in Bodega Bay?

4What are the local contact requirements for rentals?

5Can I transfer my STR permit when selling my home?

Disclaimer