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  1. Home
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  5. California
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  7. Geyserville

Geyserville

Moderate
California · Unincorporated GeyservilleUpdated Mar 26, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 13, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Geyserville is an unincorporated community governed by Sonoma County's highly restrictive short-term rental regulations, featuring density caps and a strict ban on corporate ownership.

Restriction level

Severity 25
Classification
Moderate
25
Severity

Why this classification

  • Limited to 1 property per owner
  • 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

Property owners must be natural persons or trusts (no corporations) and are limited to a single short-term rental permit across the entire county. Many areas in Geyserville are subject to a 5% density cap, and rentals are completely prohibited in ADUs and most residential zones like R1.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredNo
Night limit365/year
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.0%
Permit fee$2,872
Max fine$10,000

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Corporate entities (LLCs, corps) are barred from obtaining new permits; only natural persons or trusts are eligible.
  2. 2Property owners are limited to exactly ONE vacation rental permit in the entire county.
  3. 3Short-term rentals are strictly prohibited in ADUs and Junior ADUs.
  4. 4Mandatory neighbor notification and physical signage with 24/7 contact info required.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility7 rules
  • Geyserville does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
  • Geyserville does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • Geyserville allows STRs in the following zones: RR, AR, LEA, DA, RRD.
  • Geyserville limits hosts to a maximum of 1 STR properties per owner.
Requirements8 rules
  • Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Geyserville: 1. Corporate entities (LLCs, corps) are barred from obtaining new permits; only natural persons or trusts are eligible. 2. Property owners are limited to exactly ONE vacation rental permit in the entire county. 3. Short-term rentals are strictly prohibited in ADUs and Junior ADUs. 4. Mandatory neighbor notification and physical signage with 24/7 contact info required.
Application process6 rules
  • Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Geyserville: Step 1: Obtain Property Manager Certification - The property owner or a designated manager must pass the Sonoma County Property Manager Certification exam. Documents needed: Photo ID. Estimated time: 1 week. Cost: $139. More info: https://permitsonoma.org/vacationrentals/propertymanager Step 2: Apply for Transient Vacation Rental (TVR) Permit - Submit a zoning permit application to Permit Sonoma. This involves a site inspection and verification of septic capacity. Documents needed: Site plan, Floor plan, Septic permit, Proof of ownership. Estimated time: 2-6 months. Cost: $1333. More info: https://permitsonoma.org/vacationrentals/apply Step 3: Register for TOT Certificate - Register with the Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector for a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate. Documents needed: Zoning permit number. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. More info: https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/auditor-controller-treasurer-tax-collector/revenue-services/transient-occupancy-tax Step 4: Obtain Vacation Rental License - Once the zoning permit and TOT number are secured, apply for the mandatory annual Vacation Rental License. Documents needed: Completed license application, Emergency contact info, Self-certification of standards. Estimated time: 30-60 days. Cost: $1400. More info: https://permitsonoma.org/vacationrentals/apply
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Sonoma County charges a registration fee of $2872 (annual).
Taxes1 rule
  • Sonoma County charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.09%.
Limits & restrictions3 rules
  • Geyserville has a neighborhood cap of 5% STR permits.
  • Sonoma County limits STRs to 365 nights per year.
  • Sonoma County limits STRs to a maximum of 12 guests.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Geyserville requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted emergency contact, parking, trash plan, noise restrictions (Outdoor amplified sound is prohibited at all times; quiet hours apply.).
Penalties1 rule
  • Geyserville enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First violation: $1,500 fine. Subsequent violations: Up to $5,000 per violation. Maximum fine: $10000.
Exemptions1 rule
  • Geyserville exempts the following from STR regulations: bed and breakfast establishments, hotels and motels, long-term stays (30+ days), Hosted rentals (where owner is present) have different regulations.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Geyserville

0/4
steps completed
Step 1

Obtain Property Manager Certification

The property owner or a designated manager must pass the Sonoma County Property Manager Certification exam.

1 week$139
Documents needed
  • Photo ID
Official resource
Step 2

Apply for Transient Vacation Rental (TVR) Permit

Submit a zoning permit application to Permit Sonoma. This involves a site inspection and verification of septic capacity.

2-6 months$1,333
Documents needed
  • Site plan
  • Floor plan
  • Septic permit
  • Proof of ownership
Official resource
Step 3

Register for TOT Certificate

Register with the Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector for a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate.

1-2 weeksFree
Documents needed
  • Zoning permit number
Official resource
Step 4

Obtain Vacation Rental License

Once the zoning permit and TOT number are secured, apply for the mandatory annual Vacation Rental License.

30-60 days$1,400
Documents needed
  • Completed license application
  • Emergency contact info
  • Self-certification of standards
Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 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

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