Step 1
Verify Zoning Eligibility
Ensure your property is located in an unincorporated zone that allows vacation rentals and check for any CC&R restrictions.
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Official resourceCross-referenced against 5 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.
Short-term rentals in unincorporated Mariposa County require a Vacation Rental Permit from the Planning Department and a TOT Certificate from the Treasurer-Tax Collector. The county enforces strict occupancy limits (2 per bedroom + 2) and requires a 12% Transient Occupancy Tax which platforms like Airbnb do not remit automatically.
To host an Airbnb in Unincorporated Mariposa County, you must apply for a specific Vacation Rental Permit which costs $587 as a one-time fee. You must also register for a tax certificate to pay the 12% Transient Occupancy Tax every quarter. Be aware that most areas require you to have a landline telephone for guest safety because cell service is unreliable, and you cannot use yurts or RVs as rentals. Only one vacation rental permit is allowed per owner.
Step-by-step guide for Mariposa County
Ensure your property is located in an unincorporated zone that allows vacation rentals and check for any CC&R restrictions.
Submit the Land Use Entitlement application to the Planning Department including floor plans and property management plan.
Obtain a Transient Occupancy Tax Certificate from the Treasurer-Tax Collector. You cannot host until this is active.
Ensure smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguishers, and a landline telephone are installed as required by Chapter 17.150.
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 Details may be outdated or incomplete.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