City of Santa Cruz Application for Residential Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit and Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Registration Certificate

PLEASE NOTE that the City approved changes to its regulations that limit short-term rentals. Obtaining a STR Permit and TOT Registration Certificate does not guarantee continued short-term rental use. Additionally, Accessory Dwelling Unit properties may not be converted to short-term/vacation rentals.

A separate application is required for each short-term rental unit (including more than one unit on the same property).

New Requirements:

Applicants will need to supply the following materials as a part of their application. Please note that these items do not need to be drawn by a professional but they must be drawn to scale:

1. Plot Plan: Also known as a site plan, this item must show the location of all existing buildings on the property and the location and dimensions of all on-site parking, including garages.

   * Please note that the property must be in full compliance with the current minimum parking requirement, which is 1 parking space for each studio/1- bedroom residence and 2 parking spaces for each residence containing 2 or more bedrooms.

2. Floor Plan: The floorplan must show all exterior walls, interior walls, and provide labels for rooms (i.e. Bedroom 2). Additionally, the floor plan must identify which rooms, or whether the whole house, will be used for short-term renting.

3. Photograph: This attachment must be a clear, color photograph of the outside of the unit. The photo must include a visible building address number.

4. Three Proofs of Principal Residency: Applicants for Hosted STRs must provide:

* Evidence of a Santa Cruz County Assessor’s Homeowners Exemption.

* Two additional forms of evidence that the property is the owner’s principal residence, such as state and federal tax returns, a bank account statement, a car registration document, a driver’s license, a voter registration document, or a utility bill.

By signing this application, the Owner(s)/Operator(s) attest(s):

I/WE DECLARE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT 1) I/WE ARE THE PROPERTY OWNER(S) OR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE(S) OF THE PROPERTY OWNER(S); 2) THE PROPERTY IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SCMC CHAPTER 3.28, TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX, INCLUDING FILING OF ALL TOT RETURNS AND PAYMENT OF ALL TAXES, PENALTIES, AND INTEREST DUE FOR ANY SHORT-TERM RENTALS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF APPLICATION; 3) I/WE UNDERSTAND THAT ANY SALE, ASSIGNMENT, OR OTHER TRANSFER, INCLUDING ANY CHANGE OF OPERATOR AND/OR OWNERSHIP, REQUIRES A NEW RESIDENTIAL STR PERMIT AND TOT REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE APPLICATION; AND 4) THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS TRUE AND CORRECT.

For application questions please contact John Jezek at 831-420-5306 or jjezek@santacruzca.gov.

*ALL INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO AUDIT*