Overview: Are short‑term rentals allowed in Clearlake, CA?

• Yes. Short‑term rentals, called “vacation rentals” in the municipal code, are allowed in Clearlake as a use within residential and mixed‑use zones, provided you obtain a zoning permit and meet all performance standards. Ordinance No. 271‑2025 (Aug 2025) is the current framework.
• Owner‑occupancy requirement: The owner must occupy the dwelling at least 51% of the year.
• Limit: Up to five guest/sleeping rooms; maximum 12 overnight guests (2 per sleeping room plus 2 extra), excluding children under 3. Larger setups require a conditional use permit from the Planning Commission and proof of adequate sewage capacity.
• Vacant/ADU restriction: Nonhabitable structures, tents, yurts, RVs, secondary accessory dwelling units (ADUs), junior ADUs, and properties with affordability or deed restrictions (e.g., farmworker housing, Williamson Act) are prohibited from being used as vacation rentals.
• TOT and business registration: You must hold a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate and remain current on all reports and payments. Business registration is also required for tax purposes.
• Property manager: A verified 24/7 property manager located within 30 miles is mandatory during any rental period; changes require City submission and approval.
• Enforcement: Violations are a public nuisance; administrative citations and permit revocation are possible. Nonpermitted rentals face 10× normal application fees as an enhanced penalty. Three citations in two years can trigger summary permit revocation.

How to start a short‑term rental business in Clearlake

• Step 1 — Confirm zoning and property eligibility
  • Confirm the subject property is in a zone where vacation rentals are allowed (residential or mixed‑use). City GIS zoning maps are available online.
  • Verify the property is a legal dwelling unit and is not an ADU, JADU, or covered by deed restrictions (affordable housing, farmworker units, Williamson Act lands).
  • Confirm septic/sewer capacity if proposing more than 5 guest rooms or high occupancy. For homes on nonstandard/conditional septic, occupancy may be limited to septic design load.
• Step 2 — Prepare for the Vacation Rental Permit
  • Determine guest room count (max 5 without a use permit) and calculate permissible occupancy: 2 guests per sleeping/guest room plus 2 additional guests (max 12 total), excluding children under 3.
  • Plan parking to comply with City parking requirements (Section 18‑20.090). Confirm how many vehicles can be parked on‑site per listing.
  • Establish owner‑occupancy at 51% or more of the year. Identify and secure a verified 24/7 property manager residing within 30 miles; the manager must be listed on the permit and all contracts/listings.
  • Prepare septic/sewer and trash/recycling plans. Bins must be stored out of public view and returned to screened areas within 24 hours of pickup.
• Step 3 — Submit the Vacation Rental Zoning Permit application
  • Apply for the vacation rental zoning permit with the City’s Zoning Division (Director). The permit runs with the land and automatically expires upon sale/transfer.
  • If you propose more than 5 guest rooms or exceed occupancy caps, be prepared to pursue a conditional use permit through the Planning Commission after demonstrating sewage capacity and neighborhood compatibility.
• Step 4 — Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) registration
  • Obtain and maintain a TOT certificate. Include the certificate number on all contracts, agreements, and online listings/advertisements. Remit TOT and file reports as required by the City Finance Department.
• Step 5 — Business registration and any business license
  • Complete local business registration (for tax/accounting purposes). If required, obtain a City business license.
• Step 6 — Safety and operational setup
  • Ensure compliance with California fire/life‑safety standards (e.g., smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguishers).
  • Designate emergency access for gated properties: provide gate codes or a lockbox (Knox Box or similar) for law enforcement and fire services.
  • Draft guest documentation covering maximum occupancy, vehicle counts, quiet hours (10 p.m.–7 a.m.), outdoor amplified sound prohibition, pet rules, septic/sewer notes, and TOT certificate number.
  • Post the approved permit and standards inside the property near the front door.
  • Prepare mailers and neighbor notices: the City will mail notice to all property owners within 300 feet at the permit holder’s expense.
• Step 7 — Listing and compliance operations
  • Advertising must be consistent with approvals. Include on all listings: maximum occupancy (excluding children under 3), maximum vehicles, quiet hours rule, no outdoor amplified sound, and the TOT certificate number.
  • Assign the 24/7 property manager. Program response protocols to handle complaints within 60 minutes (30 minutes during quiet hours), including on‑site intervention if needed. Report complaints/resolutions to the City within 24 hours via the online form.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

• Vacation Rental Zoning Permit (issued by the Director); larger occupancies/rooms require a conditional use permit (Planning Commission).
• Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate and ongoing reporting/payment.
• Business registration; City business license if required.
• Proof of septic/sewer compliance or capacity documentation for higher room counts/occupancies.
• Parking plan demonstrating compliance with City parking standards (Section 18‑20.090).
• Designated 24/7 property manager with local contact information; manager within 30 miles.
• Owner‑occupancy attestation (≥51% of the year).
• Emergency access information (gate code or lockbox) for gated properties.
• Guest policies and posted notice: occupancy, vehicles, quiet hours (10 p.m.–7 a.m.), no outdoor amplified sound, pets, trash/recycling, septic/sewer, TOT certificate number.
• Advertising content per code (occupancy, vehicles, quiet hours, no outdoor amplified sound, TOT certificate number).
• Annual monitoring/enforcement fee (as may be adopted by City Council).

Specific city regulations for Clearlake, CA

• Purpose and intent
  • Vacation rentals are allowed to preserve residential character and quality of life while permitting rentals under 30 days (transient/short‑term/vacation rentals).
• Prohibited structures and uses
  • Not permitted in nonhabitable structures; tents, yurts, RVs; secondary, accessory, or junior ADUs; properties with affordability or agricultural covenants (farmworker housing, etc.); lands under a Williamson Act contract.
• Permits and authority
  • Vacation Rental Permit issued by the Zoning Director; larger proposals require a Planning Commission use permit.
  • Permit runs with land and expires on sale/transfer.
• Occupancy and rooms
  • Max 5 guest/sleeping rooms without use permit; more only if sewage capacity and neighborhood compatibility are demonstrated and approved via use permit.
  • Overnight occupancy: 2 persons per sleeping/guest room + 2 additional (max 12), excluding children under 3. Septic‑limited properties must adhere to design load.
  • Total guests and daytime visitors: up to 6 additional daytime visitors beyond overnight occupancy, maximum 18 persons (excluding children under 3). No daytime visitors during quiet hours.
• Owner‑occupancy requirement
  • Owner must occupy the dwelling at least 51% of the year.
• Parking
  • Must comply with City parking standards (Section 18‑20.090).
• Noise and quiet hours
  • Quiet hours: 10:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m. All activities must meet general plan noise standards. Outdoor amplified sound is prohibited at all times. Quiet hours and outdoor sound restrictions must be included in rental agreements and all online listings.
• Pets
  • If allowed, pets must be secured at all times; continual nuisance barking by unattended pets is prohibited.
• Trash and recycling
  • Bins not in public view unless complying with neighborhood standards. Return bins to screened storage within 24 hours of pickup.
• Outdoor fires
  • If allowed by state/local bans: limited to 3 feet in diameter, noncombustible surface, fire screen required; extinguish by 10:00 p.m. or immediately upon leaving; no fires within 25 feet of structures or combustible materials.
• Septic and sewer
  • Maintain properly functioning systems; some cases may incur per‑room sewer fees.
• TOT requirements
  • Maintain a TOT certificate; include the certificate number on all contracts, agreements, and listings; remain current on reports and payments.
• 24/7 property manager
  • A verified manager must be on call and available 24/7 during any rental period; must be within 30 miles and listed on the permit, contracts, and listings. Changes require City submission and approval, including the manager’s signature and effective date. Operating without a verified manager is a violation.
• Emergency access for gated properties
  • Provide gate code or lockbox for exclusive use by law enforcement/fire services.
• Posting and neighbor notification
  • Post the permit and standards inside near the front door and include them in rental agreements.
  • City will mail notice to property owners within 300 feet at the applicant’s expense.
• Advertising requirements
  • Only advertise properties with a valid permit.
  • All online listings must include: maximum occupancy (excluding children under 3), maximum number of vehicles, quiet hours (10 p.m.–7 a.m.), no outdoor amplified sound, and the TOT certificate number.
• Enforcement process and penalties
  • Initial complaints go to the property manager. The manager must contact tenants within 60 minutes (30 minutes during quiet hours), including on‑site response if needed, and file a report within 24 hours.
  • Recurring issues go to City code enforcement; evidence may include police reports, citations, neighbor documentation, photos, sound recordings, video.
  • Notice of violation and penalties per municipal code; Director may revoke permit.
  • Enhanced penalty for nonpermitted rentals: 10× the normal application fee.
  • Three‑strikes rule: three administrative citations, verified violations, or hearing officer determinations within two years results in summary permit revocation; no reapplication for at least two years.
  • Administrative citations may be issued for violations (e.g., occupancy, noise/quiet hours, amplified sound, vehicle counts, fire limits, pets, no certified manager, missing limits in agreements/listings, missing TOT certificate number, failing to maintain current TOT status).
• Monitoring and enforcement fee
  • An annual fee may be adopted by the City Council to fund monitoring and enforcement.

Statewide (California) context and rules that apply in addition to local law

• Definition (SB‑60, 2021): A short‑term rental is a residential dwelling or portion thereof rented for 30 consecutive days or less.
• Licensing and registration: California does not issue statewide STR permits; counties/cities require local permits or registrations.
• Taxes: Hosts must collect and remit Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), business taxes, and any applicable assessments. Many California jurisdictions apply a combined TOT/assessment rate in the 10%–15% range; your City/County finance office sets the local rate and collection schedule.
• Health and safety: STRs must comply with state and local fire/life‑safety standards, and applicable building/housing codes.
• Advertising consistency: Local rules typically require accurate, code‑consistent advertising and may require inclusion of registration/certificate numbers in listings.

County‑level note (Lake County)

• City codes above govern operation within the City of Clearlake. If any portion of your property is in unincorporated Lake County, check county STR regulations and permitting requirements separately.

Local authority and contacts (City of Clearlake)

• Planning and Zoning (permitting for vacation rentals)
  • Address: 14050 Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422
  • Phone: 707‑994‑8201
  • Website: clearlake.ca.us
• Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and Finance
  • Online TOT portal and registration: clearlakeca.portal.opengov.com
  • Phone: 707‑994‑8201
• Police Department / Code Enforcement (complaints and violations)
  • Non‑emergency police: 707‑994‑8251
• Code Violation Reporting (online)
  • Report a code violation online via the City’s reporting portal.

Links to source pages

• Clearlake Municipal Code 18‑19.280, Vacation Rentals (current through Ordinance 278‑2025): clearlake.municipal.codes/CMC/18-19.280
• City “I Want To” (permits and TOT links): clearlake.ca.us/237/I-Want-To
• Short Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Permit (City Online Portal): clearlakeca.portal.opengov.com/categories/1084
• Transient Occupancy Tax Operators Registration (City Online Portal): clearlakeca.portal.opengov.com/categories/1081
• California STR laws overview (Summer blog, Apr 2025): www.gosummer.com/post/california-short-term-rental-laws

Compliance checklist (concise)

• Confirm zoning and legal dwelling status (no ADUs/JADUs; no restricted covenants).
• Owner‑occupancy ≥51% of the year; designate a verified 24/7 local property manager.
• Apply for Vacation Rental Zoning Permit; consider a Planning Commission use permit for >5 rooms or higher occupancy.
• Obtain TOT certificate; maintain business registration; verify any local business license.
• Publish guest rules: occupancy, vehicles, quiet hours (10 p.m.–7 a.m.), no outdoor amplified sound, pets, trash/recycling, septic/sewer, TOT number.
• Provide emergency access for gated properties (gate code/lockbox).
• Ensure advertising accuracy: include required disclosures and the TOT certificate number.
• Prepare to respond to complaints within 60 minutes (30 minutes during quiet hours) and report to City