Shasta Lake, California Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Shasta Lake, CA?

Yes, short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Shasta Lake, CA. The City of Shasta Lake has established a comprehensive permit and licensing process for vacation homes and short-term rentals that took effect October 1, 2020. Under City ordinance, both "Hosted Homestay" and "Vacation Rental" types are permitted, making Shasta Lake a viable market for STR investors.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Shasta Lake?

Shasta Lake hosts earn a median $38,878/year with $210 ADR and 64% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $59,599+ per year.

See the full Shasta Lake market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Shasta Lake

The City has implemented a streamlined, one-stop processing system for STR applications through the Development Services Department. Here's the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Complete Application Preparation

Obtain and complete the Short-Term Rental Application Packet from the City of Shasta Lake Permit Center at 4477 Main Street, Shasta Lake, CA, or download from the city website.

Step 2: Submit Application

Submit your complete application packet to the City of Shasta Lake Permit Center for one-stop processing. The Planning Division will review and approve/deny the permit, while the Building Division coordinates with the Shasta Lake Fire Protection District for Fire Life Safety inspections.

Step 3: Tax Registration

After permit approval, the Shasta Lake Finance Department will send Transient Occupancy Tax forms that must be filed quarterly with corresponding tax payments.

Step 4: Annual Renewal

The administrative permit must be renewed annually. The renewal date coincides with business license renewal (effective for twelve months).

Step 5: Permit Issuance

Upon approval and TOT ID assignment by Finance Department, your business license and permit will be issued.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Core Application Requirements:

Short-Term Rental Application Packet
Project Description including:
- Number of bedrooms to be rented
- Maximum overnight guests (per SLMC Subsection 17.88.275(E)(3))
- Owner/tenant occupancy status during rental periods
- Number of onsite parking spaces
- Square footage of home
- Identification of additional buildings on property
Property Photos (street view and property line views)
Site Plan (8" x 11" minimum, 11" x 17" maximum) showing:
- All structures and current/intended uses
- Property access (public/private roads, driveways)
- Proposed parking locations
- Outdoor areas (pool, spa, gazebo, etc.)
Floor Plan (8" x 11" minimum, 11" x 17" maximum) showing:
- All rooms and sleeping areas
- Clear exit locations
Authorization Form for property entry by city personnel
Property Owner's Authorization Letter (if applicant is not owner)
24-Hour Contact Information for owner/manager
Application Fee

State and County Required Documentation:

Fictitious Business Name filing (FBN Number from Shasta County Clerk)
Bureau of Equalization Number (sales tax number)

Additional Requirements:

Authorization to Enter Private Property form
Safety Inspection (required before permit issuance, after six months of inactivity, or every three years)
Transient Occupancy Tax Registration

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

Occupancy Limits:

Vacation Rentals: Maximum of 2 adults plus 1 additional guest per property
Additional Guests: Maximum of 10 non-registered guests may visit between 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM
Total Daytime Occupancy: Overnight limit plus 10 people maximum between 7:00 AM-10:00 PM
Special Events: Prohibited (lawn parties, memorial services, weddings, similar activities)

Parking Requirements:

3 guestrooms or fewer: Minimum 1 onsite parking space
More than 3 guestrooms: 1 space per additional guestroom
Maximum vehicles: 1 vehicle per bedroom
On-street parking: May be considered at Director's discretion if adequate road capacity and public safety maintained

Operational Standards:

Quiet Hours: 10:00 PM until 7:00 AM
Outdoor Activities: Must comply with General Plan Noise Element during quiet hours
Amplified Sound: Prohibited at all times outdoors
Trash: Cannot be stored in public view except in proper containers for collection
Traffic: Must not exceed normal residential levels or interfere with neighbors' quiet use

Safety Requirements:

Fire Extinguishers: Minimum 2A/10BC rating required, installed 48 inches or less from finished floor near exits
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms: Required and regularly tested
Emergency Contact: 24-hour working phone number for property owner/manager who can respond onsite within 60 minutes
Address Numbers: Minimum 4-inch height, 3/8-inch stroke, reflectorized, contrasting with background, permanently posted and visible from street
Electrical Standards: No extension cords as permanent wiring, junction boxes covered, main service and sub-panel breakers labeled
Exit Requirements: All exits clear and operable from inside without keys
Plumbing: All fixtures present, backflow preventers required, gas appliance shut-off valves accessible

Structural Limitations:

Permitted Structures: Only legally established single-family dwellings and guest houses
Multiple Structures: Must be rented to same party unless owner occupies the home
One VR per Property: No more than one Vacation Rental use allowed per property
Utility Services: Cannot require commercial or industrial load/design modifications

Pet Regulations:

Pet Accommodations: Must provide means to ensure animals are always secured on property
Nuisance Barking: Prohibited by unattended pets

Advertising Requirements:

Permit Number: Must identify Administrative Permit number and TOT ID in all advertising
Exterior Signage: No exterior signage identifying home as vacation rental permitted
Required Information: All listings must include property's quiet hours, maximum number of guests and vehicles permitted

Contact Information for Local STR Authorities

City of Shasta Lake Development Services Department

Physical Address:
4477 Main Street
Shasta Lake, CA 96019

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 777
Shasta Lake, CA 96019

Phone Numbers:

Main: (530) 275-7400
Development Services: (530) 275-7430
Fax: (530) 275-7406

Email:
permit@cityofshastalake.org

Key Contact:
Jessaca Lugo, Assistant City Manager

Office Hours: Standard municipal business hours (contact directly for specific times)

Source Pages

City of Shasta Lake STR Main Page: www.cityofshastalake.gov/1169/Short-Term-Rentals-and-Vacation-Homes
Short-Term Rental Application Packet: www.cityofshastalake.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2784/Short-Term-Rental-Application-Packet
KRCR News Report on County Regulations: krcrtv.com/news/local/shasta-county-amends-zoning-plan-to-regulate-short-term-rentals
Local Business STR Support Information: shastalakeshoreretreat.com/keep-vacation-rentals/
City Municipal Code: library.municode.com/ca/shasta_lake/codes/code_of_ordinances

Important Notes for Investors

Permit Validity: STR permits are valid for maximum one year from issuance
Renewal Required: Annual renewal required with minimal cost
Non-Transferable: Permits do not transfer upon property ownership changes
Change Reporting: Changes in ownership, 24-hour contact information, or operational status must be reported within 30 days
Inspection Schedule: Inspections required before permit issuance, after six months of inactivity, and every three years thereafter
Quarterly Taxes: Transient Occupancy Tax must be filed and paid quarterly
Business License: Must be maintained concurrently with permit renewal

This guide provides comprehensive information for STR investors considering the Shasta Lake market, which has explicitly embraced short-term rental operations through clear, well-defined regulations and a structured permitting process.

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Ask the AI Advisor about Shasta Lake

Shasta Lake is a small city of roughly 10,000 residents in Shasta County, set in the foothills of Northern California's Cascade Range. It functions as the principal gateway to Shasta Lake, one of the largest reservoirs in the United States and a magnet for houseboating, fishing, and water-sports enthusiasts. The town has an outdoorsy, laid-back character, with streets that hum during the summer recreation season and quieten into the cooler months. It sits about ten miles north of Redding, the nearest sizable city and the commercial hub of the region, and roughly three hours north of Sacramento.

Just minutes from the heart of town, Shasta Dam is one of the tallest concrete dams in the country and the centerpiece of the federal Central Valley Project. Visitors can join guided tours of the dam's interior, walk across its broad crest, and stop in at the visitor center to learn about the engineering and history behind the structure. The reservoir it creates spreads across more than 30,000 acres of forested shoreline threaded with marinas, campgrounds, and houseboat rentals, most of which can be reached in roughly fifteen to twenty minutes from the city.

The surrounding Shasta-Trinity National Forest, the largest national forest in California, blankets the mountains and river canyons around the city in more than two million acres of pines, firs, and rugged terrain. Trailheads, alpine lakes, and developed campgrounds lie within an hour's drive in nearly every direction, giving visitors an easy way to swap lake time for hikes, mountain-bike rides, or a quiet swim in a mountain pool. The forest is a year-round draw, swapping snow play and ski touring for boating and swimming as the seasons change.

A short drive to the southwest brings visitors to Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, a wooded park built around a clear blue reservoir, four swim beaches, and the scenic waterfalls of the Whiskey Creek drainage, including Whiskeytown Falls. Roughly two hours to the east, Lassen Volcanic National Park adds a different layer to the region with steaming fumaroles, boiling mud pots, mountain lakes, and the still-visible scars of early-twentieth-century eruptions.

With one of California's biggest lakes at its doorstep, an enveloping national forest, and a string of well-known parks within a couple of hours' drive, Shasta Lake offers travelers a blend of water-based fun, mountain exploration, and small-town calm. That mix of high-volume lake tourism and steady regional visitation gives the city a dependable rhythm of demand that lends itself naturally to short-term rental use.