Board introduces short-term rental licensing ordinance, sets adoption vote for April 22

The Board of Supervisors introduced an ordinance to regulate and license short-term rentals in unincorporated Sacramento County and continued the item to April 22 for final adoption.

Laura Jacobson, assistant tax collector, said county staff counted about 250–500 short-term rental listings on multiple platforms and 107 licensed hosts. The ordinance would require operators to provide additional application information, maintain current property tax and transient occupancy tax (TOT) status, provide an informational flyer for renters listing local contact information and safety items, and meet smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements that are not currently mandatory for short-term rentals.

Jacobson told the board that violations of license conditions, unresolved code or building inspection violations or unpaid taxes would allow county staff to deny, suspend or revoke licenses; administrative penalties are available but the department’s stated objective is to achieve compliance rather than fines. She said the county’s host-compliance contractor helps identify unlicensed listings by monitoring platforms; staff also worked with planning division to align the licensing rules with existing zoning code provisions.

Supervisors asked about neighbor complaint pathways and whether Visit Sacramento had been notified; staff pointed to 3-1-1 as the initial complaint channel and said Visit Sacramento acknowledged notice but did not comment. The board voted unanimously to waive the full reading, introduce the ordinance and continue adoption to April 22; the ordinance would become effective May 23 if adopted on April 22 as scheduled.