Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts Blog

Urgent: Speak Out Against SB 1318 by April 21

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 21:51:58 GMT

Dear Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts Members,

We need your voice—right now.

California Senate Bill SB 1318 will be heard next Tuesday, April 21 , in the Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee. If passed, this bill would make it significantly easier for local governments to ban or heavily restrict un-hosted short-term rentals—without meaningful oversight.

Most concerning, SB 1318 would strip the California Coastal Commission of its long-standing ability to act as a check and balance when cities move to eliminate short-term rentals. In simple terms, it removes protections that help ensure fair, balanced, and consistent policy across coastal communities.

This is a critical moment for hosts, small businesses, and the broader visitor economy.

We strongly encourage you to submit a brief public comment in opposition to SB 1318 to:

Senator Josh Becker, Chair
Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee
Email: senator.becker@senate.ca.gov

Even a short, personalized email can make a real impact.

Why This Matters

Opposing SB 1318 means standing up for:

Supporting local economies that depend on visitor spending
Sustaining small businesses connected to tourism
Protecting responsible property rights
Preserving affordable coastal access for everyday Californians

Key Talking Points You Can Use

Feel free to include any of the following in your message:

SB 1318 removes the Coastal Commission’s ability to provide oversight when cities restrict or ban STRs.
Local governments already have broad authority to regulate STRs; this bill is unnecessary.
STRs are a vital source of affordable coastal accommodations, especially as hotel prices rise.
Reducing STRs limits access to the coast for middle- and working-class families.
There is no clear evidence that STR restrictions improve housing affordability.
A one-size-fits-all mandate ignores the unique needs of different communities.
Policy decisions should be data-driven, not restrictive by default.

Sample Public Comment (Customize Before Sending)

You can copy, paste, and personalize this:

Dear Senator Becker,

I am writing to respectfully oppose SB 1318.

This bill would significantly weaken oversight by removing the California Coastal Commission’s ability to act as an independent check when local governments move to restrict or ban short-term rentals. That oversight is essential to ensuring balanced, fair decisions that protect coastal access for all Californians.

Importantly, local governments already have broad authority to regulate short-term rentals, and they have used that authority extensively. SB 1318 is therefore unnecessary and risks accelerating restrictions without meaningful review or balance.

By limiting oversight and enabling further restrictions, this bill threatens affordable coastal accommodations, local economic activity, and the ability of everyday families to access the coast.

I urge you to oppose SB 1318 and support a more balanced, data-driven approach that preserves both local flexibility and statewide coastal access.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[City]

Take Action Today

Please take a few minutes to send your email to senator.becker@senate.ca.gov before the April 21 hearing. Personal stories—why hosting matters to you, your family, or your community—are especially powerful.

Your voice matters, and collective action can make a difference.

Thank you for standing with our host community,

Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts

Unlock More Bookings – Watch Our Free Webinar on Effective Direct Booking Strategies

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 02:22:02 GMT

The Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts & Friends is excited to invite you to watch our complimentary webinar on the essential topic of Direct Booking Strategies for Hosts and Property Managers .

This information-packed session, hosted by SCCH President Carl R. Jaeger and featuring industry experts Miles Hobson — Hospitable , and Gil Chan — Founder & CEO, CraftedStays , addresses why diversifying your booking channels is more important than ever—especially in light of recent platform changes. The discussion covers:

The Direct Booking Quadrant framework to identify your best opportunities for building a resilient direct booking strategy.

Tactics like email marketing, social media, influencer partnerships, and SEO to attract your ideal guests.

Smart ways to leverage past guest experiences to drive more repeat, direct bookings.

Tools to safely collect guest emails (including Stayfi ) and how to do it while offering value.

The crucial role of property management software integration for even single-property owners to avoid double bookings and manage rates efficiently.

A detailed look at Hospitable’s direct booking platform features—such as guest verification, damage protection, dynamic pricing, and secure payment handling.

You'll also hear practical advice for hosts of any scale, from solo operators to professional managers, and learn how direct booking can increase your independence and profitability.

Whether you’re looking to grow your business or safeguard your operations, this webinar is a must-watch.

→ Watch the webinar now: Direct Booking Webinar Recording

Take this opportunity to learn actionable steps you can implement today.

Thank you for your commitment to excellence in Sonoma County hosting. If you’re not already a member, consider joining the Coalition to stay informed, connected, and represented .

Warm regards,
Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts & Friends

“What's Happening in the World of Insurance” Join us April 9th at 6 PM

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 03:55:47 GMT

What's Happening in the World of Insurance

Tune in to hear, “What’s Happening in the World of Insurance” on April 9th at 6PM. Local insurance expert Jan Loewen from Loewen Insurance Services and Nick Massey, CSO of Proper Insurance , will guide you through the complexities of insuring your home while engaging in short-term rentals.

Bring your questions and learn about crucial topics for California short-term rental owners, including:

What steps should short-term rental owners take to ensure they have adequate insurance coverage?

How does the insurance coverage change if the property is used for both short-term rentals and as a primary residence?

What specific coverage does short-term rental insurance include for properties?

Are there any exclusions in short-term rental insurance policies that property owners should be aware of?

How does short-term rental insurance protect against loss of revenue?

How does the insurance handle situations where guests violate local short-term rental ordinances?

Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into short-term rental insurance. Register now to secure your spot in the webinar.

"How To" Videos for Coastal Zone Permit & License

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 01:12:57 GMT

"How To" Videos for Coastal Zone Permit & License

Dear Fellow Hosts,

Sonoma County now requires all short-term rental operators in the coastal zone to apply for a license by April 11, 2025. You need both a permit and a license to continue your activity. The Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts & Friends is pleased to offer these two videos by Lindsay Darrimon of Specialized Permitting , to educate you as to why and how to obtain these important certificates.

Please see the two videos linked below, and reach out to us if you have questions. We will do our best to help.

Webinar March 4, “What Lies Ahead” -Sonoma County's Economic Outlook and Tourism Expectations for 2025

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 21:12:05 GMT

Webinar March 4, “What Lies Ahead” -Sonoma County's Economic Outlook and Tourism Expectations for 2025

Dear Fellow Hosts,

The Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts and Friends is bringing you an online seminar entitled:

“What Lies Ahead” -Sonoma County's Economic Outlook and Tourism Expectations for 2025.

The more information you have about travelers to our county and the strength and understanding of the economy, the better you can tailor your Short Term Rental operations to meet the needs of consumers.

Tune in to hear:

Ethan Brown, Executive Director of the Economic Development Board of Sonoma County and Claudia Vecchio, President and CEO of Sonoma County Tourism will illuminate the strengths, weaknesses, and changing landscape of our economy.

Please come with lots of questions, and invite fellow hosts, and travel related businesses to join you.

This will take place:

Tues. March 4th, 2025 at 6 PM.
REGISTER HERE

Advance questions for our experts to answer can be sent to us here at sonomacountycoalitionofhosts@gmail.com .

NO on FF

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 06:27:00 GMT

NO on FF

MEASURE FF

Santa Rosa has placed local Measure FF on the Ballot for this November 5, which would effectively raise the TOT tax that guests pay by 2% to 11%. With the current TOT and BIA, that would make the total effective tax to guests 16%, the highest in the county and among the highest tax in the state.

This comes after Santa Rosa banned in 2021 any future Vacation Rental permits, limiting all future growth in revenue from guests to our city or needed income for local residents.

What happens when you limit the supply of STR's? Prices to stay in Santa Rosa increase.

When you combine the ban on more supply, and then add additional taxes to current Short Term Rental Hosts, it essentially says to people: DO NOT VISIT OUR CITY. STAY AWAY!

And where is the business going? Towns and county areas surrounding Santa Rosa are already reaping the benefits of greater growth in visitation, investment, and jobs.

Current caps limit the number of Vacation Rentals in Santa Rosa to a total of less than 182 and falling.

We agree there should be sound regulation around noise, nuisance and safety. If that is done properly, economic benefit from Short Term Rentals can help our community thrive.

What is proposed in Measure FF, is tax policy that is anti-growth, anti-jobs, and continues to send the message that we do not want people to visit.

Mayor Rogers makes the claim that the taxes are paid by tourists. What about the people who travel here for their own healthcare, to work with businesses in our community, traveling nurses and doctors who care for us, pilots and flight attendants at our growing airport and others? They are all subject to this increase.

The majority of hosts have only one short term rental. For many of them, this provides needed income to make ends meet. Measure FF, will make it harder for them. Add to that, the cost of an initial permit at $1282 and ANNUAL RENEWAL at $886 is already a heavy tax on hosts, some of whom may only rent out one bedroom in their home. These are the highest permit fees in Northern California.

Additionally, we are facing a slow down in high end wine sales, one of the key drivers of our economy. Higher TOT taxes will only make our future more fragile.

Visit No on EE & FF

NO on EE

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 06:17:26 GMT

No on EE

Next Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at 4PM, the Santa Rosa City Council will have a second reading to adopt ballot Measure EE which would add a NEW BUSINESS TAX to all hosts in Santa Rosa who engage in Short Term Rentals. The ordinance documents can be found here .

We oppose this measure as it is written.

Hosts in our city already pay hefty fees to operate, including a $1282 initial permit fee, and an ANNUAL RENEWAL FEE that is currently at $886. For some hosts, they are only sharing one or more bedrooms in their homes and these costs are already burdensome.
For many hosts, this home sharing helps them afford to stay living in Sonoma County, afford much needed repairs and maintenance, and is a source of needed additional income.
The city is already attempting to raise TOT taxes by 2%, and with current BIA fees, that would make a total of 16% visitation taxes the most expensive in the county.
With the addition of the business tax, and the increase in TOT, this will raise the cost of visiting Santa Rosa, and make our city less competitive than the surrounding areas.
Not only do hosts lose in this equation, but any restaurant, winery, book store, gift shop, coffee shop and other small businesses that cater to people who visit our county, will see a decrease in revenue in our city.
These taxes essentially send a signal to visitors to go elsewhere.

We need each host to email their Public Comment to the Santa Rosa City Council AND attend the meeting in person.

Email your comment to cc-comment@srcity.org by 5:00 p.m. the Monday before the City Council Meeting. Identify in the subject line of your e-mail, Agenda Item Number 13.2, and provide your name and comment in the body of the e-mail.

4PM Meeting Location:

Santa Rosa City Hall

Council Chamber

100 Santa Rosa Avenue

Santa Rosa, CA 95404

In the event a council member participates remotely, the city will also allow for Public Comment through the Zoom link or dial-in number below

ZOOM
HTTPS://SRCITY-ORG.ZOOM.US/J/89643446933 , or by dialing or by dialing
877-853-5257 and entering WEBINAR ID: 896 4344 6933

Visit No on EE & FF

PHOCUSWRIGHT/VRMB SURVEY COLLAB

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 21:50:05 GMT

PHOCUSWRIGHT/VRMB SURVEY COLLAB

Phocuswright is the leading travel industry resear ch firm, and they're conducting a 10-minute survey to study the U.S. short-term rentals market and understand key trends among homeowners and hosts who rent their properties to travelers.

Independent businesses are an important yet fragmented voice in our industry.

VRMB has partnered with Phocuswright, the leading travel industry research firm, to conduct a 20-minute survey to study the U.S. short-term rentals market and understand key trends among homeowners and hosts who rent their properties to travelers. Your participation in this study is essential to help understand the future of short-term rentals.

Confidentiality: Your responses will be kept strictly confidential. Responses will be reported only in aggregate. You are NOT required to identify yourself or your company.

VRBO Overcharges On TOT

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:38:23 GMT

VRBO Overcharges On TOT — Look At Your Statement

Dear Hosts,

Recently, it has come to our attention that VRBO is mistakenly showing a 2% BIA (Business
Improvement Area) tax due to Sonoma County on their tax reporting site. This is separate from
the 12% Transient Occupancy Tax that VRBO is now automatically collecting.
You would have seen this on your VRBO tax reporting page:

In most cases, your guests were not charged the additional 2% tax and you do not need to remit
that tax to Sonoma County out of your own pocket.

If your property makes over $350,000 per year or is managed by a property manager that
makes over $350,000 in gross revenue AND files transient occupancy tax on behalf of your
property, then your property is subject to the 2% BIA tax.

If you have already filed your Q2 (April-June) 2024 TOT return and paid the 2% on your VRBO
reservations then you should reach out to the TOT office (tot@sonoma-county.org) to get that
corrected. They do review your tax submissions and will likely catch that error anyway but best
to reach out and get the overpayment credited to your TOT account.

URGENT Call To Action, Your Taxes Are Being Raised

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 02:33:25 GMT

URGENT Call To Action, Your Taxes Are Being Raised

Dear Fellow Hosts,

URGENT

Are you aware that the city of Santa Rosa has started a process to raise the taxes that you and your guests pay, not once but TWICE.

They are proposing a ballot measure to RAISE the TOT tax by 2% to make us on par with Healdsburg AND they are including us for the FIRST TIME in the Business License Tax at a proposed rate of $3.50 for every $1000 of revenue.

The city is claiming that it needs to raise revenue.

1. The city of Santa Rosa has spent the last 4 years banning and capping what we do through legislation. Had they simply allowed our fellow citizens to engage in Short Term Rentals, we would not have this revenue shortfall in the first place. It is ludicrous that they are banning us, and then taxing us out of existence. What is the real goal here? Do they want people to visit Santa Rosa or not? It seems no. We wonder how are fellow small business owners such as restaurants and retail feel about that.

2. The Business License tax is in effect DOUBLE TAXATION. We are already paying TOT and Business Improvement Area taxes. Why are they taxing us TWICE.

3. Please send your public comment to the city council cc-comment@srcity.org, and come to the meeting on Tuesday, July 9th at 2:30PM to make your voice heard.

City Hall, Council Chamber

100 Santa Rosa Avenue

Santa Rosa, CA 95404

It is agenda item # 4.2

1. Staff Report , 2. Presentation , 3. Correspondence , 4. Agenda .

June 26, Santa Rose Community Advisory Board Consider TOT Hike

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 20:08:14 GMT

Public Comment 24-025CAB Item 6.1 Advisory Board June 26, 2024

Dear Community Advisory Board,

The Sonoma County of Coalition of Hosts and Friends is writing to oppose the proposed 2% increase in TOT for the city of Santa Rosa. We believe it to be an extremely unwise way to solve the city's budget deficits that you describe.

During this time of strong inflation, the notion that we can raise prices on visiting our city without causing a decrease in people's desire to visit is unstudied and not recommended.

Restaurants, cafés, book stores, wineries, and other small businesses in our city are still working to recover from the harsh business realities of the pandemic. The list of businesses that have closed in our city is far too numerous to mention here.

With a request for revenue increase, we fail to understand our cities vision to welcome an increasing number of visitors over the next 5 years. What is the plan?

Instead, we continue to take measures to signal to visitors that they are not welcome here. Caps on Short Term Rentals, messaging from some city council members, and organizations like Save Our Santa Rosa have made tourists and other visitors feel unwelcome. By limiting the number of affordable places to stay, we have driven people to surrounding cities and parts of the county that are welcoming them with open arms.

Several other cities have TOT that is on par with Santa Rosa. We are not Healdsburg.

Caps and tax increases on Short Term Rentals, are a cap and tax on every small business in our city. When you make it harder to visit, everyone suffers.

We propose, instead, that the way to help our city's deficit is to have a plan that attracts people to visit in a way that is safe, affordable, environmentally friendly, interesting and fun.

Part of that plan is to lift the ban on Short Term Rentals, and instead create legislation for this segment that focuses on noise, nuisance and safety. We wish to create spaces for families to visit and gather, in a safe and affordable way. This will increase sales revenue in all the businesses that benefit.

We would welcome the opportunity to help create a plan that increases the revenue that we need to operate.

Regards,

Carl R Jaeger - President

Lindsay Darrimon - Vice President

Alex Cvetkov - Secretary

David Wabel - Treasure

Charles Metz - Board Member

Donna Martinez - Board Member

Dan Gudino - Board Member

Mark Watson - Board Member

Homeowners Insurance Webinar April 30, 2024

Thu, 02 May 2024 00:37:54 GMT

In response to constituents reaching out over concerns about their homeowners insurance being dropped, Supervisor Gore hosted a panel of Annie Barbour, California Liaison with United Policyholders, and Ada Welder, Legislative Advocate with California State Association of Counties, to provide local and statewide perspectives, including policies and regulations, and practical actions you can take to ensure you're protected. The recording of the webinar is now available here .

Presentations during webinar:

Some of the resources mentioned during the webinar:

Sonoma County Vacation Rental Update April, 30 2024, 2:15PM

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 01:11:19 GMT

ACTION: County Vacation Rental Update April 30, 2024, 2:15PM

We wanted to update you on the coming changes to the short-term rental ordinance in Sonoma County that the Supervisor will look at on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at 2:15PM .

It is Agenda item 76 and text & documents are here .

We have begun talking to the supervisor about the harshness of the penalties for operating a short-term rental without the proper licenses and permits, and here are some positive changes that are coming.

If the measure passes, Permit Sonoma staff will now have some discretion as to the level of a fine based upon.

"Vacation Rentals operating without required permits or licenses are subject to a penalty of 10 times the normal application fees. The Board directed staff to return with anamendment to County Code Section 1-7.1 to modify civil penalties for such rentals to provide a range of potential penalties. Modifying the penalty to instead allow a range from 3 to 10 times the application fee, would allow staff to consider the relevant facts of the violation and assess the penalty accordingly. The penalties would range from approximately $1787 to $5956 for unlicensed vacation rentals, and $4,245 to $14,150 for operations without a zoning permit or license.

The Code Enforcement Division of Permit Sonoma develops internal protocols to apply penalties consistently and equitably by taking factors into consideration such as the operator’s awareness of County requirements and history of past violations. When an operator receives a notice of violation, they may appeal the determination - typically within 10 days of the notice of violation. The appeal is then considered at an abatement hearing before a Hearing Officer consistent with abatement procedures specified in Sec. 1-7.3 of County Code.”

We believe this approach to be more fair and just, as it will be a more reasonable approach to assessing fines.

There will also be an update from Permit Sonoma (PRMD) to the Supervisors about how the vacation rental license program is working – which will be a great opportunity for hosts to give feedback on lighting requirements, LLC ownership, and other topics important to the home sharing community.

You can write your Public Comment to the Board of Supervisors, and most importantly, WE NEED YOU TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT.

EMAIL

Comments, to the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org.

IN PERSON

Board of Supervisors Chambers

575 Administration Drive 102A

Santa Rosa, CA 95405

Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting using one of the three following methods, BUT YOU CAN NO LONGER MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON ZOOM OR LIVESTREAM:

1. WATCH LIVESTREAM:

https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Once the meeting has started, click the “In Progress” hyperlink to begin viewing.

2. LISTEN TO MEETING IN ZOOM:

Participate by computer, tablet, or smartphone application:

Go to: https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/95248209696?pwd=bGYrd2dmTm15OHBYWVlpY1JWcXNCUT09

Enter meeting ID: 952 4820 9696

Enter Password: 919371

Listen through Zoom by phone:

Dial +1 (669) 900 9128

Enter meeting ID: 952 4820 9696

Enter password: 919371

New Permit Requirements: How to Create a Site Plan for Your Vacation Rental

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 19:11:03 GMT

Struggling with how to create a site plan?

If you are like us, you are struggling right now to create a site plan to meet to the county's new permit requirement for unincorporated areas. Here's a few pointers and the background.

Background

In the new Vacation Rental Ordinance just enacted, permit applicants in the unincorporated areas of Sonoma county are required to submit as part of their application, a site plan that includes formatting requirements (e.g. drawn to scale), existing structures and features, parking and access, and exterior lighting.

How to Create Your Site Plan

We'll use the site plan of the one of our board member's vacation rental permit application as an example.

If you already have a permit head over the the county permit website to retrieve the existing site plan. If you don't have a permit, you can skip this step and go to step 5.
Enter your parcel number or address. The results should look something like this:

3. Click on the original permit application . If you don't have an existing permit, skip this step.

4. Click on the documents and the final application. For our example property here is the document that contains the original site plan. The document should contain a diagram that looks like this.

5. You have a few options this point. One you edit the existing site plan with Adobe Acrobat and you lighting.
Once you obtain an editable PDF, you'll just need to annotate it with your lighting.

Or you can consult a licensed local land surveyor or design professional to produce a site plan for your property.

Take the State of the STR Industry Survey from Rent Responsibly by April 14

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 01:31:56 GMT

Take the STR Industry Survey from Rent Responsibly

Your Voice Counts: Take the STR Industry Survey before April 14 to contribute (anonymously) to critical national and local research.

We’re excited to announce we’ve partnered with Rent Responsibly on the second State of the STR Industry Survey.

This critical research will help uncover trends and actionable insights about short-term rentals, solutions for more effective regulatory outcomes, and other insights to ultimately create stronger, more successful STR communities – including ours.

By participating in this study, our coalition, the Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts will get a breakout of data critical to our local advocacy needs.

We can’t do this without you. Please take just 8 minutes (or less!) to share your insight in this anonymous survey , which will cover:

Questions about your properties and hosting practices
The jobs and economic benefits you bring to Sonoma County
Your take on local regulations

To thank you for taking the survey, upon completion, you’ll be able to **enter to win a grand prize from Rent Responsibly of $250 for you and $250 to a local sustainability cause of your choice** plus get first access to the 2024 State of the STR Industry Report!

Sonoma County Coastal Zone Vacation Rental Regulations - California Coastal Commission Meeting on April 11, 2024

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 18:32:23 GMT

Important Meeting Regarding Coastal Zone Regulations - April 11, 2024

Sonoma County Coastal Zone Vacation Rental Regulations - California Coastal Commission

The public hearing for the proposed County Vacation Rental Regulations for the Coastal Zone (Permit & License requirements) is scheduled for Thursday, April 11, 2024, at the 9AM meeting of the California Coastal Commission in Long Beach, CA.

Agenda and documents for the Thursday, April 11 meeting can be viewed here and it is item TH9b. You can find all documents on the CCC site under Agendas, and then click on April 11, and then scroll down to North Central Coast.

Sonoma County LCP Amendment Number LCP-2-SON-23-0042-1 (Vacation Rental Requirements). ,

Report , Exhibits , Correspondence

Agenda Description:

Public hearing and potential action on request by Sonoma County to amend the LCP Implementation Plan to establish new regulations regarding vacation rentals, and if the Commission does not take a final action, possible action to extend the deadline for final Commission action on the amendment.

SCCH supports all coastal zone homeowners having the option to choose how they wish to use their home, and the County should not prohibit lower cost housing from being used as a vacation rental, as this will ultimately price out low to moderate income families from enjoying the coast. This will help ensure maximum public access because, without lower cost visitor serving facilities, members of the public with low or moderate incomes would be more limited in their ability to access and enjoy the coast. Creating an ordinance that only allows wealthy homes to be used as vacation rentals, only allows the wealthy to stay in Sonoma County. Neither Sonoma nor the Coastal Commission know the effect on public access of the County’s proposed restrictions on structures, ownership and occupancy, and so the Commission should insist on monitoring and review of the availability of vacation rentals on the Sonoma Coast.

You can view the public comment we have submitted to the California Coastal Commission here: Sonoma County Proposed Vacation Rental Regulation

There are 3 ways you can participate and make a Public Comment at the California Coastal Commission meeting.

ZOOM: Fill out a Speaker Request Form HERE , and the California Coastal Commission will email you a Zoom link for the April 11 meeting. It is highly recommended you fill out a speaker request form no later than 5PM, April 10.

EMAIL:

Public comments can be submitted to the California Coast Commission at: northcentralcoast@coastal.ca.gov

IN PERSON:

Long Beach City Hall
Council Chambers
411 W. Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802

Calling All Members: Let's Shape the Future of Sonoma County Tourism

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 17:58:06 GMT

Help us shape the future of Sonoma County tourism.

Dear Members of the Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts and Subscribers,

Your participation is key in shaping the future of tourism in our beloved Sonoma County. As we gear up for the next meeting of the VR committee on May 16th, from 3-5 PM at the Sonoma County Tourism (SCT) office at 400 Aviation Boulevard, Santa Rosa, CA.

We urge each of you to mark your calendars and prioritize attendance. This meeting presents a pivotal opportunity for us to voice our feedback and contribute to the enhancement of our community's vacation rental experience.

Agenda Highlights

Interactive Testing of the New SCT Website ( sonomacounty.com/lodging )

SCT has been diligently working on revamping their website to better serve both visitors and hosts alike. Ahead of the meeting, they have graciously provided us with access to the beta version of the site. I encourage each of you to take it for a spin, explore its features, and provide your valuable feedback. Your input will directly influence the final iteration of the website, ensuring it caters to the needs and preferences of our community.

Some areas for improvement we noticed:

On the Make Reservations Tab, all types of lodging should be represented, not just hotels.
Hosted rentals need to be equally represented as well.
Increase the search and booking functions for short-term rentals to have additional “Amenity” searches such as: search by the number of people, number of rooms, hosted/unhosted, pool and hot tub, patio/deck/outdoor area, BBQ, dishwasher/washer/dryer, LGBTQ-welcoming, and pet-friendly etc.
Add functions which allow short-term rentals to be found on a map as well as by location, like: near mountains, near river, near lake, near beach, countryside, city center, near cultural venues, near specific town/city. The current alphabetical order of vacation rental listings makes little sense.

Engagement with the Marketing Plan

SCT's marketing initiatives are integral in promoting Sonoma County as a premier destination. The "Life Opens Up" brand ethos and the "Discover Your &" campaign aim to redefine travelers' perceptions of our region beyond just wine and food. By aligning our messaging with these strategic objectives, we can collectively elevate the visibility and appeal of Sonoma County to a broader audience.

Additional Resources

- SCT has released a video introducing the updated website and outlining the marketing plan. It's essential viewing for all members, as it provides valuable insights into the vision and direction of our tourism efforts.

- A survey has been circulated to gather feedback on the new website. Your participation in this survey is invaluable, as it ensures that our collective voice is heard and considered in the decision-making process.

Looking Ahead

At the May meeting, we anticipate receiving updates on the effectiveness of the marketing agenda. By actively engaging with these initiatives, we position ourselves as stakeholders in the success of Sonoma County's tourism industry.

Final Thoughts

Our coalition's strength lies in our collective participation and collaboration. Together, we can shape a tourism landscape that not only showcases the beauty of Sonoma County but also fosters sustainable growth and prosperity for all stakeholders.

I look forward to seeing each of you at the upcoming meeting, ready to contribute your ideas and insights towards a vibrant future for Sonoma County tourism.

Warm regards,

The Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts

Important County Meetings Coming up in April and May

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 02:08:15 GMT

Participate in person and by sending in your story

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will be having several meetings during April and May that will determine the future of vacation rentals. We need your comments and participation to make sure your voices are heard.

All the meetings will take place at the Board of Supervisors Chamber in Santa Rosa at 575 Administration Drive 102A

Santa Rosa, CA 95405.

We need your comments to the entire board here: bos@sonoma-county.org.

April 22-24, 2024

Review Transient Occupancy Tax Board Established Financial Policies.

The Board of Supervisors will consider additional review of Transient Occupancy Tax policies as part of budget development deliberation as part of county Budget Workshops scheduled to occur from 4/22/24 to 4/24/24.

Agenda and documents for the meeting, can be found as notes from Board of Supervisors 1/9/2024 Meeting Notes.

As the workshops gets closer watch the Board of Supervisors Calendar Page for more detail on which day the Transient Occupancy Tax policy workshop will be held.

You can write your Public Comment to the Board of Supervisors, and most importantly,

WE NEED YOU TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT.

EMAIL: Public comments can be submitted via email to Board of Supervisors at bos@sonoma-county.org

IN PERSON:

April 22, 2024 to April 24, 2024

Board of Supervisors Chambers

575 Administration Drive 102A

Santa Rosa, CA 95405

April 30, 2024

Vacation Rental Update and Establish Vacation Rental Advertising Enforcement Component.

Permit Sonoma staff will provide an update to the Vacation Rental Ordinance as well as an update to Establish a Vacation Rental Advertising Enforcement Component.

Agenda and documents for the meeting, can be found as notes from Board of Supervisors 1/9/2024 Meeting Notes.

We believe the Supervisors may consider rezoning certain properties to restrict or exclude Vacation Rentals, which will have an effect on homeowners' ability to establish a new vacation rental.

There should also be an update from Permit Sonoma (PRMD) to the Supervisors about how the vacation rental license program is working – which will be a great opportunity for hosts to give feedback on lighting requirements, LLC ownership, and other topics important to the home sharing community.

Where To Find The Agenda Item

Agenda and documents for the meeting, can be found here .

To see the Meeting Agenda with this agenda item, change your calendar view to March and select the March 5 Agenda file. ( Here is a link to the Agenda PDF )

WE NEED YOUR VOICES TO BE HEARD by telling your story.

1. YOUR STORY: For those of you that rent out your house sometimes to families or groups, we need them to hear how this helps your family with much needed income. Examples might include teachers who travel during the summer but want to stay living in the community, retirees who sometimes fly off to see grandchildren, or perhaps you need the space for family to visit sometimes, and other times you need the income, or perhaps you need the funds for much needed repairs. For those of you with second homes, does this income help you keep and maintain your home, but you use it as a place to rest with your own family and friends sometimes.

2. VENDOR STORIES: Housekeepers, gardeners, pool cleaners, electricians, plumbers, appliance repair, and other maintenance people benefit from this activity. We need to hear their stories. As one example, with Short-Term Rentals, house cleaners earn a higher hourly wage on average, and have more frequent work. THIS IS A VALUABLE part of our economy that the council needs to hear. Please ask your vendors to voice their stories as well.

3. LOCAL COMMERCE STORIES: Do you refer your guests to restaurants, wineries, breweries, cafés, gift shops and other local establishments that benefit from your hosting? If so, please urge them to lift their voices with yours.

4. NEIGHBORS STORIES: Invite supportive neighbors you have a great relationship with to share their positive experiences with your property in a letter to the Supervisors' or in person!

5. GUEST STORIES: Have you hosted families after a local disaster? Have them share how your non-hosted rental provided immediate lodging when they lost their home or sought shelter after one of our fires or floods.

You can write your Public Comment to the Board of Supervisors, and most importantly, WE NEED YOU TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT.

EMAIL

Comments, to the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org.

IN PERSON

Board of Supervisors Chambers

575 Administration Drive 102A

Santa Rosa, CA 95405

May 17, 2024

Local Coastal Plan

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will once again, look at the Local Coastal Plan.

The Local Coastal Plan will then go to the Coastal Commission for review and certification in a public hearing. The Coastal Commission's calendar can be viewed here .

Agenda and documents for the May 17th meeting, can be found here.

Detailed on Board of Supervisor meetings are typically published 72 hours in advance. Possible agenda items for future meetings can be seen by viewing the most recently published agenda item.

SCCH supports all coastal zone homeowners having the option to choose how they wish to purpose their home, and the County should not prohibit lower cost housing from being used as a vacation rental, as the cost of other properties that are higher value, will ultimately price low to moderate income families from enjoying the coast. This will help ensure maximum public access because without lower cost visitor serving facilities, members of the public with low or moderate incomes would be more limited in their ability to access and enjoy the coast. Creating an ordinance that only allows wealthy homes to be used as vacation rentals, only allows the wealthy to stay in Sonoma County.

If you own a home in the Coastal Zone or want to get involved and lend your support locally, please visit our friends at: Sonoma Coast Vacation Rental Owners , or The Sea Ranch Hosting Coalition .

PUBLIC COMMENTS can be made via email and in person. Please include agenda item #.

EMAIL

Comments, to the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org.

IN PERSON

Board of Supervisors Chambers

575 Administration Drive 102A

Santa Rosa, CA 95405

Ensuring Vacation Rental Safety: A Comprehensive Guide for Hosts

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 02:22:23 GMT

Are you prepared for the aftermath of a fire in your vacation rental?

In the wake of a recent Airbnb rental property fire in Santa Rosa , it's crucial for hosts and vacation rental property owners to reevaluate their fire safety measures. The incident, which caused $75,000 in damages, emphasizes the need for proactive steps to ensure the safety of guests and protect your property. This article aims to provide essential insights and recommendations for hosts in Sonoma County, particularly those affiliated with the Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts, a nonprofit 501(c) organization.

The Santa Rosa Incident

In the early morning hours of January 27, 2024, a fire broke out at an Airbnb rental property on Montgomery Drive in Santa Rosa. Fortunately, smoke alarms alerted the ten guests, allowing them to evacuate safely. While the guests were unharmed, the property suffered significant damage, primarily in the attic area. Fire officials quickly responded to the scene, containing the blaze within 20 minutes. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, underscoring the unpredictable nature of such incidents.

Safety Measures: Beyond the Basics

While routine checks on smoke alarms, CO2 monitors, and fire extinguishers are fundamental, hosts should consider additional safety measures to mitigate fire risks:

Property-Specific Safety Reviews

Hosting platforms such as Airbnb and Breezeway offer safety review checklists. Completing these reviews can not only enhance the safety of your property but also qualify you for insurance discounts. Proper Insurance customers, for instance, receive a 5% premium discount upon satisfactory completion of a safety review through a company like Breezeway.

Home Safety Checklist and Annual Plan

Utilize the home safety checklist and annual plan provided by companies like Breezeway. These resources are developed based on industry insurance standards, local building codes, and the expertise of safety professionals.

Educational Courses

Breezeway offers a virtual home safety course designed for individuals in the short-term rental industry, including hosts, property managers, code officials, fire officials, and elected officials. Completion of this course can lead to significant insurance premium discounts and safety certifications. Access the beginner's guide to property guest safety from Breezeway: [Beginner's Checklist]).

Conclusion

Ensuring fire safety in Airbnb and vacation rentals is a shared responsibility between hosts, guests, and the community. The recent incident in Santa Rosa serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proactive safety measures. By conducting property-specific safety reviews, following checklists and annual plans, and participating in educational courses, hosts can enhance the safety of their properties and contribute to the well-being of the community.

The Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts encourages its members to prioritize these safety measures to create a secure and enjoyable environment for guests. Remember, prevention is key to avoiding devastating incidents, and investing time in safety measures is an investment in the well-being of your guests and property.

Editorial Disclosure

The Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts receives no funding, in-kind value, compensation or sponsorship from Airbnb or Breezeway.

Webinar Recording for Members and FAQ's About the New Ordinance

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 03:25:50 GMT

Listen to our webinar recording and get answers to your FAQs about the new ordinance

Yesterday the Coalition hosted Carl Jaeger, Owner of Brush Creek Landing and Lyndsay Darrimon of Specialized Permitting to talk about the new Vacation Rental Ordinance for the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County.

Attendees of the webinar and members of the coalition receive an email with free access to the webinar recording and answers to the following FAQ's.

Here are just some of the questions that we answered in the webinar.

Licensing

If someone recently obtained their permit in the last 6-12 months, would they already have a business license?

If you applied for your short term rental permit on May 10, 2023 or later, then a business license was required before you could start operating, so you should have applied for your license at that time. However, it was not automatically included with your permit so you need to make sure you filed that paperwork and were issued a license that would be LIC23-XXXX. You can search here to check if a license is in your permit history.

I have a ‘general’ business license (obtained about 10 years ago). Will that suffice?

No, this is a new process and all short term rental permit holders in the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County (except the coastal zone) will need to apply and have their license APPROVED by June 15, 2024, to continue operating.

Compliance

Is the county doing site checks to confirm information on the permit application — for example, about the lighting plan? Have any licenses been rejected due to lighting?

No, the county is not doing site checks to confirm the information on the lighting plan unless code enforcement happens to be at your property for another reason, then they may notice lighting that is not compliant. We are not aware of any licenses being rejected due to lighting.

For management to change ownership, what are the procedures? A new permit and license or just a notice form?

PJR-132 is required to update your property manager with the county. If you are applying for your license at the same time, include your new property manager’s information on your PJR-146 form and include PJR-132 with your license application. Remember, you also need to file a TOT update if your previous property manager was filing your quarterly TOT returns.

So if you hold a vacation rental license but hold property in a trust currently but want to put it in an LLC, I can do that before obtaining a business license?

Yes, if your vacation rental permit was paid for before June 16, 2023, you can change the property to be held in an LLC. Permits paid for after June 16, 2023, may only hold the property in a trust or individual names.

Daytime Guests

No daytime guests? Our allows for 8 overnight guests. If we rent to 4 overnight guests, is the limit during the day 4 or 8?

You may rent to less than your overnight occupancy but your limit for guests would

What about daytime guests? Do I need a permit or license?

Technically, it’s not a vacation rental anymore. I want to host a birthday party for 4 hours and have kids use the pool.

This is technically not allowed without a special event permit, but it really depends on your proximity to your neighbors, parking and noise levels.

Forms

On PJR 001 should you list the name of the trust as the owner?

Yes, you would put the name of the trust in the owner/applicant box followed by your name and (trustee) listed after it. If there are multiple owners/trustees, they would fill out the applicant box if you included your information in the owner box.

I thought you only had to submit PJR-001 and PJR-011 if you are renewing ?

You will need to submit a PJR-001, PJR-011, PJR-146 and lighting plan.

For PJR-001, I missed where you should put spouse's information, please repeat.

One spouse's information should be in the owner box and the other spouse’s information should be in the applicant box.

If we do not use an OTA (my ultimate goal) will there be a problem re the check boxes?

For the PJR-146, the county is assuming that you are registered with an OTA (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) if you have registered for a TOT number. For your license to approved, you will need to check all the boxes except for the following:

Do you hold multiple STR permits in the unincorporated area?
Is your property behind a locked gate?

Property Manager

In the past I took the property manager certificate test, passed, and was turned down because I'm on the Coast. When will they start to accept our passing the test and give us a certificate?

Once the Local Coastal Plan is approved by the California Coastal Commission later this year, short term rental owners in the coastal area will be required to get a business license, which will require a property manager that is registered with the county. You will be able to take the test after that time to manage your property. Even homeowners that are acting as their own property manager need to pass the property manager certification exam with the county.

I don't have an official property manager. Is "property manager" the local contact person who has been certified?

Yes, the property manager no longer needs to be within a 30 mile radius of the property, but they do need to be certified by Sonoma County.

So they are allowing owners to self manage?

Yes, homeowners may self manage as long as they get certified by the county as a property manager.

Lighting

No floodlights? At all? So all floodlights have to be motion only?

You may have floodlights but they must be covered and have a motion detector.

Are low-voltage uplight landscaping lights allowed?

No uplighting is allowed. If you have it and do not want to remove it, you may just disable it.

Site Plan

What is the size of parking space required per car? 9’ x 20’

If you have several structures on the site, do you need to indicate all of them and “call out” the vacation rental?

Yes, you need to show all structures and label which ones will be used as part of your short term rental.

Missed the Webinar ?

Donate today , get access to the webinar recording and answers to the following FAQ's that were asked and answered in the webinar. If you join before February 1, you will also receive a ballot to vote in our Board of Directors election.

Nominations for Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts Board Are Now Open

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 21:37:09 GMT

Nominations are now open for our first Board of Directors election

The Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts founding committee would like to invite all current members of the coalition to submit nominations for election to our first Board of Directors. Please submit your nominations by January 17, 2023 at 5PM PT.

Below you'll find information about the nomination process for our Board of Directors. Want to learn more about our election? Please email us at hello@sonomacountycoalitionofhosts.com .

Want to be come a member in good standing in order to nominate and vote ? Donate today to the coalition to join.

Our Nomination Process

Any Coalition Member in good standing can run or nominate a candidate (including themselves!) to serve on the Board of Directors. Nominations will be reviewed and be endorsed by the majority of the Founding Committee .

Officer Information

In addition to at large Board Members, the Board of Directors will include Officers.

These officers will include a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. The President and Vice President will serve as the executives to chair all board meetings and formulate agenda. The Treasurer will be responsible for fundraising and donation management. The Secretary will be responsible for maintaining and publishing the minutes of each board meeting.

Board Terms and Elections

All terms for Board Members are for 1 year commencing from the end date of the Board Election Voting Period period. An annual election to fill any open board seats once a board member’s term expires will be conducted each year.

Formulation Period and Meeting Attendance

During the formulation period ( 3 months ) after the board if formed and bylaws are enacted by a board vote there will be a minimum of number 2 board meetings per month for a 1 hour duration and thereafter 1 per month.

The President may request additional board meetings as with a majority vote of the board and or officers.

Board Members must attend all meetings and can only abstain from 2 in row otherwise their eligibility to remain on the board can be subject to removal by the majority of the Board of Directors.

Election

Once all Nominations have been voted by the Founding Committee members, voting will commence and be open for 2 weeks for a Board Election Voting Period to all Voting Members of the Coalition.

A Nomination notice will be sent via email to all subscribers to the Coalition mailing list as an encouragement to become a voting member or donor.

The most votes received for each Officer position will be eligible to assume that seat. The most votes received for any other Board Member vacancy will be eligible to assume that board member seat.

Vacancy

In the event of a Board Member or Officer vacancy, the majority vote of the other Officers may appoint another Coalition Member in good standing to serve out the term of the vacant seat.

Free Webinar: "The New Sonoma County Vacation Rental Ordinance" - January 22, 2023, 7PM - 8PM PT

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:00:35 GMT

A free webinar for Sonoma County hosts, owners and property managers

Join us for a webinar on the new Sonoma County Vacation Rental Ordinance enacted by the Board of Supervisors in August of 2023.

We'll cover how the ordinance affects you as a host, the various new regulations of the ordinance, how to apply for a new business license, and how to stay compliant with the new ordinance.

Our Hosts for our webinar will be

Carl Jaeger

Host and Founding Committee Member, Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts

Lyndsay Darrimon

Owner, Specialized Permitting

There will be also an opportunity for you ask questions for our hosts Carl and Lyndsay about the new ordinance.

Can't make it on January 22? Donate today to become a member of the coalition and view a playback of the webinar at a later date.

By registering for our free webinar, you agree to receive SCCH emails about events, community, and resources. You can opt out anytime by clicking the unsubscribe link in any of these email communications or emailing us at hello@sonomacountycoalitionofhosts.com.

A Rent Responsibly and SCCH Virtual Happy Hour: Better Stays Together: West Coast

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 00:20:52 GMT

Join us for a Virtual Happy Hour - November 9, 2023

We’re coming to you for a virtual happy hour! Our very own Carl Jaeger, a Founding Committee Member of the Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts will be part of a panel conversation.

We’ll be getting together with our friends at Rent Responsibly, Expedia Group, the San Diego STRA, the NWVRP, Sonoma County Coalition of hosts, and more for two jam-packed hours to get ready for 2024.

Grab an app and a beverage and join hundreds of your fellow hosts for the latest in successful STR hosting across beautiful West Coast destinations, including:

Travel data and forecasts to adapt to booking trends
Marketing tips to get more bookings and better guests
Regulatory updates to keep your finger on the pulse
And more!

Background: About This Event

Better Stays Together: West Coast is a virtual event bringing together STR homeowners, hosts, and managers of all sizes in CA, WA and OR for education and networking. Content will focus on helping operators professionalize, including staying up-to-date on regulatory requirements, advocacy efforts, and good neighborliness practices; ensuring their property care and operations are top-notch and ready for the upcoming travel seasons; and their hospitality practices will create 5-star experiences for guests in every West Coast destination.

Participants, Hosts and emcees: Rent Responsibly

Sponsor & Guest Speaker: VRBO
Sponsor & Guest Speaker: Expedia Group
Sponsor & Guest Speaker: Direct - John Stokinger
Special Guest Panelist: Paul Becker, San Diego STRA
Special Guest Panelist: Brian Olson, NWVRP
Special Guest Panelist: Carl Jaeger, Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts

Agenda

4:00 - 4:05: Intros and Housekeeping - Dave
4:05 - 4:20: Direct - John
4:20 - 4:40: Travel Trends - Regional and national data and forecasts with VRBO
4:40 - 5:00: Regulatory Highlights with Alyssa and Mackenzie from EG
5:00 - 5:30: Panel with Alliance Leaders
Paul Becker, San Diego STRA
Carl Jaeger, Sonoma County
Brian Olson, NWVRP
5:30: - 5:45: Q&A with Panelists
5:45 - 5:50: Closing Remarks

About Carl Jaeger

Carl is a filmmaker based in Sonoma County California where he hosts guests and writes his screenplays. As a former marketing executive in the wine industry (Penfolds, Beringer, Robert Mondavi) he enjoys helping guests find unique winery and restaurant experience that are tailored to their interests. He has hosted people for more than 20 years, first in San Francisco as a single Dad of two, and later in wine country. He is a Founding Member of the Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts and advocates for regulations which help tourism and our economy grow, while safeguarding neighborhoods with sound rules around noise, nuisance and safety.

Our Decision to Form a 501(c)(6) - Frequently Asked Questions

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 20:23:09 GMT

Forming a 501(c)(6) Trade Organization - FAQS - Nov 7, 2023

Why is SCCH forming a 501(c)(6) also known as a trade organization?

The recent enactment of Sonoma County's new vacation rental ordinance with caps and new exclusion zones.

The Windsor town council's decision to ban vacation rentals.

The action by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to apply short term rental regulations to the coastal zone.

The enactment of Santa Rosa's new vacation rental ordinance.

After these and many other regulatory developments, our volunteer founder committee recognized it was time that the coalition needed to organize in a way that would help us gather more resources to advocate, educate, build community, and offer a broader set of resources to the entire vacation rental community of owners and affiliated businesses.

In order to do this, we launched a fundraising campaign to help us register as a trade organization, and apply to receive tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(6). The committee then drafted bylaws under the advice of a lawyer in advance of registering as a trade organization.

On November 4, we launched our donation effort to start the process to collect the funds necessary to form our 501(c)(6).
What is a business league or trade organization and how does the IRS treat 501(c)(6) organizations?

According to the Internal Revenue Code, a 501(c)(6) is a tax-exempt organization that the IRS has designated as a business league. A business league is an association of persons having some common business interest, the purpose of which is to promote such common interest and not to engage in a regular business of a kind ordinarily carried on for profit.

Trade associations and professional associations are business leagues. To be exempt, a business league's activities must be devoted to improving business conditions of one or more lines of business as distinguished from performing particular services for individual persons.

In our case, the Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts is dedicated to improving the conditions for short term rental owners and hosts. Our three pronged goal is to: Build resources and provide information that we may better advocate, advance our business acumen and awareness of best practices, and last but not least build community.

To accomplish these goals we believe we will need develop a broad set of resources for our vacation rental community of members and affiliated businesses.
Are donations to 501(c)(6) organizations tax deductible?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) states that 501(c)(6) organizations do not have to pay federal income taxes. 501(c)(6) nonprofits must however, serve their members. Contributions to section 501(c)(6) organizations are not deductible as charitable contributions on the donor's federal income tax return.

They may be deductible as trade or business expenses if ordinary and necessary in the conduct of the taxpayer's business.
May we see a copy of the draft bylaws?

Yes, any donor or potential donor may view the bylaws. These are currently in draft form in preparation for submission to our attorney. With his help we expect to submit a final copy to both the state of California and the IRS. Please email us at hello@sonomacoalitionofhosts.com for a copy. Creation and registration of our bylaws will be an essential step to formalize and help us grow the coalition. They may also be amended by a vote of the board at a future date as needed.
Is there a business plan?

Yes, our volunteer founder committee has drafted a first year business plan that includes a budget and major milestones.

These milestones include: engage with a law firm to formulate, file our bylaws with the state of California, obtain a tax-exempt status with the IRS, and fund a paid Mailchimp subscription to reach out to all vacation rental permit holders to help us grow our membership base.
Are you raising money for a lawsuit?

The initial fundraising effort is to help us formulate the organization as a 501(c)(6). The coalition at present has no plans to file a lawsuit of any nature. Our initial mission is to advocate, educate, build community and resources for our members, our vacation rental community, and vacation rental affiliated businesses across Sonoma County.
How do you envision advocacy as a formal membership organization vs the grassroots informal route employed for several years?

As a formally recognized trade organization, we will be able join forces to raise funds in a tax-exempt manner in order to effectively advocate on behalf of all Sonoma County vacation rental owners, hosts, property managers, and affiliate businesses.

Through our tireless grassroots efforts we now have over 400 subscribers to our newsletter, made our voices heard with elected officials, and affected some aspects of recently enacted regulations. But as we've seen recently, we'll need to become more organized to better advocate on behalf of all our stakeholders.
If the grassroots was not effective in your opinion, what will people paying $150/yr yield?

We believe our grassroots efforts have been effective in activating the vacation rental community and was effective at educating our elected officials and commission board members. These efforts did have an impact on many aspects of recent legislation enacted.

Our current fundraising goal is to establish a minimum of 50 founding members to donate funds needed to achieve tax-exempt status, open a bank account, elect a board, fund a paid email service, raise further funds, and begin to more formally advocate as a trade organization.

Membership also helps us to continue providing quality content, meetups, and other events designed to strengthen your professional hospitality practices.
What impact will a paid membership have for the organization?

Our existing free emailing method is insufficient for our growing needs. To reach the broader Sonoma County community of approximately 1,900 permit holders, a paid service such as Mailchimp will allow us to stay compliant with email regulations and grow our subscriber and member base.

We also need to engage with a law firm to formulate, file our bylaws with the state of California, and obtain a tax-exempt status with the IRS.

Even as an all volunteer, informal non-profit organization, there is also some level of liability for our current volunteer member committee. A formal 501(c)(6) designation and budget will also allow us to project our board of directors with board insurance.
What is SCCH’s position on the countywide 2% Sonoma County Business Improvement Assessment (SCT-BIA)?

The Sonoma County Business Improvement Assessment (SCT-BIA ) has enabled the hotel segment of the hospitality industry in Sonoma County to have better control of the marketing of their businesses since its enactment.

The coalition has not formally taken a position on the inclusion of vacation rentals in the Sonoma County Business Improvement Assessment.

However, some members of the coalition have opposed the inclusion of smaller vacation rental operators in the assessment. They believe that Sonoma County Tourism (SCT) should build more vacation rental specific programs, improve their website to better showcase vacation rentals and hosted rentals, and better represent the STR businesses in their organization. In this way the funds generated by a vacation rentals assessment would have the same level of impact and effectiveness for our short term rental businesses.

For example, the "Book your Stay" feature from the Sonoma County Tourism website is sent exclusively to a hotel booking funnel without any mention of vacation rental properties or hosted rentals located on local agency websites, or other online travel agencies such as VRBO or Airbnb.

Recently, SCT has hired a full-time representative to liaison with the local visitor center community and is considering opening their board to at-large members from the vacation rental community. Two of the Volunteer Committee members, Donna Martinez and Dan Gudino, are members of the SCT-Vacation Rental Committee to the Board. These are positive steps to reach out to more local hospitality operators and affiliate businesses.

We view these developments as positive steps to ensure any future extension of the assessment of the BIA to smaller vacation rental owners will improve marketing and accountability. However, the level of participation is not yet on par with that of the hotel industry.
Who are the volunteer committee members that are organizing the coalition into a 501(c)(6)?

Our volunteer founder committee members make up a diverse group of hosts and business owners across Sonoma County. Many have been working with the coalition from the start, and also serve on the boards of other Sonoma county trade organizations and in leadership capacity of regional STR coalitions.
Is there a board of directors for the coalition?

We are not yet an organization governed by formal bylaws, thus do not have a formal board of directors. We do have a volunteer founder committee that meets each week to plan, organize and share events that affect our coalition.

The purpose of our recent effort to fundraise and organize is so that we can formulate a duly elected board of directors and become a more impactful organization that serves the membership of hosts, owners and affiliate businesses across Sonoma County.
What happens to the funds raised if we don't get our initial founding financial goal?

At this present time, we are almost halfway to our goal of reaching the minimum needed just to file our registration with the State of California ($3,000) and operate our paid email service, Mailchimp ($600). We estimate the filing with the IRS will require another $5,000.

We anticipate we can raise the $3,600 from our current 400 coalition subscribers but we will need the paid Mailchimp service to reach out to the broader group of vacation rental permit holders.

In the event, we are not able to raise the full amount needed to obtain our filing with the State of California, we will of course return those proceeds to our founding members, net of processing fees paid to Donorbox and Stripe our donor and payment processors.
Who may join the reorganized SCCH?

The Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe that SCCH plays a key role to promote safe, secure and welcoming experiences for each guest, regardless of race, ethnicity, country of origin, faith, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or gender identity. We expect the same from our members.

Whether you are a short term rental owner, host, or a business owner providing a service to hosts or property managers, we welcome you.
How will SCCH assure members of already established regional coalitions targeted focus to meet the specific needs of their community?

We believe we need a county wide organization to match the scope and resources of the regulatory bodies that regulate unincorporated areas like the coast and many other areas that generate a large amount of occupancy revenue. We also understand the need for broad representation across all areas that incorporate both cities with their own regulatory bodies.

Our history at the coalition shows we have an active leadership and membership participating in actions and events at both the county and local level.

Have additional questions? Contact us.

Donate and Become a Founding Member of the Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 20:40:59 GMT

A Call for Founding Members for the Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts + Friends

Dear Fellow Sonoma County Hosts and Friends,

You might ask why, since we have been around for almost 8 years, we are looking for donations to become Founding Members of the Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts.

Why do we need Founding Members?

As an informal group , we have worked together to provide hosts and elected officials with information to make better decisions about hosting in Sonoma County. We have monitored legislative calendars, and provided policy positions that hosts have been able to share in public comments and letters.

That has turned out not to be enough.

Hosting short term rentals in Sonoma County, and across the country, has been UNDER ATTACK in more ways than ever before. Towns and unincorporated areas of Sonoma County, and the Coast have seen greater RESTRICTIONS on our ability to operate and share our homes in a responsible, welcoming way.

While we may gather as friends, groups, and coffee clutches, we want to show the elected officials in Sonoma County and its cities that we speak with a STRONG and UNITED VOICE on key issues that matter to us, and the health of our economy most.

Limits on nights, number of guests, and even outright bans are burgeoning in our cities and county. Some supervisors and city council members are looking to further restrict what we do.

While we can all agree that sound regulation around noise, nuisance and safely makes sense, we are being restricted out of business across the county.

Our common goal is to safeguard responsible hosting in the cities and towns of Sonoma County and to aid in the growth of our economy and jobs.

Why is it time to strengthen our organization?

By making a more formal and registered organization, we can engage in RAISING A UNITED VOICE in keeping our right to responsible short term rentals alive and thriving. With the right structure, we can LOBBY for our rights. We are forming a 501(c)(6) to make our organization official.

What is a founding member and how much does it cost?

A FOUNDING MEMBERSHIP costs $150 and is good for ONE YEAR. A FOUNDING MEMBER will become a VOTING Member of the registered organization as soon as we file with the state.

If I am not a host can I become a Founding Member?

YES! If you have an organization or business in Sonoma County with an interest in supporting Short Term Rentals in Sonoma County, you can join our group.

Whether you are a short term rental owner, host, or a business owner providing a service to hosts or property managers, we welcome you. We are happy to have your voice along with ours.

Who is leading the coalition now ?

Meet our volunteer founding committee members from across Sonoma County have been active for several years in helping the coalition get started, advocate, educate and are actively working to help the coalition grow by forming a 501(c)(6) organization.

Are donations to 501(c)(6) organizations tax deductible?

No, donations to 501(c)(6) organizations are not deductible as charitable contributions on the donor's federal income tax return. This includes donations made by vacation rental owners.

As a Founding Member what benefits do I receive?

Advocacy

We will strive to monitor local governments and get the word out to you when it is time to have a united voice in keeping our right to host alive. We will lobby for the policies and people that create a win-win scenario for hosts and the communities we live in. A thriving economy and safe visitation is something we can all get behind.

Community

Want to share ideas with like-minded hosts? Do you ever want to check-in with a colleague on how to improve something about your short term rental? Looking for a vendor for a specific purpose? Chat with each other, connect online and at events, and find support for your short term rental activities.

Education

Come to in person and online events and seminars that will help you be a better, more profitable host. Attend vendor events that just might have a solution for something that is difficult for you. Concerned about new platform rules and options, tune in and get educated.

Resources

Need an attorney, plumber, or window blinds? We are looking to build a database of vendors who understand what we do, and are eager to help.

Questions ?

If you have questions, or would like a copy of our draft bylaws, please email us .

Next Steps

Donate today and become a Founding Member . Help us register officially as a 501(c)(6) so that we can maintain and broaden our ability to host short-term rentals in Sonoma County and its cities.

We have set up an account with the law firm of Darryl Reese, Law PC , to help us craft our bylaws. Use our secure Donorbox account by clicking on the Donate button below to help us get started.

Warm Regards,
Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts

Fire Insurance - Senator McQuire and Governor Newsom - Need Letters and Stories

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 23:20:04 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts and Friends,

Are you aware of the insurance crisis that is gripping California? Whether it is your home, the home of a family member, or the home of a fellow host, insurance companies are making the rounds and canceling insurance policies across the State.

It is once again time for your voice to be heard, but this time at the State level. Our friends at the Sonoma County Hospitality Association have written a flyer below. Please make sure to contact Senator McGuire’s and Gov. Newsom’s offices before 5 p.m. TOMORROW and request they take action.

Your ability to host may be at stake.

With Regards,

Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts

Community Voices Are Needed Now: Fire Insurance Increases Dear Community. Your help and your voice is needed

NOW!

I am a small business owner in Guerneville that has very recently been working closely with other community residents and leaders to address the ongoing fire insurance crisis that is worsening by the week. Sonoma and Mendocino Counties are incredible communities; that’s why we all choose to live here, even after numerous challenges. For many of you, the past few year’s exorbitant fire insurance rate increases have become a financial crisis. A crisis that was not your doing. As of now, the elected official who represents the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County has not adequately engaged and championed this issue. This escalating crisis has been well known for quite some time, so WE the community need to be the collective leader right now to ensure that those in Sacramento hear us.

Senator McGuire is a hard working leader. He understands that relief for seniors, families and small business owners is needed right now. Not next year…now. We have been directly working with the Senator and his staff over the last week to find solutions. The way we can all help right NOW is to equip the Senator with your stories and financial realities so he can work with the Governor’s office to find short and long-term solutions. Our goal is to get the request in front of the Governor’s office and make the argument for an executive emergency order.

Below are specific steps you can take to help people and small businesses now. We strengthen our communities and neighbors when we unify our voices and stand together.

-Bryce Skolfield, Co-owner of Mine + Farm

Your stories, Your Voice. It Matters. Please Email (or call) by Wednesday at 5 p.m. (The Senator’s and Governor’s Email and Phone contact info is below.)

Please communicate these 3 things:

1. Your story and struggles with fire insurance and its’ financial impacts (priority)

2. Share your story with data that can help ground this crisis in numbers

3. Ask the Governor to declare an executive emergency order with emergency funding

1. Please email Senator McGuire and Governor Newsom with your story and struggles with fire insurance. Just write from the heart and share the facts of what financial challenges the insurance has caused you. Below you will find an example from the letter we wrote last week.

Example: This was adapted from a longer letter we sent last week.

Mine + Farm.

This is our story. We purchased the business in early October of 2019 and we immediately made necessary investments into a full rebranding, much needed hospitality updates, numerous deferred maintenance needs and our most important asset; the staff. Our first of several serious existential challenges presented itself; the Kincade fire. A few short months later, the Covid epidemic began and required us to shut down off and on for the next 18 months. Because of our short tenure as owners, we were only able to secure a very small PPP Loan (24k) and did not qualify for any CA business grants. In August 2021, it was now the Wall Bridge Fires that necessitated our closure once again after we were finally generating revenue in the 6 weeks prior.

We have put everything we have into this business and have always put integrity and innovation at the forefront of how we operate. We have been bootstrapping it as inflation, grossly high PG&E rates, increased fuel costs and a major downturn in occupancy this summer created significant challenges. But not having a stable insurance market, with unfathomable high rates, will be the final straw for us and the other dwindling independently owned hospitality properties. Our passion and patience has kept us motivated to be good stewards of a business that has been integrated into the scenic corridor of West Sonoma County since 1906.

But the financial cliff that we have arrived at, along with many other business and residential owners, is now here and poses great dangers to all small businesses' viability. Our insurance is currently set to have a 150% increase from last year. Since the fall of 2020, our insurance premiums have increased by more than 400%. We have had zero insurance claims.

2. Please share some data that will help ground this economic crisis in numbers. This will not require you to share your unnecessary personal finances.

These data points can greatly assist. Below is info on how to calculate two separate data point percentages with examples.

What percentage of your annual income is now going to pay for fire insurance?

Example. Use the 2nd percentage calculator to calculate the following things.

● If your salary is $52k annually and your insurance now costs $5k, 9.6% of your annual income is going to property insurance.

● If your business has a gross revenue (not including taxes collected such as sales and lodging) of $380k and your insurance is $58k, your insurance cost as a percentage of your revenue is 15.3%.

What percentage has your insurance cost gone up from the previous year?

Example: Use the 3rd percentage calculator to calculate the following:

● If your home insurance was $1,500 and it now cost $5,000, it increased by 233%

● If your business insurance was $20,000 and it now cost $50,000, it increased by 150%

3. When contacting Senator McGuire and Governor Newsom with your personal story, tell them immediate financial help is desperately needed. The Governor needs to act now with an emergency executive order. Below is information and talking points that you can refer to or help guide you.

Governor Newsom, Declare an Emergency Executive Order With Emergency Grant Funding: We are past the point of only fixing this crisis through the legislative process. We strongly advocate for the emergency dollars to be immediately allocated to offset the significant negative impacts this will have on our residents, small businesses and local economy. Grant prioritization should include seniors, economically disadvantaged families and small business owners with gross receipts under a determined threshold.

Issues, such as food security and healthcare access will be undermined as our neighbors make painful decisions; should they pay their Covered California premium, put food on the table or pay their home insurance bill. Placing people in this no win scenario goes against all the values this great state stands for and proudly showcases for the rest of the country and world. Providing immediate relief in the form of grants is imperative as permanent solutions are found. Time is of the essence. But impactful solutions often take time and need to be thoughtful. Emergency grant funding will greatly assist in protecting our seniors, families and small businesses from economic catastrophe, that will otherwise take our communities years to recover from.

Senator Mcguire’s Email and District Office Phone: Email: senator.mcguire@senate.ca.gov

State Capitol: Phone: 916-651-4002

Santa Rosa Office:Phone: 707-576-2771

San Rafael Office: Phone: 415-479-6612

Ukiah Office: Phone: 707-468-8914

Crescent City Office Phone: (707) 464-1255

Eureka Office: Phone: 707-445-6508

Governor Newsom’s Email Portal and Phone

Email: https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/ (The governor’s email is via a website portal)

Select “insurance issues/concerns” from the drop down menu. Phone: (916) 445-2841

Brief History + Recap of Recent Happenings in Sacramento:

Most of the big primary Insurance companies have pulled out of the CA market over the last few years in an effort to get the “reforms” they want. This means passing rate increases on to us based on their speculative prediction models. The industry also wants to have Californians pay for the insurance company’s insurance. So all said simply…a form of corporate bullying.

This leaves many of us, especially small businesses, to what is called the secondary market. These out of state companies gouge with 100%-400% increases and then drop you the next year even with no claims. The secondary market does not have to follow CA insurance laws, allowing them to do as they wish and unchecked on consumer protections.

The state assembly recessed until January without taking legislative action. Given this, the Insurance Commissioner is the lone person that can do anything with insurance regulations.

Commissioner Lara has been meeting with insurance industry leadership and not including Consumer Watchdog , a group dedicated to safeguarding the rights and interests of consumers across the state.

On September 21, Governor Newsom issued an executive order directing the commissioner to find solutions. While we all certainly want something done, we need our state’s insurance policy to be in favor of the consumer. Like with PG&E, we as consumers are often forced to do business with companies that have unfair advantages and market monopolies. It’s also imperative that it is done thoughtfully, with full transparency and meaningfully engage representatives from all community stakeholders.

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors – Proposed Coastal Zone Vacation Rental Regulation Update

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 19:17:10 GMT

September 26, 2023

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors – Proposed Coastal Zone Vacation Rental Regulation Update

The Board of Supervisors will hold a hearing on the Local Coastal Plan 0n Tuesday, September 26th at 1:50 PM, it is item #27 and documents can be found here .

We are concerned there is language in the Local Coastal Plan that will be used to prohibit certain homes from being purposed short-term. Please find below the public comments from Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts, The Sea Ranch Hosting Coalition, Sonoma Coast Vacation Rental Owners, for the board of supervisor meeting.

Our most important concerns are the impact to public access on the coast, the ownership restrictions they propose and the opportunity for the public to comment regarding the changes to vacation rentals on the coast. Additionally, we have questions about the meaning of what a “recorded governmental restriction” actually means. Can we get a clearer definition?

PUBLIC COMMENTS can be made to the Board of Supervisors by email or in person. UNFORTUNATELY, THE BOARD WILL NOT ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENTS VIA ZOOM. Please include agenda item number #27

Email comments, to the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org .

In Person: 575 ADMINISTRATION DRIVE, SANTA ROSA, CA 95403 |BOARD CHAMBERS – ROOM 102A

You can watch the meeting here: https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/95953003079?pwd=TGhKdVJEeWlUbDJxSzVpY1U2VmxOUT09

Meeting ID: 959 5300 3079

Enter Password: 919371

Impact on public access to the coast

The California Coastal Commission exists in large part to preserve access for all Californians to their coast. Indeed, the creation of the Coastal Commission stemmed from a dispute over public access to part of the Sonoma County coast in particular. Vacation Rentals form most of the available transient accommodation on the Sonoma coast. There are few hotels or other lodgings. Vacation Rentals have an outsize importance for preserving public access, since our coast is not easily accessible on a day trip basis for most Californians.

Despite this background, the County has conducted no study and offers no evidence of the impact of their proposed policies on public access to the coast. The County simply states, without evidence or even argument, that “this Amendment conforms to the Local Coastal Program, in that it does not negatively impact public coastal access”. [1]

In fact, the policies will obviously negatively impact public access through restrictions on Vacation Rental ownership, structures in which Vacation Rentals may be operated and occupancy restrictions. The question is not whether, but how much.

The policy does exempt existing rentals from these regulations and so any potential impact will take place slowly, as existing rentals cease operation or change hands and new ones are established.

At the very least, the County should have a plan for monitoring the impact of the policy on public access over time, in a way that is transparent to the public and the Coastal Commission. This should include publication of data, readily accessible to the general public on Vacation Rental activity in the Coastal Zone, including:

Number of licenses issued and revoked each year
Number of licenses actually in use (per TOT records)
Number of Zoning Permits
Number of Zoning Permits actually in use (per TOT records)
Total rented nights each year (per TOT records) for permitted and unpermitted properties
Total rented person-nights each year (per TOT records based on maximum occupancy) for permitted and unpermitted properties
Total available person-nights each year (based on maximum occupancy of in-use licenses) for permitted and unpermitted properties

This data would allow the public, the County and the Coastal Commission to observe the impact of the new policies by comparing the above metrics between permitted (new) and unpermitted (grandfathered) properties over time. Over a small number of years it should be possible to estimate the long-term impact, either re-assuring the public and the Commission that public access is preserved or allowing the County to change course in good time, if necessary.

Opportunity for Public Comment

The County notes the approval of many of these regulations at prior meetings at which public comments were received over Zoom. The regulations themselves have benefited from public suggestions from Sonoma County homeowners and are considerably improved compared to their early versions as a result. However, it is difficult for many Coastal zone homeowners to participate in person because: a) the coastal zone is 55 miles along the coast with many owners needing to travel a long distance to the physical meeting; b) some owners are out of the area and are impacted by what the county is proposing; c) traveling to the meeting from the rural part of District 5 can be a hardship for older owners, or employed owners who cannot take a half day off work to participate in this important meeting.

The County should re-institute public comments by Zoom at the earliest opportunity. Those who use online public comments for abuse, do so explicitly to disrupt and degrade the important work of the Board of Supervisors. They should not be allowed to succeed in this by cutting off the opportunity for legitimate public scrutiny and comment.

Ownership restrictions

The new Vacation Rental license places ownership restrictions on Vacation Rentals, which have typically been described as follows:

Limit licenses to properties owned by natural persons or trusts, and limit Vacation Rental licenses to one per individual

[For example, in the staff report to the 8/2/22 Board of Supervisors meeting at which the License was approved [2] and on numerous other occasions].

However, the License contains a stricter requirement:

A property owner may only have an ownership interest in one licensed vacation rental at a time.

This requirement forces joint property owners to change their property ownership arrangements to obtain the promised right to one license per individual. The public, and possibly the Supervisors, have been misled about this detail.

The requirement for joint owners to change ownership arrangements to obtain one license per individual is extremely onerous for those affected. The County is presumably concerned that an individual might operate many vacation rentals by signing up loosely-related others to own a small slice of each and apply for the license. But this is also complex and risky, and so unlikely to occur at a significant scale.

The County should amend this requirement to align with the summary description given at multiple public hearings. They should limit the number of Licenses a single individual can hold to one. If further protection is needed against people “gaming the system” then, additionally, the number of ownership interests in license properties could be limited to two.

Recorded Government Restrictions

The proposed Zoning Permit restricts Vacation Rentals from “A structure subject to a recorded governmental restriction”. We have received and welcome confirmation from County staff [3] that this refers only to a restriction placed on a specific individual structure, per the examples contained in this clause. This narrow intent could be usefully made clearer in the ordinance, in the County’s submission to the Coastal Commissions and / or in the Coastal Commission’s approval.

[1] https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11094383&GUID=E57424C5-56A3-4ACC-B056-46BD2A035670

[2] Staff report to 8/2/22 Board of Supervisors https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11094384&GUID=173788A5-327F-412F-AFA0-3EE3CBD65B78

[3] Correspondence from Doug Bush to Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts on 9/18/23: “The intent of that provision is to make clear that the ordinance does not over-ride unique conditions that have been recorded on specific properties, such as those conditions that have been used to protect deed-restricted affordable housing. The inclusion of the examples in the ordinance itself (e.g., farmworker housing) makes clear that this is intended to apply only in unique cases and that banning vacation rentals in general is not the intent.“

Board of Supervisors Final Discussions on the Local Coastal Plan's Update

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 19:17:09 GMT

July 17, 2023

Board of Supervisors final discussions on the Local Coastal Plan's update

On Monday, July 17, 2023, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will convene for their final meeting to conclude discussions on the Local Coastal Plan's update. District 5 Supervisor, Linda Hopkins, intends to put forth a late-stage change aiming to impose potential limitations on vacation rentals along the coast.

We invite you to join hosts in resisting this abrupt change. Express your thoughts through public comment at the July 17th Board Of Supervisors meeting . You can either attend in person, participate via Zoom, or email your comment to bos@sonoma-county.org . If you have ties in a different Sonoma district, write to your Supervisor, urging them to reject Hopkins' rushed alteration to the Local Coastal Plan process.

Please visit our friends at: Sonoma Coast Vacation Rental Owners , or The Sea Ranch Hosting Coalition If you own a home in the Coastal Zone or want to get involved and lend your support locally.

Windsor Town Council, consider adoption of Short-Term Rental Zoning Ordinance

183:771759552 (Charles Metz) — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 20:19:37 GMT

June 7, 2023

WE NEED YOUR VOICES TO BE HEARD by telling your story to your elected officials by phone and email and showing up at the Windsor Town Council Meeting June 7 . The agenda and documents will be posted here .

4. NEIGHBORS STORIES: Invite supportive neighbors you have a great relationship with to share their positive experiences with your property in a letter to the Town Council or in person!

You can write and call your city council member, and most importantly, WE NEED YOU TO JOIN THE MEETING.

EMAIL:

Public comments can be submitted via email to the Council by 12:00 p.m., on the day of the meeting: towncouncil@townofwindsor.com .

ZOOM:

Members of the public may participate in the meeting at 6:00 p.m. or on Zoom: (Waiting for link)

IN PERSON:

June 7, 2023 at 06:00 p.m.

Civic Center Council Chambers

9291 Old Redwood Highway, Building 400

Windsor, CA 95492

Santa Rosa City Council Public Hearing, June 6, 2023

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 20:33:58 GMT

June 6, 2023

Santa Rosa City Council meeting – June 6, 2023, at or after 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers (100 Santa Rosa Avenue) or via Zoom (Zoom link provided in the meeting agenda the week prior to the meeting date here )

Provide Feedback & Receive Updates on the Comprehensive Ordinance Development

Contact the City to provide feedback at shorttermrentals@srcity.org .
Sign up to be notified of future updates and engagement opportunities by subscribing here .

Santa Rosa Planning Commission Public Hearing

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 21:16:29 GMT

April 27, 2023, at or after 4:30 PM
Santa Rosa Planning Commission Public Hearing

Planning Commission meeting – April 27, 2023, at or after 4:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers (100 Santa Rosa Avenue) or via Zoom (Zoom link provided in the meeting agenda the week prior to the meeting date here )

Provide Feedback & Receive Updates on the Comprehensive Ordinance Development

Contact the City to provide feedback at shorttermrentals@srcity.org .
Sign up to be notified of future updates and engagement opportunities by subscribing here .

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Public Hearing on Short-Term Rentals

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 21:27:05 GMT

April 24, 2023

The Supervisors will consider Vacation Rental Rezoning what includes X Zone BANS and CAPS in certain areas, the Vacation Rental Business License Ordinance, and transient Use Of Fractionally-Owned Residential Properties at the Board of Supervisors Chambers 575 Administration Drive 102A, Santa Rosa, CA 95405. Agenda and item documents will be posted by the County here .

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors – Local Coastal Plan – Adoption

183:771759552 (Charles Metz) — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 21:37:59 GMT

April 4, 2023

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will consider the Local Coastal Plan adoption at the Board of Supervisors Chambers 575 Administration Drive 102A, Santa Rosa, CA 95405. It is item # 48 Agenda and item documents have been posted by the County. Your public comment can be email to the Supervisors at bos@sonoma-county.org . Please provide your name, the agenda item number #48, and your comment. For Coastal Zone advocacy, we encourage Sea Ranch homeowners to click here , or Bodega homeowners here .

There are three ways to participate:

Public Comments can be submitted by emailing the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org . Please provide your name, the agenda item number #30, and your comment.

ZOOM

Participate by computer, tablet, or smartphone application: Go to: https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/97343248831?pwd=T0haMW1iU0Zmb213QUJOOTN0L1A0dz09
E nter meeting ID: 973 4324 8831
Enter Password: 919371

PHONE

Dial +1 (669) 900 9128 Enter meeting ID: 973 4324 8831 Enter password: 919371

IN PERSON

April 4, 2;30 PM. Board of Supervisors Chambers 575 Administration Drive 102A Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Important Meeting-Planning Commission-CAPS on Vacation Rentals and Exclusion Zones Proposed

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 22:06:17 GMT

March 16, 2023

THIS IS AN IN PERSON ONLY MEETING-NO ZOOM AVAILABLE

We believe CAPS on Vacation Rentals are a CAP on the economy and jobs in our county. The County wants to limit the number of new licenses per person, which by itself seems fair and sufficient. CAPS take away the rights of homeowners to use their homes as Vacation Rentals for all or part of the year.

The County of Sonoma is proposing to rezone certain parcels to add the Vacation Rental Exclusion (X) Combining Zone, Vacation Rental 5% Cap (X5) Combining Zone, or Vacation Rental 10% Cap (10x) Combining Zone as directed by the Board of Supervisors. The agenda is here , meeting materials are here .

The planning commission will consider rezoning certain properties to restrict or exclude Vacation Rentals, which will have an effect on homeowners' ability to establish a new vacation rental. This rezoning will not restrict continued operation of an existing permitted rental.

The following areas are affected by this rezoning:

1. Vacation rental Exclusion (X) Combining Zone applied to certain parcels within the Gates Road, Glen Ellen, Hughes Chicken Colony, Kenwood, Palmer Avenue, Theodore Lane, and Waldrue Heights neighborhoods within the 1st Supervisorial District.

2. Vacation Rental Exclusion (X) Combining Zone applied to certain parcels within the Armstrong Woods Road, Drake Road, Guernwood Park, and Neeley Road neighborhoods in the 5th Supervisorial District.

3. Vacation Rental 5% Cap (X5) Combining Zone applied to certain parcels within the Chiquita Road and Norton Road neighborhoods in the 4th Supervisorial District.

4. Vacation Rental 5% Cap (X5) Combining Zone applied to certain parcels within the Austin Creek, Hacienda, Monte Rio, Northwood, Rio Dell, Summerhome Park, and Villa Grande neighborhoods in the 5th Supervisorial District.

5. Replace the current Vacation Rental Exclusion (X) Combining Zone in the Fitch Mountain neighborhood with a Vacation Rental 10% Cap (X10) Combining Zone and expand the rezoned area to include all parcels between the Russian River and the City of Healdsburg in the 4th Supervisorial District.

WE NEED YOUR VOICES TO BE HEARD by telling your story.

4. NEIGHBORS STORIES: Invite supportive neighbors you have a great relationship with to share their positive experiences with your property in a letter to the Town Council or in person!

You can write your Public Comment to the Planning Commission, and most importantly, WE NEED YOU TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT.

EMAIL:

Public comments can be submitted via email to the Project Planner Gary Helfrich Gary.Helfrich@sonoma-county.org by March 15, 5:00 p.m.

IN PERSON:

March 16, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

Board of Supervisors Chambers

575 Administration Drive 102A

Santa Rosa, CA 95405

Sonoma County Board of Supervisor Public Hearing – Tiny Homes

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 22:37:51 GMT

March 14, 2023

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will consider a Zoning Ordinance update to allow for Tiny Homes on wheels. Agenda and item documents are posted by the County here . In 2022, the Supervisors directed planning department staff to return with a Zoning Ordinance that limited temporary units to Residential Use only, NO vacation rentals.

SCCH believes EVERYONE, regardless of income level, should be able to participate in the home-sharing community for the following reasons:

Allowing Short-term rental use of tiny homes or tiny homes on wheels would be an affordable way for middle to lower income folks to take part in the home-sharing community and earn needed income. One never knows when some unexpected event in their life (i.e., loss of a job, care of a loved one, divorce or death of a spouse) and they find themselves needing to earn extra income – offering a tiny home or tiny home on wheels short-term could be the only way to make ends meets.

Allow individuals to permit alternative eco-friendly forms of housing for long or short-term use, like tiny homes, tiny homes on wheels, RV’s or yurts to help middle and lower-income folks earn needed income by sharing an economical living space. The County has allowed nationwide companies like Autocamp in our area to do this. Sonoma Canopy Tours’ Sonoma Treehouse and Safari West has been offering alternative lodging for years. Give the average person a chance!

There are three ways to participate:

Public Comments can be submitted by emailing the entire Board at bos@sonoma-county.org . Please provide your name, the agenda item number #30, and your comment.

ZOOM

Participate by computer, tablet, or smartphone application: Go to: https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/96184608353?pwd=UDY0d3R3bGlKNm5MbURocGRRTFY5Zz09 Enter meeting ID: 961 8460 8353 Enter Password: 919371

PHONE

Participate in Zoom by phone: Dial +1 (669) 900 9128 Enter meeting ID: 961 8460 8353 Enter password: 919371

IN PERSON

March 14, 2PM. Board of Supervisors Chambers 575 Administration Drive 102A Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts Blog

Urgent: Speak Out Against SB 1318 by April 21

Unlock More Bookings – Watch Our Free Webinar on Effective Direct Booking Strategies

“What's Happening in the World of Insurance” Join us April 9th at 6 PM

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Webinar March 4, “What Lies Ahead” -Sonoma County's Economic Outlook and Tourism Expectations for 2025

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Homeowners Insurance Webinar April 30, 2024

Sonoma County Vacation Rental Update April, 30 2024, 2:15PM

ACTION: County Vacation Rental Update April 30, 2024, 2:15PM

New Permit Requirements: How to Create a Site Plan for Your Vacation Rental

Struggling with how to create a site plan?

Take the State of the STR Industry Survey from Rent Responsibly by April 14

Take the STR Industry Survey from Rent Responsibly

Sonoma County Coastal Zone Vacation Rental Regulations - California Coastal Commission Meeting on April 11, 2024

Important Meeting Regarding Coastal Zone Regulations - April 11, 2024

Calling All Members: Let's Shape the Future of Sonoma County Tourism

Help us shape the future of Sonoma County tourism.

Important County Meetings Coming up in April and May

Participate in person and by sending in your story

April 22-24, 2024

April 30, 2024

May 17, 2024

Ensuring Vacation Rental Safety: A Comprehensive Guide for Hosts

Are you prepared for the aftermath of a fire in your vacation rental?

Webinar Recording for Members and FAQ's About the New Ordinance

Listen to our webinar recording and get answers to your FAQs about the new ordinance

Missed the Webinar ?

Nominations for Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts Board Are Now Open

Nominations are now open for our first Board of Directors election

Free Webinar: "The New Sonoma County Vacation Rental Ordinance" - January 22, 2023, 7PM - 8PM PT

A free webinar for Sonoma County hosts, owners and property managers

By registering for our free webinar, you agree to receive SCCH emails about events, community, and resources. You can opt out anytime by clicking the unsubscribe link in any of these email communications or emailing us at hello@sonomacountycoalitionofhosts.com.

A Rent Responsibly and SCCH Virtual Happy Hour: Better Stays Together: West Coast

Join us for a Virtual Happy Hour - November 9, 2023

Our Decision to Form a 501(c)(6) - Frequently Asked Questions

Forming a 501(c)(6) Trade Organization - FAQS - Nov 7, 2023

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Fire Insurance - Senator McQuire and Governor Newsom - Need Letters and Stories

This is a subtitle for your new post

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors – Proposed Coastal Zone Vacation Rental Regulation Update

Board of Supervisors Final Discussions on the Local Coastal Plan's Update

Windsor Town Council, consider adoption of Short-Term Rental Zoning Ordinance

June 7, 2023

Santa Rosa City Council Public Hearing, June 6, 2023

June 6, 2023

Santa Rosa Planning Commission Public Hearing

April 27, 2023, at or after 4:30 PM Santa Rosa Planning Commission Public Hearing

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Public Hearing on Short-Term Rentals

April 24, 2023

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors – Local Coastal Plan – Adoption

April 4, 2023

Important Meeting-Planning Commission-CAPS on Vacation Rentals and Exclusion Zones Proposed

March 16, 2023

Sonoma County Board of Supervisor Public Hearing – Tiny Homes

March 14, 2023

April 27, 2023, at or after 4:30 PM
Santa Rosa Planning Commission Public Hearing