Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
With the adoption of Ordinance 2024-1852-U-E, no use permit, variance, building permit, business license, or any other entitlement for use will be approved or issued for the establishment, construction, or operation of a “front-of-the-meter” BESS facility within the unincorporated territory of Solano County through January 23, 2026.  During this period, County staff intends to engage with industry experts, identify appropriate site locations (including considerations for prime farmland, connection to the grid, proximity to residences, hospitals, schools, etc.), analyze considerations in developing the SB 38 “emergency response and emergency action plan,” and research facility decommissioning procedures, among other things, in order to draft and adopt BESS zoning regulations that best serve the health and safety of Solano County residents and land.

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Short-Term Rentals in unincorporated Solano County
If you plan to offer your property as a short-term rental, you must apply for the appropriate permit before you list the rental on website hosting platforms such as Airbnb or VRBO. This is just one of the short-term rental rules required by local law.  Recent revisions to the Solano County Code updated the rules for dwellings used for transient lodging - Short-Term Vacation Home Rental Zoning Regulations.

If you plan to offer your property as a short-term rental, you must apply for the appropriate permit before you list the rental on website hosting platforms such as Airbnb or VRBO. This is just one of the short-term rental rules required by local law.  Recent revisions to the Solano County Code updated the rules for dwellings used for transient lodging - .

A vacation house rental (VHR) is a rental of the entire house of 30 days or less.  New VHRs will only be allowed on agricultural properties of 20 acres.  This includes any property that is zoned Exclusive Agricultural – 20 (A-20) or Agricultural-Suisun Valley – 20 (ASV-20).  Within the Suisun Valley, new VHRs will also be allowed on properties zoned Agriculture Tourist Center (ATC).  New VHR applications will not be approved in any other zoning districts. 

Solano County Code (Code) specifies the locations within the unincorporated area where STRs are allowed and provides the requirements for their operations. Since 2018, the Board of Supervisors has held a series of public meetings, either as the full Board or through a Board member led committee, to consider necessary Code changes related to STRs to address community concerns with their use, preserve the rural nature of the unincorporated area and the long-term housing supply while promoting agritourism,  protect residents and visitors during their use, and to clarify STR requirements, regulatory oversight and enforcement of violations.  This process led to a two-year moratorium of VHRs, a type of STR, in rural residential (RR) zone districts beginning in April 2021, and on March 28, 2023, adoption of Code updates permanently extending this moratorium and addressing other issues.  The Board also adopted Code updates related to Business Licensing, Abatement of Public Nuisances, and enforcement of Zoning Regulations that are applicable to STR permitting, operation, and enforcement. 

Refer to the Transient Lodging Matrix as a guide to see what type of permit is required in allowable zoning districts and visit the Short-Term Rentals website to learn more about the types of rentals and how to apply for a permit.

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All about Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) – SolanoADU.org
Solano ADU was developed to help homeowners throughout Solano County build an ADU, which is a creative solution for urgently needed housing. Their website includes guidance for every step of an ADU project, from thinking about it to move-in – check it out!