VHR Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the ordinance updated?
There has been a large increase in the number of Short-Term Rentals (STRs) in the unincorporated areas of the County. STRs include Agricultural Homestays, Bed & Breakfast Inns, Hosted Rentals, Resort Hotels, Rooming & Boarding Houses and Vacation House Rentals (VHRs). The proliferation of unregulated STRs has the potential to impact affordable housing stock by reducing the overall available number of rental units. Additionally, STRs may negatively impact neighboring residents’ quality of life and erode the neighborhood character if not properly regulated. In very high fire severity zones, STRs may pose real safety concerns with guests unfamiliar with fire risks and evacuation routes. The Vacation Home Rental Ordinance is designed to strike a balance between the economic benefits of STRs and the potential impacts to housing stock and quality of life for neighborhood residents.

When do the new changes become effective?
The ordinance was approved by the Solano County Board of Supervisors (BOS) March 28, 2023, and became effective April 27, 2023, after a process informed by research and community input. The Vacation House Rental program is run by Solano County’s Resource Management Department. Learn more in the Vacation Home Rental Ordinance.

How will the community know if a property is approved as a VHR?
Neighbors within the immediate vicinity will receive a mailed public notice with date and time of a public hearing prior to a final decision being made by the hearing body (Zoning Administrator – if decision is appealed, the matter will be heard by the Planning Commission). Neighbors’ comments received will become part of the public record. Upon approval, hosts are required to post interior and exterior signs and the Vacation House Rental Registration Certificate identifying the property as a vacation house rental.

Will there be a VHR registration list?
Yes. The VHR Registration Certificate List will be maintained in the Solano County Planning Division and may be posted on the county webpage.

Are hosts required to be the owner of the STR property?
No. Either homeowners or renters can use their residence as an STR provided the residence is in a zoning district in which such activity is allowed. Be aware that a homeowner’s association, or the lease or rental agreement, may prohibit the use of the residence as an STR. A tenant proposing to use their residence as an STR must provide the County with written permission from the property owner giving consent to the use.

How much will the VHR registration fee cost?
The initial VHR permit registration includes fees for a Minor Use Permit, Business License, Transient Occupancy Tax Registration and obtaining commercial property insurance.

Is there a limit to the number of guests allowed per stay?
Yes. The maximum occupancy for a vacation house rental is up to two (2) guests per bedroom, plus two (2) additional guests per property, up to a maximum of ten (10) guests, not including children under three (3) years of age.

Is there a limit to the number of rooms a property can have in a VHR?
While the other short-term rental types have a limit on the number of rooms the property can have, there is no limit to the number of rooms for a vacation house rental. However, the maximum occupancy for a vacation house rental is up to two (2) guests per bedroom, plus two (2) additional guests per property, up to a maximum of ten (10) guests, not including children under three (3) years of age.

Can ADUs be used for VHR?
No. State and local laws have recently made it much easier to construct and or permit ADUs to assist with the significant shortage in housing both in the State and the County. The ordinance prohibits the use of ADUs as STRs.

Are hosts required to provide on-site parking?
Yes. One on-site parking space for each bedroom in the vacation house rental, including any guest house, must be provided and available for use by guests. On-street parking is prohibited for any property on which a vacation house rental is located.

What type of units do not qualify for STR or VHR use?
None of the following shall be used as or included as part of a vacation house rental:

An accessory structure other than a legally established guest house, non-habitable structures, tents, RVs, or other provisions intended for temporary occupancy, a dwelling subject to a recorded governmental restriction, including covenants or agreements for affordable housing, a dwelling approved for limited types of occupancy, including employee housing or a companion living unit, a timeshare, any dwelling unit on a lot created pursuant to Government Code §66411.7 or local ordinance adopted to implement Government Code §66411.7, any dwelling unit created pursuant to Government Code §65852.21 or local ordinance adopted to implement Government Code §65852.21, an accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit, a second single-family dwelling on the same parcel as the vacation house rental, or a dwelling or guest house that is the subject of an enforcement action pursuant to any provision of the Solano County Code.

Who will be enforcing this ordinance?
In accordance with §10-15(b) of the Solano County Code, alleged violations of Chapter 28 Zoning Regulations, shall initially undergo the administrative process as set out in Chapter 28. If the violation is not corrected or if corrections are not completed within the time specified in the notice, the County may impose administrative penalties as provided in Chapter 10.


Is the Vacation House Rental Permit transferable?
No. The vacation house rental permit shall expire upon sale or transfer of the property. Reuse of the dwelling as a vacation house rental by a new property owner shall require approval of a new land use permit, obtaining commercial property insurance, obtaining both a business license and TOT registration prior to operation.

How will complaints be handled?
While a vacation house is rented, the owner or property manager shall be available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, for the purpose of responding within 45 minutes to complaints regarding the condition of the property or the conduct of guests using the vacation house rental. Additionally, the County has provided a 24/7 VHR Complaint Hotline number, an Online Complaint form and a VHR complaint email address for alternate ways of reporting complaints. The 24/7 VHR Complaint Hotline number is: (707) 402-9462. Online complaints can be filed at https://secure.hostcompliance.com/solano-county-ca/complaints/type and emails can be sent to [email protected]. For complaints unrelated to VHRs, Code Enforcement can be contacted at (707) 784-6765.

Is there minimum stay requirement?
Yes. The minimum rental term for a vacation house rental is two (2) consecutive nights.

What will the fines be for VHR violations?
In accordance with §10-24(b)(3), the penalty amount for unresolved violations of a short-term rental ordinance is as follows:

1. For a first violation, the amount shall be one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) per violation.
2. For a second violation within one (1) year, the amount shall be three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) per violation.
3. For a third and any subsequent violation within one (1) year of the first violation, the amount shall be five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) per violation.

How can I determine if my property is in an area designated as a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone by the State Fire Marshal?
You can enter your address to locate your property on a map showing Fire Hazard Severity Zones at Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ). Planning staff can also assist with determining your property’s FHSZ.

Where can I go if I have more questions?
For further help and questions, please contact staff of the Planning Services Division at 707-784-6765 and speak with the Planner on duty or via e-mail [email protected].

How to Run a Compliant Vacation House Rental
The goal of our vacation house rental program is to make the home-sharing economy work for everyone in unincorporated Solano County.

Vacation House Rentals are residential units rented short-term for 30 days or less. They can be houses, apartments, condos, cabins, rooms, or certain other dwellings.

Property owners of vacation house rentals must apply for a VHR Operating Permit and then must renew the VHR Operating Permit annually. After the property owner has received the permit, they must also obtain commercial property insurance, apply for a business license, and complete the transient occupancy tax registration prior to operation.

Definitions & Abbreviations

  • 24/7 VHR Hotline. Hotline number available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to report issues at a VHR property. The 24/7 VHR Complaint Hotline number is: (707) 402-9462. Online complaints can be filed at https://secure.hostcompliance.com/solano-county-ca/complaints/type and emails can be sent to [email protected]. For complaints unrelated to VHRs, Code Enforcement can be contacted at (707) 784-6765.
  • Agricultural homestay. A dwelling, occupied by a resident family and located on and part of a farm that produces agricultural products as the family’s primary source of income, in which two or more guest rooms are offered or used for transient occupancy, with or without meals.
  • Bed and Breakfasts Inn. A dwelling, occupied by a resident family, in which two or more guest rooms are offered or used for transient occupancy, with or without meals.
  • FHSZ. Fire Hazard Severity Zone
  • Hosted Rental. A dwelling, occupied by a resident family, in which a single guest room is offered or used for transient occupancy, with or without meals; a single-room bed and breakfast inn.
  • Operator. The person who is the proprietor of the lodging, whether in the capacity of owner, lessee, sublessee, mortgagee in possession, licensee, or any other capacity. Where the operator performs some or all his/her functions through a managing agent of any type or character other than an employee, the managing agent shall also be deemed an operator for the purposes of this article and shall have the same duties and liabilities as the principal. Compliance with the provisions of this article by either the proprietor or the managing agent shall be considered to be compliance by both.
  • SRA. Cal Fire State Responsibility Area
  • STR. Short-Term Rental. STRs include Agricultural Homestays, Bed & Breakfast Inns, Hosted Rentals, Resort Hotels, Rooming & Boarding Houses and Vacation House Rentals (VHRs).
  • Transient Occupancy. Temporary occupancy of a lodging facility or dwelling by any person other than the resident family by concession, permit, right of access, license, gift, or other agreement for a period of 30 consecutive calendar days or less, counting portions of calendar days as full days. Does not include an occasional home exchange of a dwelling used as the property owner’s primary residence but does includes temporary occupancy of a dwelling used pursuant to a time share plan or form of co-ownership if any time share period or other entitlement to occupancy of the dwelling is limited to periods of 30 consecutive days or less.
  • Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate. Certificate issued by the tax administrator to the operator of transient lodging to collect the tax from transient occupancy.
  • Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). Money that must be collected on the amount charged on rentals of certain properties for short periods of time and be turned in to the municipality. It may also be referred to as occupancy tax, lodging tax, room tax, bed tax, tourist tax, or hotel tax.
  • Vacation house rental (VHR). A dwelling that is offered or used for transient occupancy without a resident family present within the dwelling.
  • Vacation House Rental Checklist. Form that serves as part of the VHR Application packet to determine approval.
  • VHR Good Neighbor Flyer. Informational brochure to notify VHR operator and occupants of conduct expectations while operating or staying at a VHR.
  • VHR Property Report Checklist. Inspection form used to determine VHR approval that is performed by a licensed contractor or licensed home inspector.
  • VHR Registration Certificate. Annual Certificate issued to permitted VHR operators to be displayed at the VHR property in a conspicuous location.