City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Goleta, CA
How Goleta regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Rules here limit which homes may operate as short-term rentals, how many, where, or for how many nights a year.
- IN-FORCE non-hosted supply cap: a non-hosted (whole-home) STVR may not be rented more than 120 cumulative nights per calendar year (GMC § 5.08.140) — codified in the amendment effective 5/19/2026
- IN-FORCE eligibility/supply restrictions on non-hosted use (§ 5.08.080): non-hosted license DENIED if the parcel was purchased within the prior 24 months, or if the dwelling was subject to a no-fault eviction within the prior 24 months
- IN-FORCE ownership-structure limit: an STVR license may issue only to an individual or a personal trust — NO corporation, LLC, or business trust may hold a Goleta STVR license (§ 5.08.080)
- STVR-specific license + business license required (GMC Ch. 5.08); licenses are non-transferable, do not run with the land, and require annual renewal
- Good-neighbor controls: 200-ft neighbor notification of application, mandatory nuisance-response plan with prompt (30-min) local response; 12% TOT + 2% South Coast TBID assessment
- Hosted (owner-present) rentals remain uncapped; the supply constraints bite on non-hosted whole-home use
Based on: Goleta Municipal Code Ch. 5.08 (Short-Term Vacation Rentals), original Ord. 15-02 (eff. July 1, 2015); amended by Ord.
Summary of the rule
GMC § 5.08.140: 'A non-hosted short-term vacation rental may not be rented out more than 120 cumulative nights per calendar year.' In-force supply cap on whole-home (non-hosted) use (amendment eff. 5/19/2026).
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 9, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Goleta · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.