Short-Stay and Vacation Rentals

The City of Arcata began issuing Short-Stay and Vacation Rental (SSVR) Permits in March, 2021. The SSVR Permit applies to dwelling units rented for transient occupancy or other temporary occupancy for up to 29 days at a time. This includes any short-stay temporary occupancy for fee living arrangement - regardless of its title or its means of advertisement - except for hotels, motels, or bed and breakfast operations.

The City Council established a cap of 100 SSVR units under Ordinance 1559. Exemptions from the SSVR cap may be obtained for Owner Occupants, Historic Landmarks, and Occasional Use. 

In addition to the SSVR Permit, operators must hold an Arcata Business License and pay the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). SSVR Permit Applications are processed by the Community Development Department. Business Licenses and TOTs are processed by the Finance Department.

How to Fill Out Transient Occupancy Tax Return Forms for Short-Stay Vacation Rentals:

  1. Use the SSVR TOT form. This form will need to be turned in and paid for through the Finance Department. Please keep a copy for your records. You will need it for renewal.
  2. Fill out separate forms for each unit that you rent. Do not put multiple rental units on the same form. If the units are not separated, you will need to submit an additional requirement at the time of renewal.
  3. If the rooms in a unit are rented separately, then you will list the number of rooms you rent multiplied by the number of nights in the quarter on Line item A. If you rent 5 or more rooms separately in a unit, then you will need to fill out the TOT form for 5+ units. If you rent the unit as a whole, then you will multiply 1 by the number of days in the quarter.
  4. List the number of night stays you had for the quarter you are submitting on Line item B.

Click Here to Apply for a SSVR Permit.

Don't know how to login to your account? Click the link above, click on "Login" in the upper right-hand corner, then click on "Login Using Secure Portal" in blue.

If someone other than the property owner will be submitting the application, they will need to complete the Agent Authorization form with the owner's signature and attach it to the application.

OpenGov Guides

How to Add a Guest Account 

How to Complete a Renewal

How to Add Attachments

How to Complete a Change Request


Resources

SSVR Checklist

SSVR FAQs

Do you have a question but don't see it in the document linked above? Email your question to comdev@cityofarcata.org.

 

Fees:

$160.00 for the initial SSVR Permit Application

$107.00 for each renewal application of a SSVR Permit

$22.00 for the SSVR Waitlist Application

20% of the permit fee will be charged for late applications

Background

Ordinance No. 1559 establishes permit requirements, including a limit on the total number of permits that may be active at any time, and other regulations intended to ensure the safe and orderly conduct of short-stay, vacation, and other similar businesses in the City of Arcata. These regulations are also intended to ensure that only a limited proportion of the City’s housing stock, which would otherwise be used for long-term residency, is converted to short-stay use.

  • Introduced at the January 20, 2021, City Council Meeting 
  • Adopted at the February 17, 2021 City Council Meeting
  • On February 17, 2021, the Arcata City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1543 which became effective on March 20, 2021.
  • On May 5, 2021, the Arcata City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1545 amending the Arcata Municipal Code related to Short-Stay and Vacation Rentals.
  • On February 1, 2023, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1559 amending the previous ordinance to exclude hotels, motels, and bed & breakfasts from the regulations and the cap of 100 units; create an exemption for historic landmark properties; remove the exemption for long term tenancy while keeping the exemption for owner occupied properties; remove the requirement for posting an emergency number; remove the building inspection requirement; and clarify language relating to roles and responsibilities.
  • On February 01, 2024, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1567 amending the Arcata Municipal Code to change the deadline to renew a SSVR permit from 30 days before the expiration date to the permit expiration date.

Keep Informed

Receive notices related to Short-Stay/Vacation Rentals by signing up for the "Long Range Planning & Community Visioning" eNotification list.

Questions

If you have further questions, please contact the Community Development Department at comdev@cityofarcata.org or 707-822-5955.