Goleta City Council to Consider Short-Term Vacation Rental Ordinance Amendments

At the May 5, 2026, Goleta City Council meeting, Council will consider adoption of amendments to the City’s short-term vacation rental (STVR) regulations. An STVR is a dwelling unit that is rented to a tenant for a period of not more than 30 consecutive days.

The meeting will be held in person in City Council Chambers (130 Cremona Drive) and on Zoom. The public may also view the meeting on Goleta TV Channel 19 and/or online on the City’s YouTube channel or website.The agenda will be posted on the City website (www.cityofgoleta.org/meetings-agendas) in advance of the meeting. Spanish interpretation will be available at the City Council meeting.

The City’s STVR regulations, in Chapter 5.08 of the Goleta Municipal Code, allow for STVRs while promoting responsible visitor and operator behavior and protecting the long-term residential character of its neighborhoods. These regulations include licensing requirements and hosting platform responsibilities.

Amendments are being proposed to the existing STVR regulations to implement Housing Element (HE) Subprogram 1.7. HE 1.7 includes consideration of additional regulations on STVRs to address impacts of STVRs on residential neighborhoods and the City’s existing housing stock. City staff presented findings of an STVR study to City Council on May 20, 2025. Watch that meeting here (item C.2). Following Council feedback from that meeting, staff worked to prepare the following amendments:

• Added definitions for “hosted and “non-hosted” STVRs
• A waiting period for non-hosted STVR licenses for recently purchased properties and properties subject to no-fault eviction
• A three-strike violation and STVR license suspension provision
• A prohibition on STVR licenses for a property owned by a corporation, limited liability company, or any form of business trust
• A limitation on number of nights per year a non-hosted STVR may be rented

In addition to the amendments mentioned above, STVR administrative changes are also being proposed. The topics for these changes include:

• Updated application forms and additional data during STVR licensing
• Future implementation of Good Neighbor Guidelines

For further information on the project, contact Molly Cunningham, Assistant Planner, at 805-961-7549 or mcunningham@cityofgoleta.gov.