Please read through the entire application process before applying for an inland vacation rental zoning clearance. There are multiple steps that must be completed with the Planning & Building Department as part of the approval process.  Those steps are defined below and include wait times between applications to both the Planning Department and the Tax Collector's office.  

FAQs can be found at the bottom of this page.

1. Check to see if the property is in the Inland Area of the County.
   • If in the Coastal Zone, visit Coastal Vacation Rental.
2. Check if property is in the Adelaida / Willow Creek Area or in Williamson Act.
   • If located in the Adelaida / Willow Creek Area, please follow the minimum requirement to apply in the Adelaida / Willow Creek Area Vacation Rental Guide.
   • If also located in Williamson Act, follow the minimum qualifications to apply for a Williamson Act Zoning Clearance too.
3. A vacation rental is not allowed in an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), Guesthouse, or Agricultural Worker Housing (also referred to as Farm Support Housing).
4. Complete the form below to verify if a vacation rental zoning clearance can be applied for at a specific address:

Wait approximately 2 business days for the Planning Staff to reply to the business location verification before continuing to the next step.  

Apply for a Business License with the Tax Collector. Complete the Business License Application and email to [email protected] or mail to 1055 Monterey Street, Suite D290, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. A Tax Collector staff member will contact you within 24 hours, Monday through Friday excluding holidays, to review and provide additional required information.

Please remember to continue to the next step with the Planning Department after this step is complete.

Required documents to apply for a Vacation Rental Zoning Clearance in the Adelaida area are:

1. Completed Consent of Property Owner Form.
2. A Site Plan of the entire property, proposed vacation rental, and parking.
3. Completed Proof of Notification.
4. Generate a Mailing List in Land Use View. Include all property owners within 1,500 foot radius of the proposed vacation rental. In addition, include main County Sheriff’s Office, local Fire Agency and local Sheriff Substation.
5. Letter. Completed letter using the Sample Letter Template.

If property is also in Williamson Act, provide required documents listed in the Williamson Act Vacation Rental Zoning Clearance application process.

For an existing Adelaida/Willow Creek vacation rental change of ownership, the following documents are required:

1. Completed Proof of Notification.
2. Generate a Mailing List in Land Use View. Include all property owners within 200 feet of the proposed vacation rental.
3. Letter. Completed letter using the Sample Letter Template.

Then apply for a vacation rental zoning clearance through the online service PermitSLO.

1. To apply online, click Vacation Rental Zoning Clearance 
2. Click Apply
3. Login by providing your email address and clicking "Next", or "Create an account", if you are a new user.
4. Follow the step-by-step instructions.
5. Upload the required documents in Step 6 if in the Adelaida/Willow Creek Area, before clicking Submit.

Planning staff will email the billing contact an invoice. Pay invoice here*.

Once the invoice is paid, the project review timeline will begin.

Please note for all Planning and Building applications, after 15 days of non-payment of invoice, the application will be voided and resubmittal will be required.

Planner review and decision to a completed application typically takes 2 business days after fees are paid. Application approvals are then forwarded to the Tax Collector's office. 

Once Planning staff approves the Zoning Clearance, the Tax Collector will mail you the business license. Contact the County Tax Collector at (805) 781-5831 with any questions.