Please read through the entire application process before apply for a coastal vacation rental zoning clearance. There are multiple steps that must be completed with the Planning & Building Department as well as with the Tax Collector.

FAQs can be found at the bottom of this page.

1. Check to see if the property is in the Coastal Zone of the County. 
   • If Inland, visit Inland Vacation Rental Zoning Clearance.
2.  ​Read the Coastal Vacation Rental User Guide
   • Check the County Business License View to help determine if a vacation rental in the urban areas of Cambria, Cayucos and Avila Beach is eligible.
     • If a vacation rental is not eligible within the urban areas of Cambria, Cayucos, or Avila Beach, a Minor Use Permit is required.
     • Coastal vacation rentals outside of these urban areas require a Minor Use Permit.
3. Check to see if property is in Williamson Act.
   • If property is in Williamson Act area, also visit Williamson Act Vacation Rental Zoning Clearance.
4. A vacation rental is not allowed in an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), Guesthouse, or Agricultural Worker Housing (also referred to as Farm Support Housing).
5. Complete the form below to verify if a vacation rental zoning clearance can be applied for at a specific address:

Wait for Planning staff to reply to the business location verification request 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 Coastal Zone are:

1. Grant Deed.

   • If the applicant is not the owner of the property or an agent is applying on the owner’s behalf, a completed Land Use Consent of Property Owner Form is also required.

2. A Site Plan of the entire property, showing the structure proposed for a vacation rental and parking locations.

   • This document can be hand-drawn and does not need to be to scale.

3. A Floor Plan of the structure proposed for a vacation rental, showing all rooms and floors.

   • This document can be hand-drawn and does not need to be to scale.

4. A Will Serve Letter from the community water and sewer supplier for the property.

5. A completed Coastal Vacation Rental Certification Form.

6. A completed notification letter using the Sample Letter Template.

   • This letter must also be mailed to all property owners within a 200-foot radius of the proposed vacation rental property. A mailing list can be generated in Land Use View to accomplish this.

   • In addition, this letter must be mailed to the County Sheriff's Office, the property’s local fire agency, and the property’s local sheriff substation.

7. A copy of the mailing list used in the process of mailing out notification letters.

1. Click on the PermitSLO link here: Vacation Rental Zoning Clearance 
2. Click Apply
3. Log In or Register
4. Follow the step-by-step instructions.
5. Upload the required documents before submitting (if applicable).

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.

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.