Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Calistoga?

Short-term rentals are prohibited in Calistoga. City law bans the rental of homes and rooms in residential zoning districts for fewer than 30 days. Calistoga is actively moving to tighten enforcement and codify clearer penalties aligned with California SB 60, and a formal ordinance is expected before the end of 2025. Platforms such as Airbnb/VRBO are expected to be prohibited from listing unpermitted properties in Calistoga once the city adopts the new enforcement framework. In short, do not plan to start or operate a new short-term rental in Calistoga’s residential zones.

• Source: Napa County Times (2025)
• Source: Press Democrat (2025)

How to “Start” a Short-Term Rental Business in This Market

You cannot legally start a new STR in Calistoga’s residential zoning districts. Your options are:

• Operate lodging in commercially zoned areas only if your property qualifies as a permitted hotel, inn, or bed-and-breakfast (B&B) outside residential zoning. This is a specialized, non-STR pathway and typically involves different licensing and a different business model.

• If you currently operate an illegal STR, cease operations immediately. The city is elevating enforcement and will likely use automated monitoring and platform-level controls once its ordinance is adopted.

• If you own a residential property, consider long-term rental conversion to remain compliant and avoid penalties.

• Source: Napa County Times (2025)

• Source: Press Democrat (2025)

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Because Calistoga prohibits STRs in residential zoning districts, there is no path to obtain an STR permit for a residence. The city has long banned rentals under 30 days in residential zones; it is now codifying enforcement tools:

• Prohibiting hosting platforms from listing unpermitted properties (hotels, inns, and B&Bs outside residential zones are excluded from this prohibition).

• Requiring a city-assigned identification code for any permitted rental, and requiring platforms to report active listings to the city.

• Establishing clearer fines and enforcement mechanisms, with the intent to adopt the state’s maximum fines (SB 60).

• Source: Napa County Times (2025)

• Source: Press Democrat (2025)

There are no city-issued STR permits available for residential homes or rooms under Calistoga’s current ban.

Specific Regulations: City, County, and State

• Calistoga (City)

  • Rental of any homes or rooms in residential zoning districts for fewer than 30 days is prohibited.
  • Council-directed updates will add explicit definitions for STRs, enforceable penalties, platform restrictions, listing IDs, and reporting requirements.
  • Enforcement will include monitoring software to flag noncompliant listings; a formal ordinance is expected before year-end 2025.

• Napa County (Unincorporated Areas)

  • Unincorporated Napa County has adopted Host Compliance (Granicus) to proactively identify and enforce violations; illegal STRs are flagged and pursued through warnings, escalating fines, and litigation if needed. Operators should expect rigorous oversight if attempting rentals in county jurisdiction.

• State of California (SB 60)

  • Cities can adopt the state’s maximum fines for STR violations:
    • First violation: up to $1,500
    • Second violation: up to $3,000
    • Additional violations within the same year: up to $5,000

• Context (Sonoma County Rules)

  • Sonoma County provides a contrasting framework with vacation rental permits and licensing; this is not applicable in Calistoga, but shows the kind of detailed permitting system used elsewhere in wine country.

• Source: Napa County Times (2025)

• Source: Press Democrat (2025)

• Source: Sonoma County Permit Sonoma (2025)

• Source: Kohmsa Wine Country guide (2025)

Contact Information (Local Authority in Charge of STRs)

Primary contacts (for inquiries about the STR ban, code updates, and enforcement):

• City of Calistoga — Planning & Building / City Hall

  • Phone: 707-942-2808
  • Address: City Hall, 4140 Washington St., Calistoga, CA 94515
  • Website: Not specified in sources

• Planning and Building Director (press reports)

  • Name: Greg Desmond (Planning and Building Director)
  • Use City Hall for initial contact and routing.

• Source: Napa County Times (2025)

Links to Source Pages (for verification and updates)

• Napa County Times: Increased fines coming to Calistoga’s illegal short-term rentals — napacountytimes.com/increased-fines-coming-to-calistogas-illegal-short-term-rentals/
• Press Democrat: Napa County cities face off with illegal short-term rentals. Calistoga’s making the next move — www.pressdemocrat.com/article/napa/napa-calistoga-short-term-rentals-airbnb/
• Sonoma County Permit Sonoma: Vacation Rentals & Hosted Rentals (context only; not applicable to Calistoga) — permitsonoma.org/vacationrentals
• GoSummer: Vacation Rental Management in Calistoga, California (marketing content; not authoritative for current regulations) — www.gosummer.com/vacation-rental-management/calistoga-california
• Kohmsa: Navigating California’s Short-Term Rental Regulations — www.kohmsa.com/blog/navigating-californias-short-term-rental-regulations-a-wine-country-owners-guide

Bottom Line for STR Investors

• Calistoga prohibits STRs in residential zoning districts. There are no permits for homes or rooms rented under 30 days.
• The city is formalizing stricter enforcement and platform-level controls, and will likely adopt the SB 60 maximum fines.
• Avoid listing or operating in residential zones. If you seek a lodging investment in Calistoga, explore a commercially zoned hotel/inn/B&B outside residential districts. Otherwise, consider long-term residential rentals as a compliant strategy.