Overview: Are Short‑Term Rentals Allowed in Redway, CA?

Short‑term rentals (STRs) are allowed in Redway under Humboldt County’s adopted Short‑Term Rental Ordinance, which became effective in 2024 for inland areas and is in effect for coastal areas following certification by the California Coastal Commission. Humboldt County adopted a unified ordinance that applies to all unincorporated areas, including Redway, differentiating regulations between inland and coastal zones and creating a streamlined “home‑share” category and a “whole‑unit” category with caps in the Greater Humboldt Bay Area. Redway (inland, unincorporated) is subject to inland rules, an administrative permit pathway, and the Greater Humboldt Bay Area cap.

To comply, STR operators must:

• Obtain an Administrative Permit (for properties meeting standards) or a Special Permit (for deviations).
• Deliver a Good Neighbor Guide to nearby neighbors and keep a signed affidavit on file.
• Secure a Humboldt County business license and register for transient occupancy tax (TOT).
• Meet health and safety, access, occupancy, noise, and parking standards.
• Follow neighborhood concentration and per‑parcel limits in the Greater Humboldt Bay Area.
• Comply with prohibited uses and special coastal timing where applicable.

This guide translates the ordinance into a practical roadmap for investors and operators in Redway and the broader Humboldt County market.

How to Start a Short‑Term Rental Business in This Market

The Humboldt County ordinance defines two operational categories:

• Home‑share rental: STR of a portion of a dwelling where a caretaker resides in the unit.
• Whole‑unit rental: STR of an entire dwelling.

The start‑up pathway is designed to be ministerial for compliant operations, with a discretionary Special Permit pathway for deviations.

Step‑by‑step:

1. Confirm zoning and eligibility.

   • Verify the parcel is in a zone where residential use is a principal use (most residential and mixed‑use zones qualify).
   • Confirm your unit is not prohibited:
     • Recorded covenant/deed restriction limiting use or requiring affordability.
     • SB9 lot (California H.O.M.E. Act).
     • Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) permitted after Jan 1, 2020 (unless a legal nonconforming ADU permitted earlier).
     • Alternative Owner‑Builder (AOB) dwellings (may be permitted after‑the‑fact through building code compliance).
   • For inland Redway, proceed under inland rules; if near the coastline or in the coastal zone, you must follow coastal rules and timing.

2. Select the permit path.

   • Administrative Permit (ministerial): choose if you can meet all standards (recommended for speed and certainty).
   • Special Permit (discretionary): required only if you need exceptions to standards (e.g., access road below Category 3, or other identified deviations). Special Permits require findings of no significant adverse impact to health/safety or neighborhood quality and may include added noticing.

3. Prepare application materials (inland and coastal).

   • Application form and fees.
   • Current grant deed.
   • Affidavit of Good Neighbor Guide delivery to all neighbors within 300 feet and the nearest five neighbors up/down the access road.
   • Evidence of property‑owner consent (if applicant is not the owner); consent withdrawal revokes the permit.
   • Site plan showing bedrooms, parking, and access road.
   • Haul route if applying for a Special Permit and access is via a shared private road.

4. Apply for the STR Administrative Permit.

   • Submit the complete package to Humboldt County Planning & Building Department.
   • Anticipated approval timeline: staff verification and issuance in days for administrative applications, with fees in the range of $100–$200 (based on ordinance narrative).

5. Secure business license and register for TOT.

   • Obtain a business license from the Humboldt County Tax Collector.
   • Register and remit Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) as required for lodging businesses.

6. Operate in compliance.

   • Post emergency egress information and maintain fire extinguishers, smoke, and carbon monoxide detectors.
   • Provide weekly trash, recycling, and compost service.
   • Ensure the access road meets Category 3 standards (see Access section below).
   • Cap overnight occupancy at two per bedroom plus one (excluding children under 12).
   • Enforce noise limits: 65 dB from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; 60 dB from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
   • Provide one off‑street parking space per rented bedroom; one legal on‑street space may count if available.
   • Limit private gatherings to 20 attendees.

7. Maintain and renew the permit.

   • Permits lapse after two years unless the operator submits a Statement of Continued Operation and has no outstanding violations.
   • Keep contact information current for the caretaker and respond to complaints promptly; violations can lead to suspension or revocation.

8. Consider coastal zone timing (if applicable).

   • In the coastal zone, applications for existing STRs are accepted until November 24, 2025; new STR applications may be submitted starting December 24, 2025.
   • Shelter Cove and certain STR types (farm stays, historic properties, home‑share, units rented 60 days/year or fewer while long‑term occupied) can submit applications now.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Documents and permits for inland and coastal zones:

• Administrative Permit application or Special Permit application (with justification for deviations).
• Current grant deed for the subject parcel.
• Good Neighbor Guide delivery affidavit (neighbors within 300 feet and nearest five up/down access road).
• Property‑owner consent letter (if applicant is not the owner); withdrawal revokes the permit.
• Site plan showing bedrooms, parking spaces, and access road classification.
• Haul route plan if access is via shared private road and a Special Permit is sought.
• Business License from Humboldt County Tax Collector.
• Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) registration and ongoing remittance.
• Statement of Continued Operation (every two years) to keep the STR permit active.

Guidelines to review before applying:

• Humboldt County Good Neighbor Guide (Fillable).
• Application Checklist (Fillable).
• Frequently Asked Questions for STRs.
• Inland STR regulations (Humboldt County Code Section 314‑60.05).
• Coastal STR regulations (Humboldt County Code Section 313‑61.05).

Fees and review:

• Administrative permit fee is anticipated in the $100–$200 range (ministerial, over‑the‑counter).
• Special Permit fee is higher and requires noticing and hearing; approval requires explicit findings.

Specific Regulations for Short‑Term Rentals in Redway (Humboldt County)

Applicability:

• Redway is in the inland, unincorporated area of Humboldt County and falls under inland STR regulations (Section 314‑60.05) of the Zoning Ordinance.

Prohibited uses and limitations:

• STRs are not allowed in dwellings with recorded covenants/agreements that prohibit transient use or require affordability.
• STRs are prohibited on lots approved under SB9 (California H.O.M.E. Act).
• ADUs permitted after Jan 1, 2020 are prohibited as STRs (unless legal nonconforming from earlier approvals).
• Alternative Owner‑Builder (AOB) dwellings cannot be STRs unless they first obtain after‑the‑fact building compliance under the code in effect at the time of original permit.

Cap in the Greater Humboldt Bay Area:

• The county limits STRs to no more than 2% of the housing stock within the Greater Humboldt Bay Area STR Cap Area, which includes the following Community Plan Areas (CPAs): Trinidad‑Westhaven, McKinleyville, Fieldbrook‑Glendale, Blue Lake, Arcata, Jacoby Creek, Freshwater, Eureka, Fortuna, Hydesville‑Carlotta, and Rio Dell‑Scotia. Redway’s inclusion depends on the specific CPA designation of the parcel; if inside the cap area, your application will count against the cap.

Ownership and transfer limits:

• STR permits are non‑transferable between properties.
• No individual or business may own more than five parcels with STR permits.

Occupancy caps and safety:

• Overnight occupancy is limited to two per bedroom plus one (excluding children under 12).
• Homes must be permitted or legal nonconforming; maintain fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors; provide emergency egress information.

Access standards and road maintenance:

• Access roads must be built to a Category 3 standard.
• If the STR uses a private road with an established Road Maintenance Association (RMA), the permit holder must be a member in good standing.

Good Neighbor Guide and caretaker:

• Prior to operation, deliver the Good Neighbor Guide to all neighbors within 300 feet and the nearest five neighbors up/down the access road; file a sworn affidavit with the county.
• The guide must list the caretaker’s name and phone number, who must be available to respond timely to safety issues and code violations.

Neighborhood quality standards:

• Parcels within a Community Plan Area, parcels of 10 acres or fewer, and parcels within 1,000 feet of the nearest neighboring residence must comply with additional quality controls. Exceptions to certain standards may be requested via a Special Permit.

Noise controls:

• Maximum noise levels: 65 dB from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; 60 dB from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (outdoor and indoor common areas).
• Following noise complaints, the county may require installation of noise sensors and submission of recorded data upon request.

Parking:

• Provide one off‑street parking space per rented bedroom; one legal on‑street space may count toward the minimum if available.

Per‑parcel and concentration limits:

• Only one STR per legal parcel.
• Neighborhood concentration limits apply depending on General Plan density:
  • Parcels at one acre or fewer per dwelling unit: STRs shall not exceed 10% of dwellings on the access road, and the nearest ten dwellings cannot be STRs (crow‑flies distance).
  • Parcels with more than one acre per dwelling unit: STRs shall not exceed 20% of dwellings on the access road.
  • Shelter Cove is exempt from these concentration limits.

Private events:

• Private gatherings and parties are limited to 20 attendees.

Farm stays and resource zones:

• In agriculture and timber resource zones (AE, AG, FR, TPZ in inland; AE, CT, TPZ in coastal), STRs may only be operated as farm stays (agricultural education‑focused experiences on working farms).

Permit term and enforcement:

• STR permits lapse after two years unless a Statement of Continued Operation is filed and no violations exist.
• Violations can result in administrative penalties, suspension, or revocation.

Coastal‑specific notes:

• The coastal STR ordinance (Section 313‑61.05) aligns closely with inland rules but includes coastal‑zone‑specific timing and a Conditional Use Permit requirement for whole‑unit STRs in the Tsunami Hazard Zone of the Humboldt Bay Area Plan.
• The California Coastal Commission certified the coastal ordinance; applications for existing coastal STRs are accepted until Nov 24, 2025; new STRs may apply starting Dec 24, 2025; farm stays, historic properties, home‑share, and ≤60 days/year rentals may apply now.

Key code sections (inland and coastal):

• Inland STRs: Humboldt County Code Section 314‑60.05.
• Coastal STRs: Humboldt County Code Section 313‑61.05.
• Definitions of Home‑share, STR, caretaker, and permit holder: Sections 314‑143/154 (inland) and 313‑143/154 (coastal).
• Bed and Breakfast provisions (superseded for STRs but still present): Sections 314‑44.1 (inland) and 313‑44.1 (coastal).

Contact Information (Local Authority in Charge of STRs)

Humboldt County Planning & Building Department

• Address: 3015 H Street, Eureka, CA 95501
• Phone: (707) 445‑7541
• Email: planningbuilding@co.humboldt.ca.us
• STR Webpage: humboldtgov.org/3387
• Apply for a Planning Permit: humboldtgov.org/3474/Apply-for-a-Planning-Permit
• Staff Directory (for contacts and direct lines): humboldtgov.org/directory.aspx

Good Neighbor Guide and application forms:

• Good Neighbor Guide (Fillable)
• Application Checklist (Fillable)
• Frequently Asked Questions

Accessibility and accommodation:

• For meeting accommodations under the ADA, call (707) 268‑3777 at least 72 hours in advance.

Links to Source Pages (Important)

• Humboldt County Short‑Term Rental Ordinance Hub: humboldtgov.org/3387/Short-Term-Rental-Ordinance
• Apply for a Planning Permit (Humboldt County): humboldtgov.org/3474/Apply-for-a-Planning-Permit
• Humboldt County Code: Inland STR Regulations §314‑60.05: humboldt.county.codes/Code/314-60.05
• Staff Report (Workshop, Sept 21, 2023) and Attachments (PDF): lostcoastoutpost.com/loco-media/loco-media/agendizer/attachment/9448/5.pdf
• Coastal STR Ordinance (Amended 03/11/2025) PDF: humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/View/137483
• Amendment to Coastal STR Ordinance (03/11/2025) PDF: humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/View/136654
• Good Neighbor Guide (Fillable) PDF: humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/View/125306
• Application Checklist (Fillable) PDF: humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/View/125307
• Frequently Asked Questions PDF: humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/View/143222
• Code Complaint Form PDF: humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/View/185/Code-Complaint-Form-PDF
• Ordinance Adoption (Legistar) PDF: humboldt.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12766091&GUID=1390720E-5FC9-4B1F-8E93-2A50CDB25E76

Practical Notes for Investors

• Start with the inland rules if your property is in Redway and verify whether your parcel falls within the Greater Humboldt Bay Area cap area; if so, understand that applications count against the 2% cap and new permits may be paused if the cap is reached.
• Plan your compliance in advance: confirm access to a Category 3 road, assess the need for noise mitigation, confirm off‑street parking, and pre‑designate a responsive caretaker.
• If you require any deviations from the standards, budget time and cost for a Special Permit (public noticing, hearing, and findings).
• Obtain your business license and TOT registration early; operation without these can create exposure.
• Use the Good Neighbor Guide proactively to reduce friction with adjacent residents and to document your community engagement.

This framework provides a compliant and investable pathway for STRs in Redway under Humboldt County’s 2024 ordinance, with coastal‑zone specifics noted where relevant.