Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in San Anselmo?

No, short-term rentals are explicitly prohibited in San Anselmo, California.

The Town of San Anselmo has made a definitive determination that short-term rentals—defined as dwelling units, accessory units, rooms, or portions of dwelling units rented for periods less than 30 days—are not allowed within municipal boundaries. This prohibition is enforced under San Anselmo Municipal Code Section 10-3.302, which governs land uses in all zoning districts. Since short-term rentals are not listed as allowable uses, they are prohibited throughout the town.

This positions San Anselmo alongside several other Marin County jurisdictions that have opted to prohibit short-term rentals, including Tiburon, Sausalito, and Belvedere.

Starting a Short-Term Rental Business in This Market

Reality Check: Direct Investment in San Anselmo is Not Feasible

Given the explicit prohibition, investors cannot legally establish or operate short-term rentals within San Anselmo town limits. Any attempts to do so would result in:

• Code violations subject to citations and fines
• Administrative enforcement actions
• Potential legal proceedings
• Required cessation of operations

Alternative Market Strategies

For investors interested in the Marin County market, consider these nearby alternatives where short-term rentals are permitted:

1. Fairfax - Allows short-term rentals with registration requirements
2. Mill Valley - Permits STRs through registration program with business license requirements
3. Novato - Allows short-term rentals with regulations
4. San Rafael - Permits STRs with program requirements
5. Unincorporated Marin County - Allows STRs with license requirements (1,200 license cap implemented in 2024)

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

For San Anselmo (Current Status):

None - All STR operations are prohibited

No permits, licenses, or documentation can be obtained for short-term rental operations in San Anselmo.

For Reference - Typical Requirements in Permitting Marin Jurisdictions:

While San Anselmo doesn't allow STRs, investors should understand typical requirements in neighboring jurisdictions:

Business Registration:

• Municipal business license
• Annual registration renewal
• Transient occupancy tax registration

Operational Permits:

• Short-term rental permit (annual renewal)
• Fire safety inspection certificates
• Building compliance verification

Tax Obligations:

• Transient occupancy tax remittance (typically 10-12% in Marin)
• Business license fees
• Registration fees

Specific Regulations: City, County, and State

San Anselmo Municipal Regulations

Prohibited Activities:

• Renting any residential dwelling for less than 30 days
• Operating Airbnb, VRBO, or similar platforms for San Anselmo properties
• Hosting short-term guests in accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or junior ADUs
• Any form of compensated lodging for periods under 30 days

Enforcement:

• Violations reported through Town's "Report a Problem" system
• Administrative citations and fines
• Potential legal action for ongoing violations
• Code enforcement actions

Historical Context: The Town Council and Planning Commission discussed STR regulation in 2015, ultimately deciding not to pursue legalization or regulation. The decision was reaffirmed, with no changes to this position in subsequent discussions.

Marin County Context

Permitting Jurisdictions (for reference):

• Corte Madera: Allows STRs with requirements
• Fairfax: Allows STRs with registration (recently updated rules in 2024)
• Mill Valley: Permits STRs through registration program
• Novato: Allows STRs with regulations
• Ross: Not regulated (small number of listings)
• San Rafael: Allows STRs with program requirements
• Unincorporated Marin: Allows with 1,200 license cap

Prohibited Jurisdictions:

• Belvedere: Prohibited under permissive zoning
• Larkspur: Prohibited in residential zones
• Sausalito: Prohibited with fines up to $5,000
• Tiburon: Prohibited
• San Anselmo: Prohibited

California State Regulations

While no statewide prohibition exists, California has considered legislation affecting short-term rentals:

Relevant State-Level Considerations:

• No specific state prohibition on municipal STR prohibitions
• Transient occupancy tax collection requirements for platforms
• Some legislation proposed (but not passed) requiring reporting and tax collection by hosting platforms
• Local control over land use regulations including STRs

Contact Information for Local Authority

San Anselmo Planning Department

Primary Contact:

• Department: Planning Department
• Email: planning@sananselmo.gov
• Phone: 415-258-4616

Physical Address:

• Town of San Anselmo
• 525 San Anselmo Avenue
• San Anselmo, CA 94960

Office Hours:

• Public Counter Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30 AM - 11:45 AM
• Closed Friday

Permit Email: permits@townofsananselmo.org

Online Resources:

• Report STR violations: Report a Problem webpage
• Municipal Code: San Anselmo Municipal Code

Source References

1. Town of San Anselmo Short-Term Rentals Page: https://www.sananselmo.gov/2018/Short-Term-Rentals

2. San Anselmo Municipal Code Section 10-3.302: https://library.municode.com/ca/san_anselmo/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT10PLZO_CH3ZO_ART3LAUSRE_10-3.302LAUSRETA

3. Marin County STR Summary (Living in Marin): https://www.livinginmarin.com/marin-county-rules-for-short-term-rentals/

4. San Anselmo STR Public Input Documentation: https://sananselmo-ca.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=sananselmo-ca_7c6db2f09d74b26a6d52b224ec923b2b.pdf

5. Fairfax STR Regulation Update (Marin Independent Journal): https://www.marinij.com/2024/11/26/fairfax-updates-rules-on-short-term-rentals/

Investment Recommendation: Given San Anselmo's explicit prohibition of short-term rentals, investors should focus on alternative Marin County jurisdictions that permit STR operations, particularly Fairfax, Mill Valley, Novato, San Rafael, or unincorporated Marin County areas. The prohibited status in San Anselmo represents a clear regulatory barrier that cannot be overcome through permit acquisition or compliance measures.