Coastal Vacation Dwelling Units

For the Coastal portion of the City, a Vacation Dwelling Unit (VDU) is the rental of an entire dwelling unit, which includes areas for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation, to guests for 30 consecutive days or less. 

A VDU is different from a lodging house or a bed and breakfast inn, because a VDU is rented in its entirety, whereas lodging houses and bed and breakfast inns rent individual rooms. Contact Development Services – Planning for information about applying for a lodging house or bed and breakfast inn proprietor.

For the Inland portion of the City, a Vacation Rental (VR) is an entire residence or a portion of a residence, such as one bedroom or a futon in a home office, which is rented to guests for 30 consecutive days or less. Click HERE  for information about Vacation Rentals in the Inland Zone.

In general, any land west of Broadway, north of 3^rd Street, and east of Myrtle Avenue is in the Coastal zone. Click HERE  to be directed to the City’s interactive zoning map.

Type in your street address in the search field in the upper left-hand corner. Be sure to include “Eureka, CA”, and press Enter or click the magnifying glass.The map should zoom to your site, and if the site is just the aerial photo (no color overlay), your site is located in the Coastal Zone and you’re on the right page. If your site has a color overlay on the map, the site is Inland. Click HERE for information about obtaining an Inland Vacation Rental Permit.

Accessory Dwelling  Unit/Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit:

An Accessory Dwelling Unit or Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit which received a Certificate of Occupancy from the City prior to January 1, 2020, can be used as a Vacation Dwelling Unit.  

Residential Uses:

A single-family residence can be used as a Vacation Dwelling Unit, unless the single-family residence was created under California Government Code § 65852.21 or 66411.7.

Legally permitted single- or multi-family residences, can be used as a Vacation Dwelling Unit in any zoning district where Vacation Dwelling Units are allowed (see 5. My Site is Coastal - What's Next?). 

Contact Development Services – Planning  if you are uncertain about whether your single-family, multi-family, or accessory dwelling unit can be used as a Vacation Dwelling Unit.

The City’s rules include basic standards for Vacation Dwelling Units, such as limitations on occupancy, events, signage, and a requirement to designate an emergency contact. Additional requirements/limitations may be imposed through the Conditional Use Permit and Coastal Development Permit process (if required – see 6. What if I’m in a CW zone?).  

A Business License  and Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) payments will be required. TOT is a 10% City tax which must be collected every time rent is paid for short-term stays of 30 consecutive days or less in a Vacation Rental. Sites like Airbnb, VRBO, etc., DO NOT collect or pay TOT for you. It is your responsibility to collect TOT from guests and remit the collected TOT directly to the City’s Finance Department on a quarterly basis.

Whether you live on the site where the Vacation Dwelling Unit is located, or on another site, but still within Eureka’s City limits, you will also be required to obtain a Home Occupation Permit unless a property management company is operating the Vacation Dwelling Unit for you. 

Long-term rental of dwelling units is allowed and encouraged – we need more housing! Building permits can often be obtained to allow almost any space, either attached to or detached from your primary residence, to be converted to a residence. A space or building with an independent entrance, sleeping area, bathroom, kitchenette, and a Certificate of Occupancy issued by the City, can be a dwelling unit.