Mckinleyville, California

McKinleyville is unincorporated, so short-term rentals are regulated by Humboldt County under the inland Short-Term Rental Ordinance (HCC Section 314-60), adopted March 5, 2024. Operators must obtain an annual Short-Term Rental Permit, most commonly an Administrative Permit; specific permit fees were not confirmed in available data and operators should verify current fee schedules with Humboldt County directly. Applications require a current grant deed and delivery of a Good Neighbor Guide to neighbors within 300 feet and to the five nearest properties up and down the access road. Two STR types are recognized: Home-share (a caretaker remains on-site during guest stays) and Whole-unit rentals (entire dwelling). No blanket owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies, but whole-unit rentals are subject to concentration caps. McKinleyville falls within the Greater Humboldt Bay Area Cap Area, where STRs are capped at 2% of total housing stock and 2% within each Community Plan Area (most other county areas use a 5% cap). Exceeding neighborhood concentration limits requires a Special Permit with public noticing and a hearing. Permits are not transferable between property owners, a critical consideration for buyers acquiring existing STR properties. Guests owe a 12% Transient Occupancy Tax on stays of 30 nights or fewer in unincorporated Humboldt County, increased from 10% via Measure J in 2022. In March 2025 the Board of Supervisors amended the ordinance to make it less permissive; operators and prospective investors should confirm current requirements with the county.