Vacation rentals not allowed to operate under new Santa Cruz County Shelter in Place

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION) Under Santa Cruz County's revised Shelter in Place order, vacation rentals are not allowed to operate, and the county is asking the community to comply.

The revised order went into effect Tuesday and extends through May 3 unless it is revised or extended. Vacation rentals include those rented through Airbnb, VRBO or other platforms.

Travel is not currently allowed unless it is for essential services, and only essential businesses can operate under the order in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus

Vacation rentals are not considered essential businesses, but may be allowed to continue operating under circumstances related to essential services. For example:

• Providing housing for traveling emergency and public safety personnel.
• Providing housing for traveling medical personnel.
• Providing housing for other essential workers.
• Providing housing for families attending to critical medical needs of relatives who live locally.

Santa Cruz County said vacation rentals should not be used by the owners to shelter in place if they have to leave a county to get there. All bookings not in effect right now should be cancelled. Those currently staying at a vacation rental are asked to return home unless they do not have another place to go to or cannot travel safely.

Not complying with a health officer's order is a misdemeanor and violators could face a fine, prison time or both.