SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — October 26, 2026. Residents in the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County have a new way to report problems associated with permitted short-term rentals. County Community Development and Infrastructure announced a 24-hour hotline that connects callers to a live representative and creates a record for Planning Code Compliance staff.

What residents can report

County officials specifically identify excessive noise, disruptive parties, occupancy concerns, parking, vehicle impacts and trash accumulation. The service is designed to document concerns so code-compliance officers can follow up and determine whether rental permit rules are being followed.

The county says it oversees approximately 950 permitted short-term rentals in areas outside incorporated city governments. Permits are capped both countywide and in designated districts. A complaint does not automatically establish that a property violated the law, and this phone service is not a substitute for police or emergency reporting.

How to find the number and whether your home is covered

The October 21 county release does not print a hotline number. It directs the public to the county’s short-term rental rules and Planning Division, and says the number will appear on required signs for new and renewing short-term rental permits during phased implementation. Rather than invent a phone number, California58 directs readers to the official county portal or the posted permit signage.

Source: Santa Cruz County short-term rental hotline announcement, October 21. This countywide unincorporated-area service should not automatically be described as the complaint process for rentals within the city of Santa Cruz or Watsonville.

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