California Travel and COVID-19 updates:
- On January, 25, the state lifted the regional and limited stay-at-home orders, allowing restaurants in several counties to reopen for outdoor dining and other services and short-term rentals affected by the order may begin operating starting January 26, 2021.
- Restrictions have been lessened in Southern California, the Bay Area and San Joaquin Valley regions. Although, some local officials have adopted stronger restrictions in response.
- The state removed the curfew that was in place.
- A statewide mask mandate remains in place.
- The majority of California counties remains in Tier 1, where “most nonessential indoor business operations are closed”
- San Francisco and Santa Clara counties have ordered a mandatory, 10-day quarantine for people coming from outside their region.
Updated 02/05/2020
As the U.S. begins to reopen following many shelter-in-place orders instituted in mid-March, vacation rental bans and restrictions across major cities have left property owners and guests searching for clear answers. California short-term rental restrictions put in place due to COVID-19 concerns have been particularly difficult to navigate, both for travelers and vacation rental owners alike.
At TurnKey, our local team of experts has been tracking and updating our calendars in real time to operate in full compliance with these restrictions. So we created this resource for travelers and homeowners to learn more about this complicated situation.
Here’s everything you need to know about vacation rental restrictions in California since COVID-19 and during its phased reopening. We will update this page as travel continues to resume and destinations reopen.
Recent History of California COVID-19 Restrictions
On March 19, 2020, under the direction of Governor Gavin Newsom, the State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health issued a statewide order requiring Californians to stay at home to limit the spread of COVID-19. Since then, the reopening of California has been scattered throughout its 58 counties, with some counties reopening sooner and with fewer restrictions than others.
- Stay Home Order
- On March 19, 2020, an Executive Order (PDF) and Public Health Order (PDF) directed all Californians to stay home except to go to an essential job or to shop for essential needs. It was modified on May 4, 2020.
- Blueprint for a Safer Economy
- On August 28, 2020, the State released the Blueprint for a Safer Economy to permit the gradual reopening of certain businesses and activities.
- On January 25, 2021, the Blueprint for a Safer Economy was reinstated after the Regional Stay at Home Order was lifted.
- Limited Stay Home Order
- As of November 21, 2020, Californians in counties in the Tier 1/Widespread (purple) tier are directed to stop non-essential activities between 10PM and 5AM. To find out if this order applies to your county, see the county map.
- Regional Stay Home Order
- On December 3, 2020, Governor Newsom issued a Regional Stay Home Order that will go into effect at 11:59 PM the day after a region has been announced to have less than 15% ICU availability.
- On December 6, 2020, Governor Newsom issued an additional supplemental order that goes into effect immediately.
The regional stay-at-home order enforces counties with critically low ICU capacity to enforce new restrictions. The restrictions are as follows:
- Blue Regions (affected by the Stay at Home Order) are regions that have reached an ICU capacity below 15%
- Once triggered, these regions must prohibit gatherings of any size, close operations except for critical infrastructure and retail, and require 100% masking and physical distancing.
- Restaurants can remain open for takeout and delivery but not in person dining
- All retail is allowed to remain open at 20% capacity
- Hair salons, barbershops, personal services businesses, bars, and wineries must close
- Offices can remain open only for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible
- Hotels and lodging can remain open for critical infrastructure support only
- Vacation Rentals are still allowed to operate for in-state travel as well as interstate travel for essential travel unless specifically restricted in county order.
In January, all four Regions that were subject to the Regional Stay Home Order have exited because their projected four-week ICU capacity is above 15%. The Regional Stay at Home Order was officially lifted on January 25, 2021.
Are vacation rentals open in California?
It depends on the tier level of the county you own property in. According to the California COVID-19 website, in Tier 1 tourism and hotels for individual travel remain open with modifications.
Every county in California is assigned to a tier based on its test positivity and adjusted case rate. Currently, the Regional Stay Home Order has been lifted and counties within regions affected by the order return to the appropriate tier and rules under the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
Here’s a breakdown of the state orders in place:
Past orders:
We created this resource to help guests and homeowners navigate market restrictions, closings, extensions and openings while the rules around STR operations continue to change across the US
What is open in California?
According to Visit California, “theme parks remain closed, and large spectator events and conventions are forbidden.”
What is open?
Most hotels, campgrounds, RV parks, restaurants, wineries, museums, family entertainment centers, retail operations, beaches and national parks, including Yosemite National Park, are open or in the process of reopening, with restrictions.
Visitors should call ahead to their intended destination to learn about local restrictions. To find local guidance, here is a collection of California’s local and regional tourism offices.
Can I operate my vacation rental in California?
The operation of your vacation rental in California depends upon where your properties are located and who you plan to allow to visit.
Different counties continue to impose a variety of restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19, including minimum night stays and not allowing out-of-state travelers.
Make sure you visit your local and national government sites for the most current and updated information on the area of interest.
If you are a TurnKey homeowner, we have a team of local experts in each of our markets updating booking calendars and ensuring compliance with any STR restrictions in real-time.
For more information on regulations in specific counties, you can contact The California Department of Public Health or other local agencies directly.
Are vacation rentals safe?
If you plan to travel in the coming months, vacation rentals can provide private accommodations away from crowded public spaces or gathering areas, like hotel lobbies. This increases your ability to social distance and avoid groups of 10 or more people, which is still viewed as a best practice for mitigating the spread of COVID-19.
Some vacation rentals also offer keyless entry, to avoid in-person interactions when accessing the home. All TurnKey vacation rentals come equipped with keyless locks, offering a zero-contact check-in experience. In addition, unless there is an emergency, our local staff will not visit the home when a guest is present.
To travel safely you should bring your own groceries and provisions with you, listen to local guidelines like wearing a mask in public and practicing social distancing, take the same precautions that you would at home, and check the cleaning guidelines for where you plan to stay.
TurnKey Vacation Rentals’ enhanced home cleaning standards
In response to COVID-19, we have enhanced our cleaning standards in line with CDC guidelines, and to verify the use of products approved by the EPA for use against COVID-19.
- Please click here to read about our enhanced cleaning standards
- Please click here to review the CDC’s guidance on COVID-19
In addition, here are some recommendations for traveling safely and responsibly (view the full article here):
- Plan ahead to avoid unnecessary exposure while running essential errands.
- Practice social distancing at public areas and shared amenities.
- Protect yourself and others by bringing face masks, hand sanitizers, cleaning supplies, and other items to follow safety guidelines as closely and stress-free as possible.
- Respect neighbors and local communities through social distancing and keeping noise at respectful levels, especially at night or early in the morning.
- Check state and local updates on recommended behavior.
