Humboldt County · checked 2026-09-13
Can you BnB it in Ferndale?
AllowedFerndale's zoning ordinance lists vacation rentals as a principal permitted use in the R1 zone and also names them in the R2 and AE zone use lists, with no permit, occupancy rule or cap attached. The ordinance does not define vacation rental and sets no operating standards, so the city planning office should be asked how it applies the listing in practice.
The rules, with their sources
Permit or licenseNo permit is required; the code has no short-term rental permit program.L15.02.1 · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Primary residenceThe code does not require the rental to be the operator's primary residence.L1Ferndale Zoning Ordinance sections 5.02.1 (R1 principal permitted uses), R2 zone use list, 5.13.1 (AE zone), 3.12 (bed and breakfast inns definition), 3.83 (transient definition). The city ordinance index lists Ordinance 02-02 Zoning Ordinance dated 06-01-2014. · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Transfer when the home sellsCode silent on transfer. Ferndale creates no vacation rental permit or licence; the use is simply listed as principally permitted in the zone, which means the right attaches to the land rather than to a person. Because there is no permit, nothing would lapse on a sale, but the ordinance says nothing explicit.L1Ferndale Zoning Ordinance sections 5.02.1 (R1 principal permitted uses), R2 zone use list, 5.13.1 (AE zone), 3.12 (bed and breakfast inns definition), 3.83 (transient definition). The city ordinance index lists Ordinance 02-02 Zoning Ordinance dated 06-01-2014. · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Read the code text →
In the city's own words
5.02.1“Principal permitted uses: a. Single-family dwellings. b. Boarding of not more than two (2) persons not employed on the premises. c. Keeping no more than four (4) household pets for each dwelling unit. d. Vacation rentals. e. Small employee housing.” source
3.12“A home occupation for a residential dwelling occupied by a resident person or family, containing one bedroom with separate bathroom occupied on a transient basis for compensation [...]” source
Citation: Ferndale Zoning Ordinance sections 5.02.1 (R1 principal permitted uses), R2 zone use list, 5.13.1 (AE zone), 3.12 (bed and breakfast inns definition), 3.83 (transient definition). The city ordinance index lists Ordinance 02-02 Zoning Ordinance dated 06-01-2014.
Check a specific address
The checker resolves any California address to its jurisdiction and returns these rules with their verification level. Where a county or city publishes a licensed-rental registry or parcel map (Riverside County, San Diego, Palm Springs, and a growing list), it also runs parcel spacing, permit cap, and registry checks.
How this page was verified
Verified from the municipal code (level 1), checked on 2026-09-13 by the CanIBnB research desk. Research is AI assisted and human reviewed; the method, the level system, and the re-check schedule are on the How we verify page. If anything here is wrong, report it and it goes in the public corrections log.