Lodging, Hotel, and Motel Regulations in Grass Valley
In the City of Grass Valley, hotels and motels are primarily permitted in commercial and industrial zones, with full permission granted in the C-2, C-3, M-1, and M-2 districts. Bed and breakfast inns are more widely distributed, appearing as permitted or conditionally allowed uses in several residential, traditional community, and commercial zones. All lodging types in the City of Grass Valley must adhere to specific parking ratios, typically requiring one space per guest room plus additional spaces for on-site management [Table 3-3].
Permitted Zoning Districts for Hotels and Motels
The City of Grass Valley classifies "Lodging - Hotel" (which includes motels) as an establishment providing guest rooms or suites for transient lodging, often including accessory facilities like pools or restaurants [Section 17.100.020].
The following districts allow for hotel and motel development:
- Permitted (P): Central Business District (C-2), Heavy Commercial (C-3), Light Industrial (M-1), and General Industrial (M-2) [Table 2-10].
- Minor Use Permit (MUP) Required: Town Core (TC), Neighborhood Center (NC), and Neighborhood Center-Flex (NC-Flex) [Table 2.1, 2.2, 2.3].
- Use Permit (UP) Required: Community Business District (C-1), Office Professional (OP), and Corporate Business Park (CBP) [Table 2-10].
Permitted Zoning Districts for Bed and Breakfast Inns (B&Bs)
A Bed and Breakfast Inn in the City of Grass Valley is a residential structure with one or more bedrooms rented for overnight lodging where meals may be provided [Section 17.100.020].
- Permitted (P): Town Core (TC), Central Business District (C-2), Heavy Commercial (C-3), Light Industrial (M-1), and General Industrial (M-2) [Table 2.1, 2.10].
- Minor Use Permit (MUP) Required: Neighborhood Center (NC), Neighborhood Center-Flex (NC-Flex), Neighborhood General 3 (NG-3), and Neighborhood General 2 (NG-2) [Table 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5].
Short-Term Rentals and Vacation Homes
The City of Grass Valley regulates short-term rentals (STRs) to protect the residential character of neighborhoods. Each property is limited to exactly one short-term rental, and these are prohibited in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) [Section 17.44.205].
Hosted Short-Term Rentals
These involve the rental of no more than two bedrooms while the owner or manager remains in residence [Section 17.100.020].
- Permitted (P): Neighborhood Center-Flex (NC-Flex), Neighborhood General 2 (NG-2), Single-Family Residential (R-1), Two-Family Residential (R-2), and Multiple Dwelling Residential (R-3) [Table 2.3, 2.5, 2-7].
- Note: In R-2 and R-3 zones, these are only permitted if they exist in a legally non-conforming single-family dwelling [Section 17.22.030].
Vacation Rental Homes
These involve the rental of an entire dwelling for transient occupancy where the owner is not present [Section 17.100.020].
- Minor Use Permit (MUP) Required: Neighborhood Center-Flex (NC-Flex), Neighborhood General 2 (NG-2), Single-Family Residential (R-1), Two-Family Residential (R-2), and Multiple Dwelling Residential (R-3) [Table 2.3, 2.5, 2-7].
Development Standards for Lodging
Lodging facilities in the City of Grass Valley must comply with the following dimensional and parking standards based on their location and type.
Building Placement and Height Standards
| Zone | Front Build-to Line | Max Height |
|---|---|---|
| Town Core (TC) | 0' | 3 stories / 45' (5 stories with UP) |
| Neighborhood Center (NC) | 0' | 3 stories / 45' |
| Neighborhood Center-Flex (NC-Flex) | 12' | 2.5 stories / 30' |
| Commercial (C-1, C-2, C-3) | None Required | 50' / 4 stories |
| Office Professional (OP) | 15' | 3 ft. plus 2 stories |
| Business Park (CBP) | 20' (from major street) | 35' / 2 stories |
Required Off-Street Parking
| Lodging Type | Vehicle Spaces Required |
|---|---|
| Hotel or Motel | 1 space per unit, plus 2 spaces for manager/owner, plus spaces for accessory uses (e.g., restaurants) |
| Bed & Breakfast Inn | 1 space per guest room, plus 2 spaces for manager/owner |
| Vacation Rental Home | 1 space per guest room (Min. 1 if owner/manager does not occupy) |
| Hosted Short-Term Rental | 1 space per guest room, plus 2 spaces for manager/owner |
Specific Use Regulations for B&Bs and STRs
- B&B Operations: The owner or manager must reside in the inn. If the facility has five or more guest rooms, it must meet current fire and building codes for a capacity of ten or more occupants [Section 17.44.040].
- STR Residency: For vacation rental homes, the owner or manager must live within thirty miles of the property to ensure they can respond to telephone calls on a twenty-four-hour basis [Section 17.44.205].
- STR Signage: No exterior signs advertising the business are allowed on properties used for short-term rentals [Section 17.44.205].
Sections Cited
- Section 17.21.040 - Town core (TC) standards
- Section 17.21.050 - Neighborhood center (NC) standards
- Section 17.21.060 - Neighborhood center flex (NC-Flex) standards
- Section 17.22.030 - Residential zone allowable land uses and permit requirements
- Section 17.44.040 - Bed and breakfast inns (B&Bs)
- Section 17.44.205 - Short-term rentals
- Section 17.100.020 - Definitions of specialized terms and phrases
- Table 2.1 - Town Core (TC) Zone Allowed Land Uses
- Table 2.2 - Neighborhood Center (NC) Zone Allowed Land Uses
- Table 2.3 - Neighborhood Center-Flex (NC-Flex) Zone Allowed Land Uses
- Table 2.4 - Neighborhood General 3 (NG-3) Zone Allowed Land Uses
- Table 2.5 - Neighborhood General 2 (NG-2) Zone Allowed Land Uses
- Table 2-7 - Allowed Land Uses and Permit Requirements for Residential Zones
- Table 2-10 - Allowed Land Uses and Permit Requirements for Commercial and Industrial Zone
- Table 2-11 - C-1, C-2, and C-3 Zone Development Standards
- Table 3-3 - Parking Requirements by Land Use