It depends on the city, and the answer swings from banned to open. Irvine and Temecula prohibit short-term rentals outright and Huntington Beach allows only hosted stays for new permits, while Simi Valley adopted rules in June 2026 that allow whole-home rentals with a permit, San Diego still has whole-home licenses left under its cap (807 as of October 23, 2026) and unincorporated Riverside County issues certificates for $740. Almost everywhere a stay under 30 nights needs a permit and carries hotel tax of about 10% to 15%.
By the Villa Home Studios team · Updated
Each city sets its own rules. Unincorporated areas follow the county.
Many cities allow hosted stays in the home you live in but ban whole homes you don't.
San Diego, Dana Point, Ventura, Laguna Beach and Palm Springs limit how many permits exist.
Stays of 30 nights or less pay a transient occupancy tax, often 10% plus a tourism assessment.
Irvine fines up to $1,500 a day and Temecula up to $1,000 a day for unpermitted rentals.
Where short stays are banned, furnished stays of 30 nights or more usually fall under normal rental rules.
Orange County is the strictest part of Southern California. Most of the coast either caps permits or keeps rentals out of residential streets:
| City | Whole home you don't live in | Permit and fee | Limits | Hotel tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irvine | Not allowed in any residential zone | None; fines of $1,500 a day | Advertising is banned too | Not applicable |
| Huntington Beach | Not allowed for new permits (hosted only; Sunset Beach units grandfathered) | STR permit, $624 application | One permit per host | 10% plus 4% tourism assessment |
| Laguna Beach | Not allowed in residential zones; some commercial districts only | Administrative Use Permit | 300 citywide, plus 165 owner-occupied home-shares | Registration required |
| Dana Point | Allowed under caps, with a waitlist | STR permit; HOA proof in the Coastal Zone | 115 in the Coastal Zone; 115 outside (60 non-primary) | Registration required |
| San Clemente | Only in certain mixed-use and multifamily zones | Zoning permit $140, operating license $105 a year | Under 20% of units in the zone | 10% |
| Newport Beach | Allowed in certain residential districts | Short Term Lodging Permit and business license | Check the city's cap | Registration required |
| Costa Mesa | Prohibited by a 2021 ordinance | None | Confirm current status with the city | Not applicable |
| Anaheim | New residential permits stopped in 2016 | STR permit and business tax certificate where still allowed | 3-night minimum | 15% |
Ventura County is the newest opening in Southern California, right next to the West San Fernando Valley:
| Place | Whole home you don't live in | Permit and fee | Limits | Hotel tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simi Valley | Allowed under Ordinance 1370 (adopted June 8, 2026) | Annual STR permit, inspection, $500,000 insurance, 200-foot neighbor notice | One permit per person; no events; noise monitor | Certificate and quarterly returns |
| City of Ventura | Allowed in capped zones (355 non-owner-occupied permits proposed) | STR permit; renewal $1,526 plus $574 inspection | 2-night minimum; no ADUs | 10% |
| Oxnard | Allowed with a permit | $2,614.25 application (3 bedrooms), $810 renewal | Separation rules | Registration required |
| Unincorporated Ventura County | Allowed with a Temporary Rental Unit permit | Annual permit, compliance deposit, $500,000 insurance | One per owner; 10 guests, 5 bedrooms; no ADUs | Registration required |
| Thousand Oaks | No city short-term rental ordinance found | Ask the city before hosting | Not stated | 10% |
Inland and mountain markets are mostly open, with caps:
Yes, for now. The City of San Diego caps whole-home rentals (Tier 3) at 1% of housing units; 4,854 licenses were issued and 807 remained on October 23, 2026. Mission Beach (Tier 4) is full and its waitlist is closed. A Tier 3 license costs $41 to apply plus $1,129 for two years, requires a 2-night minimum stay, and allows one license per host. Homes rented 20 days a year or less use the cheaper Tier 1 license ($33 plus $193).
Look at furnished stays of 30 nights or more. Traveling nurses, film crews, families between homes and insurance relocations book monthly stays, and in most cities those fall under ordinary rental rules instead of the short-term rental ordinance. Your home can also earn from film and photo productions, which use a film permit rather than a rental permit. Ask us what fits your address.
No. Irvine prohibits short-term rentals (under 31 days) in all residential zones, bans advertising them, and fines up to $1,500 a day.
Yes, with an annual permit. Simi Valley adopted Ordinance 1370 on June 8, 2026, allowing hosted and unhosted short-term rentals with an inspection, $500,000 in insurance, a neighbor notice for unhosted rentals and one permit per person.
Yes. The City of San Diego reported 807 whole-home (Tier 3) licenses remaining on October 23, 2026, out of a cap of 1% of housing units. Mission Beach licenses are full.
Only as a hosted rental for new permits: you must live there. Non-hosted rentals are limited to existing Sunset Beach units. The permit application is $624 and hotel tax is 10% plus a 4% tourism assessment.
Not in the City of Temecula, where short-term rentals are prohibited. Temecula Wine Country outside city limits is unincorporated Riverside County, which issues capped STR certificates.
Yes. Stays of 30 nights or less usually pay a transient occupancy tax: for example 15% in Anaheim, 10% in San Clemente, Ventura and Thousand Oaks, 10% plus 4% in Huntington Beach, and 11.5% plus 1% in Palm Springs.
Sources, checked October 30, 2026: City of Irvine short-term rental page; Huntington Beach STR FAQ (March 9, 2023); Laguna Beach Municipal Code Ch. 25.23; Dana Point Permit Center; San Clemente short-term lodging page; Newport Beach short-term rentals; Costa Mesa Ordinance 2021-17; Anaheim FAQ and TOT page; Simi Valley Ordinance 1370; City of Ventura STVR page and July 7, 2026 release; Oxnard code compliance; Ventura County Coastal Zoning Ordinance 8175-5.21; Thousand Oaks TOT page; Visit Greater Palm Springs city guidelines (March 2026); Riverside County Planning short-term rentals; City of Temecula; City of San Diego Office of the City Treasurer (updated October 23, 2026); City of Big Bear Lake TOT page; San Bernardino County STR program. General information, not legal advice.
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