Riverside ADUs may only be rented for terms of 30 days or more, per RMC Chapter 19.442 and California Government Code §65852.2(a)(7). Short-term rentals under 30 days require a separate Short-Term Rental permit under RMC Chapter 5.55, and ADUs created after Jan. 1, 2020 are statutorily ineligible for STR use. Long-term rental is permitted without separate licensing.
California Government Code §65852.2(a)(7) requires that all ADUs permitted after January 1, 2020 be rented only for terms of 30 days or more. Riverside Municipal Code Chapter 19.442 incorporates this 30-day minimum rule into the ADU ordinance, and the City of Riverside has interpreted §65852.2(a)(7) to bar ADUs from being licensed as short-term rentals under RMC Chapter 5.55 (Short-Term Residential Rentals). RMC Chapter 5.55 establishes a permit and registration program for STR operations in the city, including operator certificates, occupancy limits (10 guests on lots up to 0.5 acre; up to 16 guests on lots up to 2 acres), a transient occupancy tax (TOT) collection requirement, a 24/7 local responsible-party contact, and a noise compliance plan tied to RMC Chapter 7.35. Even where STR permits are available for primary dwellings, they are not available for ADUs. Long-term rentals (30+ days) of an ADU do not require a separate license, just standard landlord-tenant compliance under California Civil Code. JADUs are also subject to the 30-day minimum rental rule.
Operating an ADU as a short-term rental violates RMC Chapter 19.442 and Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(7). Riverside Code Enforcement issues citations under RMC Title 1; STR violations under RMC Ch. 5.55 carry administrative fines escalating from $500 to $1,500+ per day. The city monitors Airbnb/VRBO listings and can revoke any STR permit issued in error.
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