Short-Term Rentals in Clovis, CA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Clovis or are thinking about moving there, short-term rentals are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Clovis has 6 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of short-term rentals, and some of them might surprise you.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Clovis treats short-term rentals as a home occupation requiring city approval before operation. Section 9.58.065(G) bars advertising a dwelling as a short-term rental unless a home occupation permit has been approved, and every ad must display the permit number.

Key details: Permit required before renting: Home occupation permit, Ch. 9.58. Advertising rule: Must show city permit number. Neighbor notice: Within 10 days of permit issuance. Certification deadline: 30 days, under penalty of perjury. Multi-family cap: 1 short-term rental per address.

Advertising or operating a short-term rental without an approved home occupation permit, or omitting the permit number from an advertisement, violates Section 9.58.065(G) and is enforceable under the general Municipal Code penalty in Section 1.2.01, a misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail, or an escalating infraction fine of $100 to $500, and Section 1.7 authorizes administrative citations for the same conduct.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Clovis actively enforces its short-term rental permits requirements.

Host Presence Rule

Clovis short-term rental owners or a designated local contact must be reachable by phone 24/7 while the unit is rented and must physically reach the property within 45 minutes of a complaint from an enforcement officer or police.

Key details: Availability requirement: 24/7 phone availability while rented. On-site response time: 45 minutes of enforcement contact. Who qualifies: Owner or designated local contact person. Owner liability: Not relieved by using an agent/contact. Governing section: Clovis Municipal Code § 9.58.065(D).

Failing to answer complaints around the clock, or failing to reach the property within 45 minutes of a request from an enforcement officer or Clovis Police, is grounds for penalties under Section 9.58.065(D) 'as set forth in this chapter and/or Chapter 7 of Title 1,' plus the general Municipal Code penalty in Section 1.2.01: a misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail, or an infraction with escalating fines of $100, $200, and $500 for repeat violations within a year.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Clovis actively enforces its host presence rule requirements.

Noise Rules

Clovis bars amplified or reproduced sound audible outside a short-term rental unit between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m., and separately makes any loud or unusual noise disturbing the neighborhood's peace unlawful for occupants, owners, and local contacts alike.

Key details: Quiet hours: 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. daily. Amplified sound: Banned outside/audible outside unit. Outdoor pool/spa use: Barred during quiet hours. General noise ban: Cross-references Ch. 5.27, Art. 6. Owner duty: Must abate occupant disturbances.

Amplified sound audible outside a short-term rental unit during quiet hours, disruptive outdoor pool or spa use overnight, or any loud noise disturbing the neighborhood's peace violates Section 9.58.065(N), (O), and (Q), enforceable under the general Municipal Code penalty in Section 1.2.01: a misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail, or an infraction with escalating fines of $100, $200, and $500 for repeat violations within a year, plus possible permit revocation under Section 9.58.090.

Taxes & Fees

Every short-term rental in Clovis owes the city's 12% transient occupancy tax on top of maintaining a valid business registration, under Municipal Code Section 9.58.065(T) and Section 3.3.403(a). The tax applies to the full rent charged, whether paid directly or through a booking platform, and is separate from the short-term rental home occupation permit itself.

Key details: Transient occupancy tax rate: 12% of rent. Effective date of 12% rate: January 1, 2023. Business registration: Required at all times. Late payment penalty: 10% (plus 10% more after 30 days). Fraud penalty: 25% additional.

An operator who fails to remit the tax on time owes a 10% penalty under Section 3.3.408(a), plus a second 10% penalty if the remittance is still delinquent thirty days later, and a 25% fraud penalty if the Tax Administrator finds the nonpayment was intentional, on top of 1.5% monthly interest on the unpaid tax. Operating a short-term rental without the required Clovis business registration or without collecting and remitting the transient occupancy tax is a separate violation from the underlying home occupation permit requirement in Section 9.58.065.

Occupancy Limits

Clovis STR occupancy typically capped at 2 persons per bedroom plus 2, with a hard max set by permit. Events/parties exceeding cap prohibited.

Key details: Formula: 2 per bedroom + 2. 3BR Max: 8 overnight. Events: Prohibited w/o permit. Daytime Guests: Often 2x limit. Violation: $500+.

Overcrowding: $500+ and permit probation. Unpermitted event: $1,000+ and possible revocation.

Compared to other cities, Clovis takes a harder line on occupancy limits. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

STR permits typically require one off-street parking space per bedroom. On-street overflow discouraged; RV/trailer parking by guests prohibited per CMC.

Key details: Off-Street Spaces: 1 per bedroom (2 min). On-Street Overflow: Discouraged. RV/Trailer: Not permitted. Hydrant Block: Tow immediate. Enforcement: Clovis PD + Code.

Parking violation $50-$100 tow-eligible. STR permit noted for repeat incidents.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Clovis actively enforces its short-term rental parking rules requirements.

The Bottom Line

Clovis is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 6 rules covered here, 4 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Clovis, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Clovis's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.