Short-Term Rentals in Buena Park, CA (2026)

10 verified short-term rentals rules for Buena Park, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Permit Requirements

The City of Buena Park requires a short-term rental permit, a passed home inspection, and a city business license before renting any residential unit for 29 days or less. Only an owner who resides on the property may apply, whole-home rentals are banned, and only one permit is allowed per individual citywide.

Buena Park Short-Term Rental Permit (§ 19.348.080)

Heavy Restrictions

Buena Park Municipal Code § 19.348.080(B), (C) (Ord. No. 1675)

Short-term rental means the renting of any portion of any structure or residential dwelling unit for a period of not less than 12 hours and for a maximum of 29 consecutive days to a particular occupant. No short-term rental may operate without a permit as required by this Section 19.348 of the Buena Park Municipal Code.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

Buena Park short-term rental house rules set quiet hours from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Renters and guests may not create unreasonable noise, disturbances, or disorderly conduct, and the unit may not be used for weddings, auctions, or commercial events. The host must call police if guests fail to comply.

Buena Park STR Quiet Hours (10 p.m. - 7 a.m.)

Heavy Restrictions

Buena Park Municipal Code § 19.348.080(E)(5)(e)-(f) (Ord. No. 1675)

Quiet times shall be from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. The renters and/or guests of the short-term rental shall not create unreasonable noise or disturbances, engage in disorderly conduct, or violate provisions of this Code or any State law pertaining to noise or disorderly conduct.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Buena Park short-term rental hosts must remit a 12% transient occupancy tax under Municipal Code Chapter 3.16. The permit costs $300 to apply (plus a $100 inspection fee) and $300 to renew every three years, and the business license is charged at $22.50 per year plus a $10 zoning compliance fee.

Buena Park STR Taxes & Fees (12% TOT, Chapter 3.16)

Heavy Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Parking Rules

Buena Park requires all short-term rental guest and host parking to be accommodated on-site as shown on the permit application; the FAQ confirms guests cannot rely on street parking. Required garage spaces must be kept available for operable vehicles, and limousine or bus parking that blocks emergency vehicle access is prohibited.

Buena Park STR Parking - All On-Site

Heavy Restrictions

Buena Park Municipal Code § 19.348.080(C)(2)(e) (Ord. No. 1675)

The maximum number of vehicles allowed for overnight occupants, including host's and other long-term residents' vehicles and location of designated on-site parking spaces. All required garage spaces will be used for storage of operable vehicles.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Buena Park caps short-term rental occupancy at two adults per bedroom plus two additional adults for the whole unit. Children under 18 are not counted toward the maximum. STRs are allowed only in single-family residential dwellings, day-use is prohibited, and the maximum number of occupants is fixed in the permit.

Buena Park STR Occupancy Limits (2 per bedroom + 2)

Heavy Restrictions

Buena Park Municipal Code § 19.348.080(E)(13) (Ord. No. 1675)

Maximum occupancy of a residential unit with an active short term rental permit shall be limited to 2 (two) adults per bedroom and 2 (two) additional adults for the entire unit. There is no occupancy limitation on the number of accompanied children under the age of eighteen.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

Buena Park short-term rental hosts must maintain liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 covering the rental, unless it is offered through a hosting platform that maintains equal or greater coverage. Proof of insurance (or a quote) is required with the application, along with a hold-harmless and indemnification agreement.

Buena Park STR Insurance - $1,000,000 Liability

Heavy Restrictions

Buena Park Municipal Code § 19.348.080(E)(12) (Ord. No. 1675)

A host shall maintain liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 to cover each short-term rental unless such short-term rental is offered through a hosting platform that maintains equal or greater coverage.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Night Caps

Buena Park sets no maximum number of bookings or nights per year for a permitted STR. Instead it limits supply: no STR may be within 300 feet of another, only one permit is allowed per individual, and the permit can be revoked if the unit is NOT rented at least 10 total days in any 12-month period.

Buena Park STR Night Caps - No Max, but 300 ft Spacing & Minimum Use

Heavy Restrictions

Buena Park Municipal Code § 19.348.080(D)(3), (E)(16) (Ord. No. 1675)

Property line of the property that is the subject of the permit application shall not be within 300 feet of the nearest property line of any other short-term rental (approved or conditionally approved by the Director pursuant to this section). Only one short-term rental permit within the City, per individual shall be in effect at any time.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Registration Rules

Buena Park STR applicants apply on a city form (via the Deckard/Host Compliance portal) and must submit proof the host resides at the property, a floor-plan sketch, parking details, hold-harmless and house-rules acknowledgments, and an HOA letter of no objection if applicable. The city-issued permit number must appear in every listing or advertisement.

Buena Park STR Registration & Application Documents

Heavy Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

Buena Park requires the host to live on-site, and the host or an authorized agent must be reachable by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week whenever the STR is rented and must be physically on the premises within one hour of being notified of any compliance or health-and-safety issue.

Buena Park STR Host Presence & 24/7 Contact

Heavy Restrictions

Buena Park Municipal Code § 19.348.080(E)(15) (Ord. No. 1675)

The host or the authorized agent must be available to the Enforcement Officer and the renter, by telephone 24 hours per day, 7 days per week when the short-term rental is rented. The host or authorized agent must be on the premises of the short-term rental unit within one hour of being notified that there is a need for the host or the authorized agent to address an issue of permit compliance or...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Buena Park allows short-term rentals only in the host's primary residence. The owner must reside on the property, whole-home rentals are banned, and only a person (not a corporation or LLC) holding fee title may hold a permit. ADUs cannot be rented, and a property with an ADU cannot operate an STR at all.

Buena Park STR - Primary Residence / Owner-Occupied Only

Heavy Restrictions

Buena Park Municipal Code § 19.348.080(E)(2) (Ord. No. 1675)

The host is required to reside on the property on which the short-term rental is located. Further, a sleeping area must, at a minimum, include shared use of a full bathroom.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Buena Park city rules.

Short-Term Rentals in Orange County →