Primary-Residence-Only Rule
Davis does not require a short-term rental to be the host's primary residence. No adopted ordinance imposes an owner-occupancy rule, though accessory dwelling units cannot be rented for under 30 days.
Short-Term Rentals in Davis, CA (2026)
10 verified short-term rentals rules for Davis, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Permit Requirements
Davis has no dedicated short-term rental permit ordinance. Instead, hosts must hold a city business license, register the rental if not owner-occupied, and remit the transient occupancy tax on stays of 30 days or less.
Davis Short-Term Rental Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsNoise Rules
Davis applies its general noise and nuisance ordinances to short-term rentals. There is no STR-specific quiet-hour rule; hosts and guests must comply with the citywide noise regulations that cover all properties.
Davis Short-Term Rental Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsTaxes & Fees
Davis levies a 12% transient occupancy tax on stays of 30 nights or less under Municipal Code Chapter 15.05. Operators must also hold a business license, and non-owner-occupied units pay rental-registration fees.
Davis Short-Term Rental Taxes and Fees
Some RestrictionsParking Rules
Davis has no short-term-rental-specific parking requirement. STR guests follow the same on-street parking and residential zoning parking rules that apply citywide, enforced through the general municipal code.
Davis Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsOccupancy Limits
Davis has no short-term-rental-specific occupancy cap in its code. Guest numbers are governed instead by the building and housing codes and general nuisance rules; a proposed 2015 cap was never adopted.
Davis Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits
Some RestrictionsInsurance Requirements
Davis imposes no short-term-rental-specific insurance mandate in its municipal code. Hosts should carry appropriate liability coverage, but no city ordinance requires a minimum policy amount.
Davis Short-Term Rental Insurance Requirements
Few RestrictionsNight Caps
Davis has no adopted annual night cap on short-term rentals. A 2015 draft proposing a 90-day or 25%-of-days limit was never enacted, so no such limit is in force today.
Davis Short-Term Rental Night Caps
Few RestrictionsRegistration Rules
Davis requires residential rentals to register under the Rental Resources Program (Municipal Code Article 18.11). Owners living more than 50 miles away must list a local contact who can act for the owner.
Davis Rental Registration Rules for Short-Term Rentals
Some RestrictionsHost Presence Rule
Davis imposes no host-presence requirement on short-term rentals. Whole-home and hosted rentals are both allowed, but out-of-area owners must name a local contact within 50 miles under the rental-registration rules.
Davis Short-Term Rental Host-Presence Rules
Few RestrictionsLooking for Yolo County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Davis city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Yolo County →