Short-Term Rentals in Irvine, CA (2026)
3 verified short-term rentals rules for Irvine, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Irvine issues no short-term rental permits because the use itself is banned. Zoning Ordinance § 3-25-1 declares short-term rentals a prohibited use in every residential zoning district, and § 3-25-3 makes it unlawful for a 'responsible party' to operate one or to advertise a stay of less than 31 consecutive days. There is no permit path: the prohibition is absolute.
Irvine Short-Term Rental Prohibition
Heavy RestrictionsIrvine, CA Zoning Ordinance §§ 3-25-1, 3-25-3
The purpose of this chapter is to establish that short-term rentals are prohibited uses on any property within the City's residential zones, and within any other zoning district in the city, including all underlying or base zones, overlay zones and adopted specific plans, in which residential uses are a permitted or conditionally permitted use. The amendments to Chapter 3 are express restatemen...
Repeat Violator Strikes
Irvine bans short-term rentals outright in every residential zone under Zoning Ordinance Sec. 3-25-3, so any stay under 31 days is automatically unlawful. Because there's no legal STR to renew, the code instead punishes repeat operators through an escalating fine ladder: $1,500 for a first infraction, $3,000 for a second within a year, and up to $5,000 for each further violation.
Irvine Short-Term Rental Repeat Violation Fines
Heavy RestrictionsIrvine, CA, Municipal Code § 4-13-202(C) (Infraction penalty — short-term rental ordinance)
C.A violation of a short-term rental ordinance that is an infraction is punishable by:1.A fine not exceeding $1,500 for a first violation;2.A fine not exceeding $3,000 for a second violation of the same ordinance within one year;3.A fine not exceeding $5,000 for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one year of the first violation.
Host Platform Liability
Irvine bars hosting platforms, not just hosts, from short-term rental transactions. Zoning Ordinance § 3-25-7(A) prohibits any platform from completing a short-term rental booking in the City, and § 3-25-7(C) bars it from collecting any fee, monetary or not, for facilitating one, including ancillary services like cleaning, catering or property management tied to the stay.
Irvine Hosting Platform Booking Ban
Heavy RestrictionsIrvine, CA Zoning Ordinance § 3-25-7(A), (C)-(E)
A. Hosting platforms shall not complete any booking transaction for short-term rentals in the City. ... C. Hosting platforms shall not collect or receive any compensation, whether monetary or non-monetary, either directly or indirectly through an agent or intermediary, for facilitating or providing any short-term rental in the City, including, but not limited to, any ancillary service related t...
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Irvine city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Orange County →