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Short-Term Rentals in Pacifica, CA (2026)

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

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

No one may operate a short-term rental in the City of Pacifica without a permit issued under Municipal Code Section 9-4.4904. The Administrator reviews a detailed application, a signed safety declaration, a life-safety inspection and proof the site meets the Section 9-4.4903 site standards before issuing a permit, and the citywide count is capped at 150 permits at a time.

Short-Term Rental Permit Required in Pacifica

Significant Restrictions

Pacifica Municipal Code § 9-4.4904

Subject to those requirements in Section 9-4.4903 and subject to the short-term rental permit cap specified in Section 9-4.4902, a short-term rental permit along with a short-term rental permit number may be approved and issued by the Administrator, provided that the Administrator determines the applicant has met the following requirements: (a)Application. Any person seeking to operate a short-...

Noise Rules

In the City of Pacifica, short-term renters may not make excessive or loud noise during quiet hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily under Pacifica Municipal Code Sec. 9-4.4905(o), and every operator must install a continuously operating exterior noise monitor to help enforce compliance under Sec. 9-4.4905(r).

Pacifica STR Quiet Hours and Noise Monitor Rule

Some Restrictions

Pacifica Municipal Code Sec. 9-4.4905(o), (q), (r)

(o)Short-term renters shall not make any excessive or loud noise during quiet hours from 10:00 p.m.— ... 00 a.m. daily; ... (q)In addition to the noise standards identified in Chapter 10 of Title 5 and Chapter 28 of Title 5 of this Code, no radio receiver, musical instrument, phonograph, compact disk player, loudspeaker, karaoke machine, sound amplifier, or any machine, device or equipment that...

Taxes & Fees

Every Pacifica short-term rental operator owes two separate City payments on top of the rental permit itself: the citywide 15 percent transient occupancy tax under Chapter 7 of Title 3, and a standard business license and its tax under Chapter 1 of Title 3, both required under § 9-4.4905(j)-(k) for the entire period the unit is rented short term.

Pacifica Short-Term Rental Taxes and License Fees

Some Restrictions

Pacifica Municipal Code § 9-4.4905(j)-(k)

(j)Each person operating a short-term rental shall comply with the transient occupancy tax requirements set forth in Chapter 7 of Title 3 (Transient Occupancy Tax) of this Code, and shall obtain a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate pursuant to Section 3.7-06 for the entire period of time the site is used as a short-term rental;(k)Each person operating a short-term rental shall obtain ...

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

In the City of Pacifica, every short-term rental must provide at least one off-street parking space per legally permitted bedroom, dedicated to short-term renters for the length of the stay, under Pacifica Municipal Code Sec. 9-4.4905(s).

Pacifica STR One-Space-Per-Bedroom Parking Rule

Some Restrictions

Pacifica Municipal Code Sec. 9-4.4905(s)

(s)The short-term rental must provide at least one (1) off-street parking space per legally permitted bedroom that is being utilized as a short-term rental, which shall be dedicated and available to short-term renters during the period of the rental;

Occupancy Limits

Pacifica caps overnight occupancy at every short-term rental to two renters per legally permitted bedroom. Municipal Code Section 9-4.4905(m) excludes children under six from that count, and the same operation-requirements section separately limits visitors to half the maximum renter count and restricts visiting hours to between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits in Pacifica

Some Restrictions

Pacifica Municipal Code § 9-4.4905(m)

(m)Maximum overnight occupancy for all short-term rentals shall not exceed two (2) short-term renters per legally permitted bedroom. Children under the age of six (6) shall not count towards these occupancy limits;

Insurance Requirements

A Pacifica short-term rental permit application is not complete without proof of insurance. Municipal Code Section 9-4.4904(a)(xi) lists an insurance certificate for the site as one of twelve mandatory application items, alongside a signed affidavit confirming the operator will keep the rental in compliance with the article and every other applicable municipal code provision.

Short-Term Rental Insurance Proof Required in Pacifica

Some Restrictions

Pacifica Municipal Code § 9-4.4904(a)(xi)

The application form will include, at a minimum, the following information: ... x.Proof that the operator has installed a noise monitor on the exterior of the short-term rental in a location to ensure that accurate noise levels can be taken by the noise monitor;xi.Proof of insurance or insurance certificate for the site.

Night Caps

In the City of Pacifica, an unhosted short-term rental, one with no host present, may operate no more than 60 nights per year, on a cycle running October 31 to October 30, under Pacifica Municipal Code Sec. 9-4.4905(v)(i). Unhosted rentals also carry a mandatory two-night minimum stay and are barred entirely from multi-family developments.

Pacifica Unhosted STR 60-Night Annual Cap

Some Restrictions

Pacifica Municipal Code Sec. 9-4.4905(v)(i)

(v)Unhosted short-term rentals. The following additional operation requirements shall apply only to unhosted short-term rentals:i.An unhosted short-term rental shall be operated no more than sixty (60) nights per year, commencing on October 31 of each year and ending October 30 of each year.

Host Presence Rule

In the City of Pacifica, a hosted short-term rental operator must physically be on-site between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. whenever the property is being used as a short-term rental. This overnight presence requirement applies only to hosted rentals under Pacifica Municipal Code Sec. 9-4.4905(l) and is enforced by the Assistant City Manager as Administrator of the short-term rental permit program.

Pacifica Hosted STR On-Site Presence Rule

Some Restrictions

Pacifica Municipal Code Sec. 9-4.4905(l)

i."Hosted short-term rental" means a short-term rental use where a resident, who is the operator and acting as a host, occupies one or more bedrooms in a dwelling unit while other areas of the dwelling unit or main residence on the site are rented for the purpose of transient overnight lodging. ... (l)The operator of a hosted short-term rental must be on-site between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and...

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Every short-term rental permit in the City of Pacifica requires the operator to actually live at the rental property as a primary residence. Municipal Code Section 9-4.4903(c) requires at least three forms of documentation proving occupancy for more than six months of the year, including a state or federal ID, before the City will issue a permit.

Short-Term Rental Operators Must Live On-Site in Pacifica

Significant Restrictions

Pacifica Municipal Code § 9-4.4903(c)

(c)Each operator operating a short-term rental shall have their primary residence at the site of the short-term rental. To prove primary residency, the operator must provide at least three (3) forms of documentation to the Administrator evidencing that the site of the short-term rental is their primary residence for more than six (6) months of the year. A State or Federally issued identificatio...

Repeat Violator Strikes

In the City of Pacifica, a short-term rental permit is revoked once the site accrues two violations of Article 49 within a 12-month period. Pacifica Municipal Code Sec. 9-4.4908(b)(iii) and Sec. 9-4.4909(e) both make a second violation mandatory grounds for revocation by the Administrator.

Pacifica STR Two-Strike Permit Revocation Rule

Significant Restrictions

Pacifica Municipal Code Sec. 9-4.4908(b)(iii); Sec. 9-4.4909(e)

iii.That two (2) violations of this article have occurred on the site within the preceding twelve (12) months; ... (e)Revocation. In addition to the fines and penalties imposed by this section, upon a second violation of this article within a twelve (12) consecutive month period, the Administrator shall revoke the short-term rental permit.

Host Platform Liability

In the City of Pacifica, advertising platforms listing short-term rentals must disclose listing details to the City and may not complete a booking for any rental not on the City's short-term rental registry, under Pacifica Municipal Code Sec. 9-4.4911.

Pacifica STR Advertising Platform Responsibilities

Some Restrictions

Pacifica Municipal Code Sec. 9-4.4911(a)-(c)

(a)Subject to applicable laws, advertising platforms shall disclose to the City on a regular basis each short-term rental listing located in the City, the names of the persons responsible for each such listing, the address of each such listing, the length of stay for each such listing and the price paid for each stay.(b)Advertising platforms shall not complete any booking transaction for any sh...

Looking for San Mateo County county-wide rules?

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

Short-Term Rentals in San Mateo County