Occupancy Limits: Castro Valley vs Oakland
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Castro Valley, CA and Oakland, CA?
Castro Valley has fewer restrictions than Oakland.
Castro Valley, CA
Alameda County
Unincorporated Alameda County does not set an STR-specific occupancy cap but enforces building code, fire code, and nuisance rules that effectively limit total guests based on bedrooms and egress.
View full Castro Valley rules →Oakland, CA
Alameda County
Under OMC Chapter 5.96, Oakland short-term rentals are capped at 2 overnight guests per bedroom plus 2 additional, with a hard maximum of 10 overnight guests per property regardless of size. Hosted (host-occupied) and unhosted STRs follow the same per-bedroom caps, and the ordinance prohibits using STRs for parties, events, or commercial gatherings.
View full Oakland rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Castro Valley | Oakland |
|---|---|---|
| Numeric STR cap | Not set in county code | - |
| Building code | Egress and alarm requirements apply | - |
| Common formula | 2 per bedroom plus 2 (industry norm) | - |
| Nuisance rules | Apply to over-occupancy impacts | - |
| Events and parties | Additional restrictions may apply | - |
| - | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Castro Valley FAQ
Can I rent a sofa bed as a bedroom?
Only legal, permitted bedrooms should count toward maximum occupancy; using a living room as a bedroom can violate egress rules.
Are party-sized bookings allowed?
Large events at an STR can trigger nuisance, parking, and noise enforcement and most hosts prohibit them in house rules.
Oakland FAQ
Compare other topics
See how Castro Valley and Oakland compare on other ordinance categories.
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