Permit Requirements: Chino vs Hesperia
How do permit requirements rules compare between Chino, CA and Hesperia, CA?
Hesperia has fewer restrictions than Chino.
Chino, CA
San Bernardino County
Chino does NOT issue short-term rental permits because STRs are entirely prohibited citywide. Per Chino Municipal Code §20.24.020, a 'short-term rental' is the rental of any residential building or portion thereof for 30 consecutive calendar days or less, and the use is not permitted in any zoning district. The October 2022 ordinance expanded a prior residential-zone-only prohibition into a citywide ban. There is no licensing pathway, no Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) registration for residential property, and no business license category for STRs — applying for one will be refused. Hosting on Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, or any platform is a zoning violation. Only rentals of 30 days or longer are lawful.
View full Chino rules →Hesperia, CA
San Bernardino County
Hesperia has no dedicated short-term rental (STR) ordinance, but operators must hold a city business license under Title 5 and register for the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) under Hesperia Municipal Code Chapter 3.10 (10% of rent on stays of 30 days or less). The city's Rental Housing Business License and Inspection Program (Ch. 5.72) explicitly excludes hotels, motels, and transient lodging under 30 days, leaving STRs governed by general business licensing and TOT registration rather than a stand-alone STR permit. Operators must also obey Title 16 (Development Code) zoning rules for the parcel.
View full Hesperia rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Chino | Hesperia |
|---|---|---|
| Permit available? | No — STRs banned citywide | - |
| Code section | Chino Municipal Code §20.24.020 (STR definition); Title 20 Zoning prohibition | - |
| Ban effective | October 2022 (citywide expansion) | - |
| Fine ceiling | Up to $1,000 per violation per day | - |
| Minimum lawful stay | 31 days | - |
| Enforcement contact | Code Enforcement Division — (909) 334-3263 | - |
| City STR Permit | - | None — general Title 5 business license required |
| TOT Rate | - | 10% (HMC Ch. 3.10) |
| TOT Threshold | - | Stays of 30 days or less (HMC §3.10.030) |
| Rental Housing Program | - | HMC Ch. 5.72 — excludes STRs (under 30 days) |
| Code Portal | - | Municode — library.municode.com/ca/hesperia |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Chino FAQ
Can I get an STR permit if I only rent occasionally?
No. The ban is absolute — there is no occasional-use, hosted-stay, or owner-occupied exception in the Chino Municipal Code. Any rental under 31 days is prohibited regardless of frequency.
What about my existing Airbnb listing?
It must come down. Pre-2022 STR operations were not grandfathered when the citywide ban took effect. Continued listing is a per-day zoning violation enforceable by Chino Code Enforcement.
Hesperia FAQ
Does Hesperia require a special short-term rental permit?
No. As of the latest published Hesperia Municipal Code, there is no dedicated STR ordinance. Operators need a standard city business license (Title 5) and a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate under HMC §3.10.040.
What tax do I collect from guests?
Hesperia imposes a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax on rent for stays of 30 days or less under HMC Chapter 3.10. The host collects it from the guest and remits to the city Finance Division.
Does the Rental Housing Business License program (Ch. 5.72) cover my STR?
No. Ch. 5.72 covers long-term residential rentals and explicitly excludes hotels, motels, and stays under 30 days. STRs remain subject to TOT registration and general business licensing instead.
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