Primary-Residence-Only Rule: Chino vs Rialto
How do primary-residence-only rule rules compare between Chino, CA and Rialto, CA?
Chino and Rialto have similar restriction levels.
Chino, CA
San Bernardino County
Many California cities (e.g., Los Angeles, San Diego) permit STRs only at a host's primary residence. Chino has no such carve-out: per CMC §20.24.020, ANY residential rental under 31 days is an STR and is prohibited in every zoning district. Whether the dwelling is the host's primary residence, second home, or investor-owned makes no difference under Chino's ordinance. The State Government Code 65852.2(a)(6) ADU rule (30+ day minimum) reinforces this for accessory dwelling units: an owner cannot offer the ADU on their primary-residence lot for short-term stays either.
View full Chino rules →Rialto, CA
San Bernardino County
Rialto's municipal code does not contain a short-term rental ordinance and therefore does not distinguish between primary-residence (hosted) STRs and non-owner-occupied (whole-home, investor) STRs. Because Title 18 zoning does not list STRs as a permitted use at all, there is no primary-residence exception that legalizes any class of operator.
View full Rialto rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Chino | Rialto |
|---|---|---|
| Primary-residence carve-out? | None | - |
| Owner-occupied STR allowed? | No | - |
| Long-term roommate (31+ days)? | Allowed under standard residential use | - |
| State backstop | Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(6) — ADUs require 30+ day rentals | - |
| Primary-residence rule | - | Not adopted |
| Whole-home STR cap | - | Not adopted |
| Baseline status | - | STR not a listed use in Title 18 |
| Equal treatment | - | Hosted and non-hosted both unaddressed |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Chino FAQ
I live in my Chino home year-round — can I rent a guest room on Airbnb?
No. Chino does not recognize a primary-residence or owner-occupied STR exception. The rental is prohibited under CMC §20.24.020.
What if guests stay 31+ days?
That is a long-term residential rental and is not regulated as an STR. Standard landlord-tenant law (AB 1482 just-cause/rent cap after 12 months, Civ. Code §§1946.2, 1947.12) applies.
Rialto FAQ
Can I rent my primary residence short-term in Rialto?
Rialto's zoning code does not list short-term rentals as a permitted residential use, and there is no primary-residence exception that legalizes hosted STRs. Owner-occupied and absentee STRs are treated the same under the absence of an STR chapter.
Does Rialto cap non-owner-occupied rentals?
There is no whole-home or non-owner-occupied STR cap in the Rialto Municipal Code because no STR chapter has been adopted at all.
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