Permit Requirements: Chino vs San Bernardino
How do permit requirements rules compare between Chino, CA and San Bernardino, CA?
Chino and San Bernardino have similar restriction levels.
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 →San Bernardino, CA
San Bernardino County
San Bernardino STR operators must register with the city, collect TOT, and comply with Development Code Title 19. Permits renew annually and require a 24-hour local contact who can respond to complaints quickly.
View full San Bernardino rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Chino | San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Permit Type | - | STR Registration Required |
| Renewal | - | Annual |
| Local Contact | - | 24-hour, 1-hour response |
| Zoning | - | Development Code Title 19 |
| Contact | - | (909) 384-5122 |
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.
San Bernardino FAQ
Can I run an Airbnb in San Bernardino without registering?
No. San Bernardino requires every short-term rental to register and obtain a permit before accepting guests. Unregistered operation is subject to administrative citations that can exceed several hundred dollars per day.
Can I short-term rent my ADU in San Bernardino?
Generally only if the primary dwelling on the lot is owner-occupied. State ADU law restricts STR conversion of newly built ADUs, and San Bernardino mirrors that restriction in its Development Code.
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