Occupancy Limits: Daly City vs Redwood City
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Daly City, CA and Redwood City, CA?
Daly City and Redwood City have similar restriction levels.
Daly City, CA
San Mateo County
Daly City Municipal Code Chapter 5.92 caps short-term rental occupancy at two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests per stay, with one booking per property per day. Hosted stays (host on-site) have no annual day cap, while un-hosted stays are limited to 100 days per year. STRs are restricted to the host's primary residence, defined as a home occupied by the host at least 265 days per year. ADUs, JADUs, and inclusionary or income-restricted units are prohibited from STR use. The host (or tenant with notarized owner authorization) is responsible for guest conduct and must designate a 24/7 local responsible contact who can respond within one hour.
View full Daly City rules →Redwood City, CA
San Mateo County
Redwood City Municipal Code Chapter 42A limits short-term rental occupancy to two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests per stay, capped at ten guests total. STRs are restricted to the host's primary residence; second homes and investment properties are not permitted. Hosted stays (host on-site) have no annual day cap, while un-hosted stays are limited to 120 nights per calendar year. ADUs are prohibited from STR use unless they were registered with the City before January 1, 2020. Hosts must also designate a local contact who will respond to complaints whenever the host is away.
View full Redwood City rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | Redwood City |
|---|---|---|
| Per-Stay Limit | 2 guests per bedroom + 2 additional guests | 2 guests per bedroom + 2, max 10 total |
| Bookings Per Day | 1 per property | - |
| Un-hosted Day Cap | 100 days per year | 120 nights per year |
| Hosted Day Cap | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Primary Residence Threshold | 265 days per year | - |
| Local Contact Response | Within 1 hour, 24/7 | - |
| Code Section | DCMC Chapter 5.92 | RCMC Chapter 42A |
| Primary Residence Only | - | Required (no second homes) |
| ADU Restriction | - | Prohibited unless registered before Jan 1, 2020 |
| TOT Rate | - | 12% |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
How many guests can stay in a Daly City short-term rental?
Two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests per booking. A two-bedroom home is capped at six guests; a three-bedroom at eight.
Is there a limit on how many days I can rent my home?
Hosted stays (host on-site) are unlimited. Un-hosted stays (entire-home, host away) are limited to 100 days per calendar year under DCMC 5.92.
Can I host more than one booking per day?
No. DCMC 5.92 limits the property to one booking per day, which prevents same-day check-in/check-out turnovers used to inflate guest counts.
Can I rent my ADU or income-restricted unit short-term?
No. ADUs, JADUs, and inclusionary or income-restricted housing units are expressly excluded from STR use under Daly City's ordinance.
Redwood City FAQ
How many guests can stay in a Redwood City short-term rental?
Up to two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests, with an overall ceiling of ten overnight guests under Chapter 42A — regardless of how many bedrooms the home has.
How many nights per year can I rent out my home?
Hosted stays where you remain on-site are not capped. Un-hosted entire-home stays are limited to 120 nights per calendar year.
Can I short-term rent my ADU?
Only if the ADU was registered with the City as a short-term rental before January 1, 2020. New ADUs and unregistered older ADUs are not eligible.
Can I host weddings or corporate events at my STR?
No. Chapter 42A prohibits special events such as weddings and corporate retreats at short-term rentals.
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