Occupancy Limits: Daly City vs South San Francisco
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Daly City, CA and South San Francisco, CA?
Daly City has fewer restrictions than South San Francisco.
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 →South San Francisco, CA
San Mateo County
South San Francisco Municipal Code Section 20.350.037 caps short-term vacation rental occupancy by stay type. Hosted stays (host present in the dwelling) are limited to a maximum of 2 guests at one time. Un-hosted stays (host absent) are limited to 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional guests per booking. STR use is restricted to single-unit dwellings only — multi-family units, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs) may not be used as short-term rentals. Un-hosted stays are further capped at 90 days per year, while hosted stays have no annual day limit. Only one STR permit is allowed per dwelling unit per lot.
View full South San Francisco rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | South San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Per-Stay Limit | 2 guests per bedroom + 2 additional guests | - |
| Bookings Per Day | 1 per property | - |
| Un-hosted Day Cap | 100 days per year | - |
| Hosted Day Cap | Unlimited | - |
| Primary Residence Threshold | 265 days per year | - |
| Local Contact Response | Within 1 hour, 24/7 | Within 1 hour, 24/7 |
| Code Section | DCMC Chapter 5.92 | SSFMC 20.350.037 |
| Hosted Per-Stay Limit | - | 2 guests at one time |
| Un-hosted Per-Stay Limit | - | 2 per bedroom + 2 additional |
| Un-hosted Annual Cap | - | 90 days per year |
| Hosted Annual Cap | - | Unlimited |
| Eligible Property | - | Single-unit dwellings only |
| ADU/JADU Use | - | Prohibited for STR |
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.
South San Francisco FAQ
How many guests can stay in a South San Francisco short-term rental?
Hosted stays (host on-site) are limited to 2 guests at one time. Un-hosted stays are capped at 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional guests — so a two-bedroom home is capped at 6 guests un-hosted.
Is there a limit on how many days I can rent my home?
Hosted stays have no annual day limit. Un-hosted stays are capped at 90 days per calendar year under SSFMC 20.350.037.
Can I rent my ADU on Airbnb?
No. SSFMC 20.350.037 prohibits short-term vacation rental use in any ADU or JADU. ADUs may not be rented for terms shorter than 31 consecutive days.
Can I run an STR in a duplex or apartment?
No. Short-term vacation rentals are allowed only in single-unit dwellings under South San Francisco's ordinance — multi-family units are not eligible.
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