Occupancy Limits: Fontana vs Rialto
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Fontana, CA and Rialto, CA?
Rialto has fewer restrictions than Fontana.
Fontana, CA
San Bernardino County
Fontana applies occupancy limits based on the Uniform Housing Code and local safety requirements. STR operators set maximum guest counts tied to bedrooms and square footage.
View full Fontana rules →Rialto, CA
San Bernardino County
Rialto has no STR-specific guest-occupancy cap in its municipal code. Title 18 Zoning does not define 'short-term rental,' so no STR overlay (such as Palm Springs' '2 per bedroom + 2' rule) applies. Residential occupancy is governed by general standards: California Building Code (Title 24 CCR Part 2) minimum room area for sleeping rooms, and HUD's 'Keating Memo' two-persons-per-bedroom-plus-one fair-housing guideline. Rialto MC §3.08 simply defines a 'transient' as any occupant for 30 consecutive days or less, without setting a maximum-guest threshold.
View full Rialto rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Fontana | Rialto |
|---|---|---|
| Industry benchmark | 2 per bedroom plus 2 | - |
| Min bedroom size | 70 sq ft for one person | - |
| Events | Typically prohibited | - |
| Listing disclosure | Required | - |
| Enforcement | License suspension risk | - |
| STR Occupancy Cap | - | None codified in Rialto MC |
| Federal Guidance | - | HUD Keating Memo — 2 per bedroom + 1 |
| Building Code Floor | - | CBC Ch. 12 — 70 sq ft / sleeping room |
| Transient Definition | - | ≤30 consecutive days (MC §3.08) |
| Complaint Line | - | Community Compliance 909-820-2689 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Fontana FAQ
Can I allow 20 people in a 3-bedroom Fontana STR?
No. Typical limits would be around 8 guests for a 3-bedroom home; events that inflate occupancy are generally prohibited.
Are infants counted toward occupancy?
Most ordinances exempt children under a certain age (often 2 or 3) from occupancy counts. Check your listing platform and local rules.
Rialto FAQ
Is there a maximum guest count for Airbnbs in Rialto?
No STR-specific cap exists in Rialto's municipal code. Hosts should use the HUD 2-per-bedroom-plus-1 standard and California Building Code Chapter 12 minimum-room-area requirements as baseline.
Can I host a 12-person stay in a 3-bedroom Rialto home?
12 guests in 3 bedrooms exceeds the HUD 2-per-bedroom-plus-1 guideline (which would cap at 7). While no specific Rialto STR ordinance prohibits it, overcrowding can trigger Title 8 nuisance enforcement and Chapter 9.50 noise citations.
Compare other topics
See how Fontana and Rialto compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool