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🏠 Short-Term Rentals/Registration Rules

Registration Rules: Newport Beach vs Santa Ana

How do registration rules rules compare between Newport Beach, CA and Santa Ana, CA?

Newport Beach and Santa Ana have similar restriction levels.

Newport Beach, CA

Orange County

Heavy Restrictions

Newport Beach requires all short-term rental operators to obtain a short-term lodging permit through Community Development before listing or renting. The registration process includes proof of insurance, local contact designation, parking plan, and compliance with property-specific conditions.

View full Newport Beach rules β†’

Santa Ana, CA

Orange County

Heavy Restrictions

Santa Ana completely prohibits short-term rentals (under 30 days) citywide as of April 2024. The City Council adopted an urgency ordinance banning all STR operations; no permits, licenses, or registrations are available for short-term rental use.

View full Santa Ana rules β†’

Key Facts Comparison

FactNewport BeachSanta Ana
Permit RequiredBefore any listing or rental-
Code SectionNBMC Chapter 5.95-
Application ItemsInsurance, contact, parking plan-
Fire InspectionRequired before approval-
Community Dev(949) 644-3200-
STR Status-Prohibited citywide
Effective-April 2024
Minimum Lease-30 days
Ordinance-OA No. 2024-04

Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.

Newport Beach FAQ

Do I need a permit to rent on Airbnb in Newport Beach?

Yes. A short-term lodging permit under NBMC Chapter 5.95 is required before listing or renting any property for fewer than 30 consecutive days.

What do I need to apply for an STR permit?

Owner authorization, liability insurance proof, local contact designation, parking plan, floor plan, fire inspection, and payment of permit and TOT registration fees.

Does my permit number need to be in my listing?

Yes. The permit number must appear in all rental listings and advertisements. Failure to display it is a separate violation.

Santa Ana FAQ

Are short-term rentals legal in Santa Ana?

No. Santa Ana banned all short-term rentals under 30 days as of April 2024. No permits or licenses are available for STR operations.

What if I was operating an STR before the ban?

All existing STR operations must cease. Continued operation risks misdemeanor charges, fines, and civil action from the city.

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