Night Caps: Oxnard vs Ventura

How many nights can I rent my Oxnard home as a vacation rental?

If you do not live on the property, no more than 100 nights per calendar year. Owner-occupied homeshares have no annual night cap.

Do I need a permit even if I only rent occasionally?

Yes. Any rental of less than 30 consecutive days requires an Oxnard STR permit plus a business tax certificate and TOT registration before the first booking.

Why was my STR application denied even though I qualify?

Oxnard caps Vacation Rental permits at roughly 5 percent of units per General Plan neighborhood and requires 200 feet between units. Once a neighborhood is full, new permits are waitlisted.

Does Ventura cap how many nights I can rent my home short-term each year?

Chapter 6.455 of the San Buenaventura Municipal Code does not set an annual nights-per-year cap on short-term vacation rentals, but Section 6.455.140 limits turnover. Outside summer you may rent only once in any consecutive 7-day period with a 2-night minimum, and during summer the minimum stay is 7 nights. Confirm any new limits added by the December 10, 2024 update with Community Development at (805) 654-7869.

What counts as the summer season for Ventura STVRs?

Under SBMC Section 6.455.140, summer runs from the second Friday in June through the last Friday in August. During that window, the rental period for any STVR booking must be at least 7 nights, which effectively rules out weekend turnovers in summer.

What permits do I need to operate an STVR in Ventura?

You must hold an active Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit issued under SBMC Chapter 6.455, a City of Ventura business license, and file a $1,500 surety bond. Operators also collect and remit the City's 10 percent Transient Occupancy Tax on stays of 30 or fewer consecutive days. The updated 2024 ordinance becomes effective in the Coastal Zone only after California Coastal Commission certification.