Occupancy Limits: Rialto vs San Bernardino
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Rialto, CA and San Bernardino, CA?
Rialto has fewer restrictions than San Bernardino.
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 →San Bernardino, CA
San Bernardino County
San Bernardino STRs are capped at two guests per bedroom plus two additional, with a hard cap on each permit. Parties that exceed the overnight count are prohibited and can trigger immediate permit suspension.
View full San Bernardino rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Rialto | San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Formula | - | 2 per bedroom plus 2 |
| Parties | - | Prohibited without event permit |
| Daytime Guests | - | Up to 2x overnight cap |
| Infants | - | Usually not counted |
| Violation | - | Immediate suspension possible |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
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.
San Bernardino FAQ
Can I host a wedding at my San Bernardino STR?
Only with a separate special event permit from the Planning Department. Weddings, receptions, and similar gatherings exceed the standard occupancy cap and are not authorized under a baseline STR permit.
Do my kids count toward the occupancy limit?
Children two and older count the same as adults toward the overnight cap. Infants under two are typically excluded when sleeping in a parent room. The permit counts apply to everyone staying overnight.
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