Occupancy Limits: Tulare vs Visalia
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Tulare, CA and Visalia, CA?
Tulare has fewer restrictions than Visalia.
Tulare, CA
Tulare County
Tulare has no STR-specific occupancy cap. Maximum occupancy defaults to the California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) and California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) — generally two persons per bedroom plus one additional person, or based on the actual sleeping-area square footage (70 sq ft for the first occupant, 50 sq ft per additional occupant under CBC Section 1208). The defunct Tulare County draft STR ordinance had proposed limiting rental to 'habitable interior spaces in permitted dwellings,' barring garages, tents, treehouses, yurts, camper trailers, and RVs — that standard already follows from CBC habitability rules even without a dedicated STR chapter.
View full Tulare rules →Visalia, CA
Tulare County
Visalia caps short-term rental occupancy at 2 guests per bedroom plus 1 additional person, limits operations to primary residences with no more than 2 guest rooms, and prohibits ADUs, garages, RVs, tents, and other exterior spaces from being used as STR sleeping space.
View full Visalia rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Tulare | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| STR-specific occupancy cap | None | - |
| Habitability standard | California Building Code (Title 24 Part 2) | - |
| Min. sleeping room | 70 sq ft + 50 sq ft per add'l occupant (CBC §1208) | - |
| Non-habitable structures | Cannot be rented (garages, RVs, tents, yurts) | - |
| ADU short-term rental | Cities may bar STR <30 days per Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(6) | - |
| Code | - | MC 17.32.166 |
| Occupancy Cap | - | 2 per bedroom + 1 |
| Primary Residence | - | Required |
| Max Guest Rooms | - | 2 |
| Units per Parcel | - | 1 |
| ADUs / Garages / RVs | - | Prohibited as STR space |
| Adopted | - | October 16, 2023 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Tulare FAQ
How many people can stay in my Tulare short-term rental?
There is no city-specific cap. Use the California Building Code default: two persons per bedroom plus one (e.g., 2BR = 5), constrained by the actual habitable square footage.
Can I rent out an RV or my converted garage?
No. Garages, RVs, tents, yurts, and treehouses are not habitable dwellings under the California Building Code adopted at Tulare Municipal Code Title 15, and renting them as overnight accommodations is a code and zoning violation.
Can I short-term rent my ADU?
Cal. Gov't Code § 65852.2(a)(6) authorizes cities to prohibit ADU rentals shorter than 30 days. Check Tulare Municipal Code Title 10 (Zoning) and the current ADU ordinance before listing an ADU on Airbnb.
Visalia FAQ
How many guests can stay at a Visalia short-term rental?
Two persons per bedroom plus one additional person. A 2-bedroom STR may host up to 5 guests under MC 17.32.166.
Can I rent out my ADU or guest house in Visalia as an Airbnb?
No. The ordinance restricts STRs to the habitable interior of a primary dwelling. ADUs, garages, RVs, tents, and other exterior structures cannot be used as a short-term rental.
Can I run more than one STR on the same lot?
No. Only one STR unit is permitted per parcel in any residentially zoned district.
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