Short-Term Rentals in Merced County, CA (2026)

8 rules for unincorporated Merced County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Merced County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Every short-term rental in unincorporated Merced County needs an Administrative Permit under Section 18.60.270 before it can open, and the permit only issues to the owner's primary residence. The county bars the use from ADUs, RVs, tents, and Williamson Act land, and requires mailed notice to nearby property owners before approval.

Merced County Short-Term Rental Permit Rule

Significant Restrictions

Merced County Code § 18.60.270(C)(1)-(3)

C. Limitations. 1. Short-term rentals are required to be the primary residence of the owner, as defined under this section. 2. Short-term rentals shall not be permitted in any non-habitable structures, tent, yurt, recreational vehicle (RV), or any other provision intended for temporary occupancy. Short-term rentals shall not be permitted within additional dwelling units, accessory dwelling u...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

Unincorporated Merced County fixes quiet hours for every short-term rental at 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. under Zoning Code Section 18.60.270(D)(5), which also ties all rental activity to General Plan noise standards. Every rental listing must disclose the quiet-hours rule to guests, and repeated noise complaints can trigger permit revocation on top of standard zoning fines.

Merced County STR Quiet Hours 10 PM-7 AM

Some Restrictions

Merced County Zoning Code § 18.60.270(D)(5)

Noise. All activities associated with the short-term rental shall meet the General Plan noise standards contained below. Quiet hours shall be from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Short-term rental operators in unincorporated Merced County must collect and remit a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax under Chapter 5.32, on top of the Administrative Permit required by Section 18.60.270. Operators must register with the county within 30 days of starting business, post a registration certificate, and file returns every quarter.

Merced County Short-Term Rental Occupancy Tax

Some Restrictions

Merced County Code § 5.32.040

There is imposed a tax upon each transient for the privilege of occupancy in any hotel or other transient facility in any unincorporated area within the county. The tax imposed by this chapter shall be at the rate of 10% of the rent charged by the operator, on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter. Said tax constitutes a debt owed by the transient to the county which is e...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Every short-term rental in unincorporated Merced County must provide off-street guest parking under Zoning Code Section 18.60.270(D)(6), which sets a floor of one off-street space per rental. The requirement is a built-in condition of the Administrative Permit every host or vacation-rental operator must hold, and the maximum available spaces must be advertised on every listing.

Merced County STR Off-Street Parking Rule

Some Restrictions

Merced County Zoning Code § 18.60.270(D)(6)

Parking. All guest parking shall be provided off-street, with a minimum of one off-street parking space per rental.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Merced County caps short-term rentals at five guest rooms under Section 18.60.270, tying real occupancy to the number of bedrooms in the single-family dwelling rather than a flat headcount. Well and septic capacity can push the cap even lower on rural parcels, and the same section limits every parcel to one short-term rental permit.

Merced County STR Maximum Occupancy Limit

Some Restrictions

Merced County Code § 18.60.270(D)(4)

4. Maximum Occupancy. A short-term rental may contain no more than five guest rooms used for the transient occupancy of one or more guests. The number of short-term rental guests shall be limited by the number of bedrooms located in the single-family dwelling and may be further limited by well and septic system requirements (if applicable).

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Night Caps

Vacation rentals in unincorporated Merced County cannot operate more than 180 cumulative days in a calendar year under Zoning Code Section 18.60.270(F)(1). The cap applies only to unhosted vacation rentals, comes with a limit on special events, and expires automatically if the property changes hands.

Merced County Vacation Rental 180-Day Annual Cap

Significant Restrictions

Merced County Zoning Code § 18.60.270(F)(1)

Additional Regulations for Vacation Rentals. Limited Operations. Vacation rentals operations shall be limited to 180 cumulative days in a calendar year.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

A hosted short-term rental in unincorporated Merced County must keep the owner or operator on site for the whole stay. Zoning Code Section 18.60.270(E)(1) requires concurrent owner occupancy during the rental period, on top of the underlying rule that every short-term rental be the owner's primary residence under Section 18.60.270(C)(1).

Merced County Hosted STR Owner Occupancy Rule

Some Restrictions

Merced County Zoning Code § 18.60.270(E)(1)

Additional Regulations for Hosted Rentals. Concurrent Owner Occupancy. The primary owner(s) and/or operators shall remain in residence at the hosted rental during the rental period.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Unincorporated Merced County requires every short-term rental to be the primary residence of its owner, verified by two forms of identification, and permits only one short-term rental per parcel under the Zoning Code's short-term rental standards.

Merced County STR Owner Residency Rule

Significant Restrictions

Merced County Zoning Code § 18.60.270(B)(7), (C)(1), (C)(3)

C. Limitations. 1. Short-term rentals are required to be the primary residence of the owner, as defined under this section... 3. Only one short-term rental is allowed per parcel... 7. Primary Residence. An owner's permanent residence or usual place of return for housing as documented by at least two forms of identification.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Merced County ordinances

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