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

7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 9 cities in Orange County, California.

Verified from official government sources

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

Short-Term Rental Permits

Renting out a home for less than 30 days in unincorporated Orange County requires a Short-term Rental Permit from the Director before the first guest checks in. Codified Ordinances Section 7-9-93 authorizes the use in single-family, multifamily and qualifying commercial-district dwellings, but only under a permit that must be renewed every two years and can be pulled after two violations.

Orange County STR Permit Requirements

Significant Restrictions

Orange County Codified Ordinances § 7-9-93

(a)Purpose. The purpose of this section is to regulate short-term rentals, as defined below, to avoid impacts to traffic, noise, parking and the overall nature of a neighborhood's residential character.(b)Applicability. This section applies to the unincorporated areas including planned community and specific plan areas.(c)Definition. "Short-term rental" means a rental of all or any part of a dw...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

Short-term rental guests in unincorporated Orange County must observe the same exterior noise limits as any other resident: 55 decibels from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 50 decibels overnight. Section 7-9-93(e)(11) folds the county's Noise Control Ordinance directly into every short-term rental permit's quiet-hours condition.

Orange County STR Quiet Hours Rule

Some Restrictions

Orange County Codified Ordinances § 7-9-93(e)(11)

(11)Quiet Hours: Pursuant to the County of Orange Noise Control Ordinance (section 4-6-5), occupants shall comply with the exterior noise standards by prohibiting continuous noise higher than fifty-five (55) decibels from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and fifty (50) decibels from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. in all residential property.(12)Each lease or rental agreement for a short-term rental shall inclu...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Short-term rental operators in unincorporated Orange County must collect a 10 percent Transient Occupancy Tax on rent, register with the Tax Administrator within 30 days, and file quarterly tax returns.

Orange County Short-Term Rental Occupancy Tax

Some Restrictions

Orange County Codified Ordinances § 1-4-121

For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of ten (10) percent of the rent charged by the operator. Said tax constitutes a debt owed by the transient to the County which is extinguished only by payment to the operator or to the County. The transient shall pay the tax to the operator of the hotel at the time rent is paid.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Zoning Code Section 7-9-93 requires unincorporated Orange County short-term rentals to provide at least two off-street parking spaces (garage and/or driveway) at all times. Vehicles are capped at one per one-bedroom unit, or two for units with two or more bedrooms, unless the Director allows more.

Orange County Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Some Restrictions

California Vehicle Code § 22651

(d) If a vehicle is illegally parked so as to block the entrance to a private driveway, and it is impractical to move the vehicle from in front of the driveway to another point on the highway. (e) If a vehicle is illegally parked so as to prevent access by firefighting equipment to a fire hydrant, and it is impracticable to move the vehicle from in front of the fire hydrant to another point on...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Under Zoning Code Section 7-9-93, overnight occupancy of an unincorporated Orange County short-term rental is capped at two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons. The Director may approve a higher number case-by-case. Maximum occupancy and a violation notice must be posted inside the unit and in the lease.

Orange County Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits

Some Restrictions

California Health & Safety Code § 17920.3

substandard building: (a) Inadequate sanitation shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) Lack of, or improper water closet, lavatory, or bathtub or shower in a dwelling unit. (2) Lack of, or improper water closets, lavatories, and bathtubs or showers per number of guests in a hotel. (3) Lack of, or improper kitchen sink. (4) Lack of hot and cold running water to plumbing fi...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Repeat Violator Strikes

Two strikes and a short-term rental in unincorporated Orange County goes dark for up to a year. Section 7-9-93(e)(3) ties the county's Short-term Rental Permit to good standing: a second violation of the ordinance suspends operations at that property for as long as twelve months, and the property owner's future permit applications can suffer for it too.

Orange County STR Two-Strike Suspension

Significant Restrictions

Orange County Codified Ordinances § 7-9-93(e)(3)

(3)Property owner shall maintain good standing by complying with all County regulations or the permit shall be revoked, and any future permit applications for the property may be negatively impacted. Two (2) violations related to the Ordinance shall discontinue short-term rental operations for up to one (1) year.(4)A change in ownership shall terminate the short-term rental permit.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗