Chico does NOT cap the number of nights per year an STR may operate, and does not distinguish between 'hosted' and 'extended unhosted' home shares the way San Francisco (90-day unhosted cap) or Portland (95-day cap) do. All STRs — hosted or unhosted, occasional or year-round — operate under the same business license + TOT + administrative permit framework so long as performance criteria are met.
Chico's regulatory approach focuses on (1) tax collection (CMC Ch. 3.52 TOT at 10%), (2) business licensing, and (3) zoning compatibility via administrative permit performance criteria — not on limiting rental days. There is no 30-day, 90-day, or 180-day cap on unhosted operation. Operators may run STRs full-time, year-round, provided the property complies with occupancy limits (two per bedroom + two), parking, local-contact rules, and applicable Title 19 zoning. By comparison, Butte County's unincorporated STR ordinance (§24-172.1) likewise does not impose a nightly cap, but it sets a 30-minute local-manager response standard that Chico's framework parallels. Stays of 31 days or longer fall outside both the STR definition and TOT reach, becoming standard long-term rentals subject to AB 1482 statewide rent caps where applicable.
There is no 'day-cap' violation in Chico, but exceeding occupancy limits or operating without an active permit/business license/TOT registration is a Title 5 / Title 19 / Chapter 3.52 violation, with TOT penalties up to 50% of unpaid tax plus interest.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Chico, CA
A building/zoning permit is generally required in Chico for fences over 6 feet or masonry/retaining walls; pool barrier fences must meet the California Build...
Chico, CA
Chico is a Tree City with a strong tree-preservation ordinance; removing protected or heritage trees, including many on private property, requires a city tre...
Chico, CA
Chico does not ban artificial turf and the City permits it as part of drought-tolerant landscapes. State law (AB 1572, Cal. Water Code §10608.14, eff. 2027) ...
Chico, CA
Under CMC §19.68.050 and §19.68.070, at least 90% of plants in non-turf areas must be suited to Chico's climate and require minimal water once established. S...
Chico, CA
City of Chico parks — including the 3,670-acre Bidwell Park — restrict drone operations under CMC Title 12R; advance written permission is required. CARD-man...
Chico, CA
Commercial drone work in Chico requires an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate; the city does not issue separate commercial UAS permits. Operations on city...
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