RMC Chapter 5.55 does not require the owner or host to be physically present during a short-term stay. The chapter relies on the owner or authorized agent to ensure the unit is used for residential purposes and to respond to complaints.
The City of Riverside's Short-Term Residential Rentals chapter is structured around an owner-or-authorized-agent compliance model rather than a host-present model. RMC Chapter 5.55 requires the owner and the owner's authorized agent to 'use reasonably prudent business practices' to ensure the rental is used for residential purposes only, but it does not require the host to sleep on premises or remain on site during guest stays. There is also no city-imposed numeric cap on un-hosted nights per year (contrast with LA's 120-day cap on home-sharing). However, RMC § 7.35.010 (the noise ordinance) makes the owner responsible for nuisance noise originating from the rental, so a working local contact reachable 24/7 is a practical necessity for any non-owner-occupied operation. Unincorporated-Riverside-County STRs are subject to a stricter 60-minute response standard under RCC Chapter 5.84.080, but that standard does not apply inside the City of Riverside.
Because there is no host-presence rule in RMC Chapter 5.55, the City does not cite for an owner being off-site. Owners remain liable for noise, parking, and nuisance violations originating from the rental: Title 7 noise fines are $500 / $750 / $1,000 per RMC § 7.15.010, and Title 1 general penalties (up to $1,000 / 6 months) apply to Chapter 5.55 violations.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Riverside, CA
RMC §7.35.010(B)(10) bars vehicle/motorcycle/motorboat/aircraft repair, rebuilding, modifying, or testing that disturbs across a residential line. Powered mo...
Riverside, CA
Riverside Municipal Code Chapter 19.550 prohibits hazardous fence materials such as barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fencing in residential zones, an...
Riverside, CA
California SB 946 (Gov. Code §§ 51036-51039) decriminalized sidewalk vending statewide; cities may regulate but not ban outright. Riverside requires a Sidewa...
Riverside, CA
Riverside Municipal Code § 9.08.090 prohibits model airplane flying, model rockets, and 'any game of a hazardous nature' inside any City park except where sp...
Riverside, CA
Since July 1, 2022, Riverside's green cart is a combined organics cart: yard trimmings AND bagged food scraps go in the same brown-body/green-lid container p...
Riverside, CA
Dumping trash, furniture, mattresses, construction debris, or yard waste on any street, lot, alley, or wash within Riverside violates both Riverside Municipa...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Riverside County.
See how other cities in Riverside County handle host presence rule.
See how Riverside's host presence rule rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.