San Ramon, CA Short-Term Rentals: Host Presence Rule (2026)

Section D4-27.A of the Zoning Ordinance defines the two operating models the city regulates. A 'hosted short-term rental' is the renting of a room or portion of a dwelling in which the Operator is living onsite and actively managing the activities that occur on the property. An 'un-hosted short-term rental' is the renting of a whole dwelling or room(s) in which the Operator is not onsite but has provided a local contact to address issues; every registration must also list a local contact person available 24 hours a day who can respond in person within 30 minutes while the rental is occupied, per Subsection C.2.d.

The presence distinction drives a real regulatory difference under Subsection D.12: renting an un-hosted short-term rental is limited to a maximum of 12 weeks per year citywide, while hosted short-term rentals, with an onsite live-in Operator, are not subject to that or any other specific limitation on how often rooms can be rented. Every registration application under Subsection C.2.a must state which type, hosted or un-hosted, the property is registering as, and that classification determines whether the 12-week annual cap applies. Both models still owe the City's Transient Occupancy Tax and remain subject to the Terms of Use in Subsection D, including the two-adults-per-bedroom occupancy cap and the ban on renting for special events like weddings or parties.