Anaheim Night Caps Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Unlike cities such as Los Angeles (120 nights per year for non-primary-residence rentals) or Santa Monica (host-present requirement effectively limiting nights), Anaheim takes a different approach to managing short-term rental volume. Rather than imposing an annual cap on the number of nights any individual property may be rented, the city limits the total number of active STR permits available in each residential zone. This permit-cap system controls the aggregate impact of short-term rentals on residential neighborhoods while allowing individual permitted operators to run year-round businesses.

The permit cap numbers are established by the Planning Commission and reviewed periodically based on complaint data, neighborhood impact assessments, and market conditions. When the cap is reached in a given zone, new applications are placed on a waiting list. This system is particularly important in the neighborhoods surrounding the Disneyland Resort — the West Anaheim, Harbor Corridor, and Platinum Triangle areas — where STR demand is highest and residential density concerns are most acute.

While no per-property night limit exists, the city's enforcement framework acts as a functional constraint. Properties that accumulate verified complaints for noise, parking, occupancy, or other nuisance issues may have their permits modified to include restricted rental days (for example, weekday-only or limited to 180 days per year) as a condition of continued operation. Three verified violations within any 12-month period triggers permit revocation proceedings, effectively creating a zero-night cap for problem properties. Maximum occupancy is set at 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, and outdoor gatherings at STR properties are prohibited after 10 PM.