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

Many California cities that restrict short-term rentals employ a "night cap" model, allowing property owners to rent their primary residence for a limited number of nights per year. Los Angeles permits 120 nights annually (extendable to 180 with enhanced compliance). Santa Monica allows hosted rentals year-round. Dana Point caps STR nights in certain zones. Irvine has adopted none of these models. The city's zoning ordinance does not list short-term rentals as a permitted or conditionally permitted use in residential districts, and no night-cap or partial-allowance ordinance has been enacted.

This means Irvine residents have no legal pathway to rent their home, a room, a guest house, or an ADU for fewer than 30 consecutive days, regardless of how many nights per year they would do so. There is no hosted exception for renting while the owner is present, no special-event exemption for UCI events or holiday weekends, and no seasonal permit. The 30-consecutive-day minimum applies uniformly to all residential rental activity in the city.

The absence of a night-cap program is consistent with Irvine's overall approach to residential land use, which prioritizes neighborhood stability and low-impact uses. The city's master-planned villages and strong HOA governance structures reinforce this approach. Many Irvine HOAs independently prohibit short-term rentals in their CC&Rs, providing a second enforcement layer beyond the municipal code. Residents who wish to explore short-term rental hosting may need to consider properties in other jurisdictions that have established regulatory frameworks. The Irvine City Council has not publicly scheduled consideration of a night-cap or STR licensing ordinance as of the last verified date.