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

As of the last verified date of January 2025, Santa Paula has not enacted a comprehensive short-term rental ordinance that includes specific annual night caps, maximum consecutive stay limits, or annual rental day ceilings. This places Santa Paula among the more permissive regulatory environments for STR operators within Ventura County, though the absence of a night cap should not be read as blanket authorization for all short-term rental activity. Underlying zoning regulations continue to govern whether a dwelling unit may be used for transient occupancy, and operators must confirm that their specific zoning district permits STR use by contacting the Santa Paula Planning Division.

Santa Paula is a smaller community of approximately 32,000 residents with a modest short-term rental market compared to coastal Ventura County cities like Oxnard or Port Hueneme. The city's regulatory posture has historically been less proactive on STR-specific legislation, but this can change as the STR market evolves. California's broader regulatory landscape — including AB 537, which requires platforms to honor city permit and removal requirements — means that even in cities without formal STR ordinances, operators may face enforcement through platform compliance mechanisms if the city later adopts rules. The most prudent approach for Santa Paula hosts is to register with the Finance Department for Transient Occupancy Tax purposes, obtain any required business license, and monitor the city's Planning Division for any ordinance updates. Stays of 31 days or more are not subject to TOT and are not typically classified as short-term rentals under California law.