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

Unlike California cities that regulate short-term rentals with annual night-caps — such as Los Angeles (120 nights/year for primary residences) or Long Beach (180 nights/year for hosted rentals) — Simi Valley does not permit short-term rental activity at all under current zoning. Simi Valley Development Code Section 9-22.030.A.1 prohibits the use of residential property for transient lodging arrangements. Because no STR activity is authorized, there is no tiered cap distinguishing between hosted rentals (where the owner is present) and unhosted rentals (where the entire home is rented out in the owner's absence).

The City Council voted to direct city staff to develop a new STR ordinance that, if adopted, would create a permit system for short-term rental operators. Publicly presented framework proposals have included annual permit fees, liability insurance requirements of at least $1 million, HOA or CC&R compliance requirements, a maximum of 2 adult guests per bedroom, mandatory off-street parking, and TOT collection and remittance. However, the specific night-cap thresholds — if any — that would be included in the future ordinance have not been publicly confirmed as of early 2025, and no adoption timeline has been set.

Until a new ordinance is formally adopted, the permitted number of short-term rental nights remains zero. Residents who rent their property through platforms such as Airbnb, VRBO, or similar services risk code enforcement action under the current prohibition. Prospective hosts should monitor City Council agendas and contact the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 to stay informed about the status of the proposed STR ordinance.