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

The City of Ventura regulates short-term vacation rentals under San Buenaventura Municipal Code Chapter 6.455. While the ordinance does not set an explicit annual maximum number of nights a property may be rented as an STVR — unlike some California cities that cap rentals at 90 or 120 nights per year — it imposes a set of operational requirements that include effective nighttime behavioral limitations. Every STVR operator is required to provide arriving guests with a Nuisance Response Plan, which must include the city's noise ordinance standards, quiet hours (10:00 PM to 7:00 AM), and instructions for compliance. Operators must maintain a 24-hour contact number that is provided to neighboring property owners, enabling direct neighbor-to-operator contact for noise or disturbance complaints before involving city enforcement.

Guests at STVRs are bound by the city's noise ordinance under Chapter 10.650, which limits exterior noise at residential property lines to 55 dBA after 10:00 PM. This effectively prohibits outdoor parties with amplified music, loud gatherings on patios or decks, and other disturbances after quiet hours. Operators bear responsibility for guest compliance and may face citation, fines, or permit revocation if the property repeatedly generates noise complaints. The city's STVR program requires operators to carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in general liability insurance and to either prohibit parties in the rental agreement or post a $1,500 surety bond as a deterrent against disruptive use.

The coastal zone dimension of Ventura's STVR regulation adds a significant layer of complexity. As of December 2024, the city paused the issuance of new STVR permits while seeking certification of its STVR ordinance from the California Coastal Commission. Properties within the Coastal Zone — which includes much of the beachfront Pierpont neighborhood, the Ventura Keys, and areas near the harbor — may be subject to additional Coastal Act standards affecting short-term rental operations. Existing permit holders continue to operate under their current permits during this pause. Prospective operators or those whose permits are up for renewal should monitor the city's STVR program page for updates on Coastal Commission approval status.