San Clemente, CA Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)

292(C)(4) sets the noise and conduct standard for renters and guests of any Short-term Lodging Unit or Short-term Apartment Rental. It prohibits unreasonable noise or disturbances, disorderly conduct, and violations of any code provision or state or federal law, expressly naming noise, disorderly conduct, alcohol consumption, and illegal drug use as covered categories. Critically, the ordinance places responsibility on the STLU owner, not just the renter, stating the owner shall ensure compliance with the provision. That duty connects directly to Subsection C(5), which requires the owner to provide a 24-hour emergency contact who will respond, on-site if requested, within 30 minutes of a complaint about the condition, operation, or conduct of renters or guests.

Subsection C(12) then requires that once an owner is notified a renter or guest violated the noise and disorderly conduct standard, or the separate occupancy-limit standard in C(11), the owner must promptly notify the renter and take action to prevent a recurrence, though the code is careful to say the owner is not expected to act as a law-enforcement officer or place themselves in harm's way. STLUs also cannot host weddings, bachelor or bachelorette parties, or similar events under C(8), which functions as a companion party ban alongside the noise standard, and occupancy is separately capped at two persons per legal bedroom plus two, up to a citywide maximum of 10.