Antioch, CA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Per-Bedroom Cap
- None set by City of Antioch
- Annual Day Cap
- None set by City of Antioch
- Dwelling Definition
- Permanent occupancy, § 9-5.203
- Hotel Threshold
- 6+ guest rooms = hotel use (§ 9-5.203)
- Boarding House
- Lodging ≥30 days (§ 9-5.203)
- RSO Coverage
- Stays ≤30 days exempt from RSO (§ 11-1.08)
Summary
Antioch has no city-specific overnight or annual day-count limits on short-term rentals. The zoning code, however, defines a 'dwelling unit' as housing occupied on a permanent basis for no more than one family, which constrains intensive STR use in residential zones.
Hotels, vacation rentals, and other properties used for short-term rentals of no more than 30 days [are exempt from the Rent Stabilization Ordinance].
Full Breakdown
The City of Antioch has not codified per-bedroom occupancy caps, total-guest gathering caps, or annual hosted/non-hosted day limits for short-term rentals (such as the 90/180-day caps that Contra Costa County applies in unincorporated areas under Chapter 88-32). 203 defines a 'dwelling unit' as 'A room or a suite of interconnecting rooms used for sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation, designed or occupied for use as a separate quarters on a permanent basis for no more than one family,' which the Code expressly distinguishes from 'hotel' (defined in the same section as 'Any building, or portion thereof, containing six or more guest rooms which are occupied or are intended to be occupied by six or more individuals for compensation') and from 'boarding house' (defined as housing for lodging 'for periods of at least 30 days').
Because the residential dwelling unit definition is keyed to 'permanent' occupancy, very intensive non-hosted STR use can be challenged by Code Enforcement as an unpermitted hotel or boarding-house use in zones where those uses are not permitted. 08, FAQ confirms exemption covers 'Hotels, vacation rentals, and other properties used for short-term rentals of no more than 30 days'), and any conditions imposed via business license review.
Violations & Fines
Operating a residential dwelling as a de facto hotel or boarding house contrary to § 9-5.203 definitions and the underlying zoning's table of land use regulations (§ 9-5.3803) is a zoning violation subject to Code Enforcement action under AMC Chapter 1-5, including administrative citations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many guests can I have at an Antioch short-term rental?
Is there a maximum number of days I can rent my Antioch home short-term?
Does the Antioch Rent Stabilization Ordinance apply to short-term rentals?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Antioch
California rules heatmap·Compare Antioch to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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Occupancy Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Contra Costa County handle occupancy limits.