Clackamas County, OR Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Base occupancy formula
- 2 per sleeping area + 4 more
- Absolute maximum
- 15 occupants per rental
- Roll-out/fold-out beds
- Don't count as sleeping areas
- Partial-unit rentals
- All occupants count toward the 15 cap
- Posting requirement
- Limit must be posted and in ads
Summary
Clackamas County caps short-term rental occupancy at two people per sleeping area plus four more, with an absolute ceiling of 15 occupants no matter how large the house is, under Code Section 8.10.050(C).
C. Maximum Occupancy. The number of occupants in the short-term rental shall not exceed the number of occupants authorized in the registration. The maximum occupancy shall be clearly posted in the short-term rental, disclosed in any advertising of the availability of the short-term rental, and included in any rental agreement with tenants. The maximum occupancy authorized in the registration for the short-term rental shall be calculated as follows: 1. Two occupants per sleeping area, plus four additional occupants. 2. Roll-out beds, fold-out couches, or other similar temporary beds shall not be considered a "sleeping areas" for the purposes of calculating maximum allowed occupancy, but could accommodate the four additional occupants. 3. In no case shall more than 15 occupants be authorized by a short-term rental registration.
Full Breakdown
Section 8.10.050(C) ties maximum occupancy to the number authorized on the registration, calculated as two occupants per sleeping area plus four additional occupants. A sleeping area is defined in Section 8.10.020(K) as a room or other space within the dwelling designed and intended primarily for sleeping; roll-out beds, fold-out couches, and similar temporary beds do not count as sleeping areas for this formula, though they can be used to house the four additional occupants. Regardless of how many sleeping areas a home has, Section 8.10.050(C)(3) caps every short-term rental at 15 occupants, and if only part of a dwelling is rented out, everyone on the property, including people staying in the non-rented portion, counts toward that 15-person ceiling. The maximum occupancy figure must be posted clearly inside the rental, disclosed in every advertisement of the rental's availability, and written into any rental agreement with tenants, so a prospective guest can confirm the limit before booking.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the posted maximum occupancy violates Section 8.10.050(C) and, like any Chapter 8.10 violation, can draw an immediate citation under Section 8.10.080(D) without a prior warning letter. The cited owner or occupant has 30 days to resolve the overcrowding and pay any penalty, or to request a hearing under Chapter 2.07. Section 8.10.090 allows the county to suspend or revoke the short-term rental registration in addition to a fine set by Board of County Commissioners resolution, and a registration found to misstate occupancy on its posted notice or advertising is treated the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can stay at a short-term rental in Clackamas County?
Do sofa beds count as sleeping areas for the occupancy limit?
If I only rent part of my house, does everyone in the house count toward the cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clackamas County
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