Riverside County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Space standard
- 200 sq ft per occupant
- Cap, <=0.5 acre
- 10 persons
- Cap, 0.5-2 acres
- 16 persons
- Cap, >2 acres
- 20 persons
- First-violation fine
- $1,500
Summary
Unincorporated Riverside County caps short-term rental occupancy at 200 square feet per guest, with a hard ceiling of 10 to 20 people depending on lot size.
The occupancy of a short term rental is limited to two hundred (200) square feet per person, up to a maximum number of occupants that is determined by the size of the property, as follows: i. For properties of one-half acre or less in size, the maximum number of occupants shall not exceed ten (10) persons; ii. For properties of more than one-half acre and up to two (2) gross acres in size, the maximum number of occupants shall not exceed sixteen (16) persons; iii. For properties of over two gross acres in size, the maximum number of occupants shall not exceed twenty (20) persons.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 84 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
County Code section 5.84.080.H limits short-term rental occupancy to 200 square feet per person, then applies a lot-size ceiling: 10 occupants max on parcels of one-half acre or less, 16 on parcels between one-half and two gross acres, and 20 on parcels over two gross acres. Wine Country properties face further limits under the section 5.84.090 rental classification rules. Multiple dwellings on one lot do not raise the cap. This applies only in the unincorporated county; Riverside, Temecula, Palm Springs, Indio and the county's other 24 cities set their own STR occupancy rules.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the posted maximum occupancy is a cited violation: $1,500 first offense, $3,000 second within a year, $5,000 for each additional offense on the same rental, plus possible certificate revocation after repeat notices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum occupancy for a Riverside County short-term rental?
Does adding a second house on the lot raise the occupancy limit?
Does this rule apply inside the City of Riverside?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside County
California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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