Placer County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Base formula
- 2 per bedroom + 2 additional
- Children excluded
- Under 16 not counted
- Typical overall cap
- About 12 people overnight
- Increase possible
- Director discretion, case-by-case
- Disclosure
- Must appear in agreements and listings
- Code section
- Article 9.42 operational standards (9.42.080)
Summary
Placer County Code Article 9.42 sets maximum STR occupancy at two people per bedroom plus two additional people, excluding children under 16, and caps overnight occupancy regardless of square footage. The director may approve case-by-case increases.
Nighttime occupancy is defined as two people per bedroom, plus two additional people, up to a maximum of 12 guests, excluding children under twelve (12) years of age. Occupancy limits may be increased on a case-by-case basis, at the discretion of the agency director or if a permit has been issued by the county pursuant to Placer County Code Section 17.56.300(B) and shall not exceed occupancy design limits set by the California Building Code in effect at the time.
Full Breakdown
42, the maximum overnight occupancy of a short-term vacation rental in unincorporated eastern Placer County is defined as two people per bedroom plus two additional people, excluding children under 16. For example, a three-bedroom rental would allow eight people overnight ((3 x 2) + 2) before counting young children. Industry summaries of the ordinance note that overall overnight occupancy is generally not permitted to exceed roughly 12 people, and the director may grant a case-by-case increase at their discretion based on the property. The maximum occupancy figure must be declared in the permit application and disclosed in rental agreements and online listings.
The occupancy standard works together with the parking and noise rules: a bedroom must be a legally permitted sleeping room, and the county does not allow operators to inflate capacity by counting non-bedroom spaces. 080) and are enforced through the county's complaint and code-compliance process, with the local contact required to respond to violations.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the declared maximum occupancy is an operational-standards violation under Section 9.42.080 and can trigger notice to the local contact and escalating penalties under Section 9.42.100. Repeated overcrowding can lead to permit suspension or revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many guests can stay in a Placer County vacation rental?
Do children count toward the occupancy limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Placer County
California rules heatmap·Compare Placer County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.