Butte County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Max Rentable Bedrooms
- 5
- Septic Hard Ceiling
- 10 overnight guests
- Public Sewer Ceiling
- 14 overnight guests
- Septic Formula
- 2 guests per approved bedroom
- Un-hosted Cap
- 90 nights/year (180 on 5+ ac)
- Daytime Visitors
- 1 per overnight guest, max 10
Summary
Butte County caps short-term rentals at five rented bedrooms, two guests per approved bedroom on septic, and a hard overnight ceiling of 10 guests on septic or 14 on public sewer. Un-hosted stays are also capped at 90 nights per year.
No more than five (5) bedrooms shall be rented for short-term rental purposes. Bedrooms shall contain a minimum of seventy (70) square feet for two occupants and an additional fifty (50) square feet for each additional occupant. Properties served by an on-site septic system are limited to two (2) overnight guests per approved bedroom and shall not exceed ten (10) overnight guests; properties served by public sewer shall not exceed fourteen (14) overnight guests. Un-hosted stays are limited to ninety (90) nights per calendar year, except that parcels in zones with a five-acre or greater minimum may host un-hosted stays for up to one hundred eighty (180) nights per year. The property owner shall clearly state the maximum number of occupants and parking spaces in any rental listing or advertisement.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
1(I)(7) sets the occupancy and parking standards for short-term rentals. Bedrooms used for STR purposes must provide at least 70 square feet for two occupants plus 50 square feet for each additional occupant, and no more than five bedrooms may be rented in any short-term rental. The total nighttime occupancy depends on wastewater service: a property on a septic system is limited to two guests per approved bedroom with an absolute maximum of 10 overnight guests, while a property on public sewer is limited to a maximum of 14 overnight guests.
On-site residents count against the occupancy total. Un-hosted stays (where the resident is off-site during the rental) are capped at 90 nights per calendar year, increased to 180 nights for parcels in zones with a 5+ acre minimum. The ordinance further allows one daytime visitor per overnight occupant up to a maximum of ten total daytime visitors, with one additional parking space required for every two daytime visitors. Tandem parking is permitted only if parallel parking is unavailable. The owner must clearly state the maximum number of occupants and parking spaces in every rental listing and advertisement.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the posted occupancy or parking limits is an enforceable violation of Section 24-172.1, counts as a strike under the three-strikes revocation rule (Section 24-172.1(J)(1)), and can lead to permit revocation if three verifiable citations occur within 24 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many guests can sleep in my Butte County short-term rental?
Can I rent my Butte Meadows cabin out year-round if I do not live there?
Are daytime visitors counted against the occupancy limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Butte County
California rules heatmap·Compare Butte County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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