Pacifica, CA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Overnight occupancy cap
- 2 renters per legally permitted bedroom
- Exemption
- Children under 6 not counted
- Visitor cap
- Half the maximum renter count
- Visitor hours
- 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Bedroom count source
- Verified at pre-permit inspection
Summary
Pacifica caps overnight occupancy at every short-term rental to two renters per legally permitted bedroom. Municipal Code Section 9-4.4905(m) excludes children under six from that count, and the same operation-requirements section separately limits visitors to half the maximum renter count and restricts visiting hours to between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
(m)Maximum overnight occupancy for all short-term rentals shall not exceed two (2) short-term renters per legally permitted bedroom. Children under the age of six (6) shall not count towards these occupancy limits;
Full Breakdown
4905(m) sets the hard occupancy ceiling for every permitted short-term rental in the City: no more than two short-term renters per legally permitted bedroom may stay overnight, and children under the age of six do not count toward that limit. 4904(d) before issuing the permit, so the occupancy cap is tied to a number the City has independently verified rather than one the operator self-reports. m. , no outdoor pool, spa or hot tub use during those same hours, no audible outdoor sound equipment at any time, and a mandatory exterior noise monitor the operator must maintain and retain readings from for 30 days after each rental.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the two-renters-per-bedroom cap in Section 9-4.4905(m) is a violation of the operation requirements enforceable by administrative citation or misdemeanor prosecution under Section 9-4.4909, carrying a misdemeanor fine of up to $1,000 or graduated infraction fines up to $5,000 for repeated over-occupancy within a year, and the City revokes the permit outright on a second violation within twelve months.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can stay overnight at a Pacifica short-term rental?
Can a Pacifica short-term rental host a large daytime gathering?
Does an unpermitted bedroom count toward a Pacifica short-term rental's occupancy limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pacifica
California rules heatmap·Compare Pacifica to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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Occupancy Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Mateo County handle occupancy limits.