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Richmond, CA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified April 2026

Key Facts

No Dedicated Numeric
No dedicated numeric cap; Building Code square-footage rules apply
Common Industry Standard
Common industry standard: 2 adults per bedroom plus 2
Quiet Hours 10
Quiet hours 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. under Chapter 9.52
Hosts Liable For
Hosts liable for guest conduct and nuisance violations
Parties And Events
Parties and events generally prohibited by platform and local rules

Summary

Richmond applies California Building Code occupancy standards and general nuisance provisions to short-term rentals rather than a dedicated per-room guest cap. A commonly applied rule of thumb is two adults per bedroom plus two additional occupants, and hosts are responsible for preventing overcrowding, excessive noise, and parking overflow.

Any building or portion thereof, regardless of zoning designation or approved uses of the building, including any dwelling unit, guestroom or suite of rooms, or the premises on which the same is located, in which there exists any of the following listed conditions to an extent that endangers the life, limb, health, property, safety, or welfare of the occupants of the building, nearby residents, or the public shall be deemed and hereby is declared to be a substandard building: (a) Inadequate sanitation shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) Lack of, or improper water closet, lavatory, or bathtub or shower in a dwelling unit. (2) Lack of, or improper water closets, lavatories, and bathtubs or showers per number of guests in

Source: Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 9.52 - NoiseView official code

Full Breakdown

Richmond has not adopted a specific numeric occupancy cap for short-term rentals, but several overlapping standards limit how many guests a host can accept. The California Building Code and Uniform Housing Code establish minimum square-footage requirements per occupant (70 sq ft for the first person in a sleeping room, 50 sq ft for each additional occupant). quiet hours, and hosts are responsible for guest conduct. 04 apply to the underlying residential use, and overflow onto public streets must comply with Vehicle Code parking rules. Best practice, widely used by Bay Area hosting platforms, is to limit guests to two per bedroom plus two additional occupants, post a house manual with quiet hours and parking instructions, and prohibit parties or events. Repeat nuisance complaints can result in abatement actions, business license revocation, and liability under Richmond's public nuisance provisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many guests can I host in a 3-bedroom home?
Richmond does not set a specific number, but the building code allows up to roughly 8 guests under typical square-footage rules, and platform-standard caps of 2 per bedroom plus 2 (so 8 total) are widely accepted.
What happens if neighbors complain repeatedly?
Code enforcement may issue nuisance citations, and the Finance Department can revoke the TOT certificate and Business License after repeated violations.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Richmond

All Richmond rules

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