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

Without a stand-alone STR ordinance, Ridgecrest does not publish a specific guests-per-bedroom or total-overnight-occupant cap for vacation rentals. Maximum occupancy is instead set by the California Building Code and California Fire Code as adopted in the Ridgecrest Municipal Code, which use bedroom count, sleeping-room square footage, and exit capacity to determine safe occupancy. A common STR-industry rule of thumb is two adults per bedroom plus two additional, but that is a platform convention, not a Ridgecrest code requirement. Daytime gatherings and parties remain subject to the city's general nuisance and disturbance-of-the-peace rules and to California Penal Code 415, and Kern County Sheriff and Ridgecrest Police can disperse gatherings that disturb neighbors regardless of headcount. STRs must still register with the Ridgecrest Finance Department for Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT applies to stays of 30 days or less). Hosts should confirm any current occupancy or gathering caps with the Ridgecrest Planning Division at 760-499-5061 and the Building Division before publishing a specific guest number, especially because STR rules in California cities have been changing rapidly.