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

STR occupancy in San Bernardino follows the two-per-bedroom-plus-two formula used widely across California. A two-bedroom home is typically capped at six overnight guests, a three-bedroom at eight, and so on, with a citywide hard ceiling reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The overnight cap must be stated on the permit and inside the listing, and the number of daytime guests during a gathering cannot exceed twice the overnight limit absent a special event permit. Party houses are a specific target of enforcement: advertised parties, weddings, receptions, and filming shoots require separate special event permits and written approval from the Planning Department. Code Enforcement may suspend or revoke an STR permit summarily when an oversized gathering is verified by police or neighbor complaints. California Health and Safety Code provisions on crowd safety and exit capacity also apply to gatherings. Hosts should use smart technology such as noise monitors and occupancy sensors to document compliance, but recording guests inside the unit without consent is prohibited under California two-party consent law Penal Code 632. Infants under two are generally not counted against the occupancy cap when sleeping in a parent room. Hot tubs and pools have separate bather-load limits under county public health rules that can be more restrictive than the STR occupancy cap.