Overnight occupancy at a Santa Cruz short-term rental is capped at two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons. Only one rental agreement may be in effect at a time, vehicles are limited by bedroom count, and special events such as weddings and parties are prohibited.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code 24.12.1770 sets the operational standards for all short-term rentals. Maximum overnight occupancy is two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons, regardless of the age of the occupant. Only one rental agreement may be in effect at any one time. Vehicles are limited to one per one-bedroom unit, two per two- or three-bedroom unit, and one additional vehicle per bedroom above three. Special events (weddings, parties, large engagements) are expressly not allowed, and the maximum number of guests must be posted inside the unit. Quiet hours of 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. apply, and owners must designate a 24/7 local contact who lives within 20 miles and can respond within 30 minutes of a complaint.
Exceeding occupancy or violating operational standards is enforceable under SCMC 24.12.1790: first two violations in a year are infractions; three violations in one year escalate to a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and/or six months in county jail.
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