The Santa Maria Municipal Code does not set a numeric overnight-guest or persons-per-bedroom limit specifically for short-term rentals. Practical limits come from California Building Code occupant-load calculations adopted by SMMC Chapter 9-04, the 30-day cap that defines 'transient' status in SMMC Chapter 3-9, and the Good Neighbor Rules in SMMC Chapter 4-7.
No section of the Santa Maria Municipal Code establishes a maximum number of overnight guests, daytime visitors, or persons-per-bedroom specifically for short-term rentals. Three regulatory frameworks set the practical occupancy ceiling. (1) The California Building Code, 2025 Edition, was adopted by Santa Maria Ordinance No. 2025-05 through SMMC Chapter 9-04 (Building Code) and SMMC Chapter 9-08 (Residential Code); sleeping-room minimum sizes, egress requirements, and occupant-load calculations apply to every dwelling rented to guests. (2) SMMC Chapter 3-9 defines a 'transient' as any person who exercises occupancy for a period of 30 consecutive calendar days or less; once the same guest stays beyond 30 days the rental loses 'transient' status, falls outside the TOT, and is generally treated as a long-term tenancy subject to California landlord-tenant law (including AB 1482 statewide rent caps where applicable). (3) SMMC Chapter 4-7 (Good Neighbor Rules) requires that any 'program, event, or activity' at the property comply with the occupancy limits specified in Title 9 (which incorporates the California Building Code occupant load) and the noise limits in Chapters 5-5 and 5-6. Operators are responsible for limiting attendance and controlling guest behavior so these limits are not exceeded. STR operators inside Santa Maria city limits should not assume the Santa Barbara County STR ordinance occupancy formula applies; that ordinance governs unincorporated areas only.
Exceeding the California Building Code occupant load can trigger building-code enforcement, red-tag notices, and citation under SMMC Chapter 9-04. Allowing a 'program, event, or activity' that exceeds Title 9 occupancy limits or violates noise standards is a misdemeanor under SMMC Section 4-7.07. Hosting parties that disturb neighbors can additionally trigger party-disturbance liability under SMMC Chapter 6-6, including liability for City administrative response costs.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Santa Maria, CA
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Santa Maria, CA
Sound-amplifying equipment is regulated in residential zones under Chapter 5-5, and Chapter 6-6 (Party Disturbances) makes hosting a party with sound 'plainl...
Santa Maria, CA
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Santa Maria, CA
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Santa Maria, CA
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