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

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.