Marin County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Neighbor Notice
- Required before license
- Trigger
- Initial and renewal
- Primary-Residence Threshold
- 6 months/year
- Stinson Beach Cap
- 192
- Dillon Beach Cap
- 204
Summary
Marin County requires short-term rental owners to notify occupants of neighboring properties before obtaining or renewing a business license. The 2024 ordinance also limits new non-primary STRs through waitlists when townships exceed their license cap.
uired by this code, except those buildings or portions thereof that conformed with all applicable laws at the time of their construction and whose fire-resistive integrity and fire-extinguishing systems or equipment have been adequately maintained and improved in relation to any increase in occupant load, alteration or addition, or any change in occupancy. (n) All buildings or portions thereof occupied for living, sleeping, cooking, or dining purposes that were not designed or intended to be used for those occupancies. (o) Inadequate structural resistance to horizontal forces.
Full Breakdown
Under Marin County's updated short-term rental ordinance, notification of a short-term rental property in unincorporated Marin must be provided to people occupying neighboring properties before the short-term rental owner can obtain or renew a Business License. The Community Development Agency maintains waitlists for STR licenses in townships where the number of applicants exceeds the available licenses, with stricter limits for Stinson Beach (192) and Dillon Beach (204). The $600 application fee applies to new STRs and to existing STRs where the dwelling is not lived in as the primary dwelling for at least six months each year.
Violations & Fines
Failure to provide neighbor notification before license issuance or renewal is grounds for denial under the 2024 STR ordinance. Operating without notification or proper licensing triggers CDA Code Compliance enforcement, with administrative fines and possible removal from the STR program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to tell my neighbors before short-term renting in Marin?
What counts as a primary residence for Marin STR purposes?
Is there a waitlist for STR licenses in Marin County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marin County
California rules heatmap·Compare Marin County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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