Sierra County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Under Sierra County Code Section 15.10.060, maximum occupancy for a short-term rental in unincorporated Sierra County is calculated at two persons per bedroom. That occupancy figure then drives the off-street parking requirement: one parking space for one to four persons, two spaces for five to six persons, and three spaces for seven to ten persons. The ordinance limits one STR to each legally created parcel; on multi-unit properties such as duplexes or apartments only one unit may operate as an STR while the others must be long-term rental, owner-occupied, or vacant. The ordinance also restricts which structures may serve as an STR. Caretaker houses or quarters, guest houses, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), junior accessory dwelling units, tiny houses, camp sites, travel trailers, campers, motorhomes, fifth wheels, boats, tents, and yurts cannot be used as short-term rentals. A short-term rental of only a portion of a residence is allowed, but the owner or owner's representative must be present on the property during that partial rental. These occupancy and structure rules are intended to preserve residential neighborhood character and limit nuisance impacts in the County's recreation communities like Downieville, Sierra City, and the Lakes Basin.