Stockton, CA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- STR-specific cap
- None adopted
- Governing code
- SMC 15.24 + 2024 IPMC §404
- Min sleeping area
- 70 sq ft (1) + 50/add'l
- State backstop
- Cal. UHC §503
- Max fine (SB 60)
- Up to $5,000/violation
Summary
Stockton has not adopted a short-term-rental-specific occupancy cap. Maximum occupancy of any STR dwelling is governed instead by the California Uniform Housing Code (UHC §503) and Stockton's adopted Property Maintenance Code (SMC Chapter 15.24, 2024 IPMC effective April 3, 2025), which set minimum sleeping-room and floor-area requirements per occupant.
Any building or portion thereof, regardless of zoning designation or approved uses of the building, including any dwelling unit, guestroom or suite of rooms, or the premises on which the same is located, in which there exists any of the following listed conditions to an extent that endangers the life, limb, health, property, safety, or welfare of the occupants of the building, nearby residents, or the public shall be deemed and hereby is declared to be a substandard building: (a) Inadequate sanitation shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) Lack of, or improper water closet, lavatory, or bathtub or shower in a dwelling unit. (2) Lack of, or improper water closets, lavatories, and bathtubs or showers per number of guests in
Full Breakdown
Stockton has not enacted a standalone STR ordinance with a per-bedroom guest cap (such as the typical '2 per bedroom + 2' rules found in cities like San Diego or Sonoma County). Instead, occupancy is limited by general housing code: under the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code adopted in SMC Chapter 15.24, every bedroom used for sleeping must contain at least 70 square feet for the first occupant plus 50 square feet for each additional occupant (IPMC §404.4.1, §404.5). California's Uniform Housing Code likewise sets minimum dwelling unit floor area: at least 120 sq ft for the first room used for living purposes plus 70 sq ft per bedroom for two occupants. Operators advertising more guests than these floor-area calculations permit can be cited for overcrowding under SMC 15.24.
Violations & Fines
Overcrowding violations are processed under SMC Chapter 15.24 (Property Maintenance Code) through code enforcement. Per SB 60 (Cal. Gov. Code §53069.4), municipalities may impose fines for health-or-safety-related STR infractions of up to $1,500 first violation, $3,000 second, $5,000 each additional within one year. Persistent overcrowding can result in red-tag/notice-to-vacate orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many guests can my Stockton Airbnb sleep?
Is there a bedroom-count rule like '2 per bedroom + 2'?
What's the penalty for overcrowding an STR?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stockton
California rules heatmap·Compare Stockton to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Occupancy Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Joaquin County handle occupancy limits.