Santa Paula, CA Short-Term Rentals: Parking Rules (2026)

The City of Santa Paula has formally confirmed in its public FAQ that short-term rentals are not permitted citywide. Per the Community Development Department, the city has not adopted an STR ordinance or program because staff determined there is insufficient demand to justify the cost of operating one, and there are no current plans to do so. Because state ADU law (Gov. Code 65852.2) requires accessory dwelling units to be rented for terms of 31 days or more, ADUs and junior ADUs in Santa Paula likewise cannot be used as short-term rentals. With STRs prohibited, there is no separate set of STR parking rules; instead, properties must satisfy the standard residential off-street parking requirements in Santa Paula Municipal Code Chapter 16.46 (Parking and Loading), including Section 16.46.040 (Number of Parking Spaces Required, Table 46-1), Section 16.46.100 (Parking Standards and Dimensions), and Section 16.46.110 (Residential Garages and Carports). Each parking space within a garage or carport must be a minimum of 10 feet wide by 20 feet long. Driveways serving a single-family dwelling must be at least 10 feet wide, expanding to 20 feet for driveways longer than 200 feet (SPMC 16.46.070). Operating an unpermitted vacation rental, Airbnb, or similar transient rental in Santa Paula is a zoning violation regardless of how on-site parking is configured. Owners who want to host paying guests should look to allowed lodging uses or the standard 31-day-minimum residential rental model.