Stanislaus County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Parking Rules (2026)

Because there is no dedicated short-term-rental ordinance, the County code contains no rule written specifically for guest parking at vacation rentals in unincorporated areas. The relevant constraint comes from the home-occupation criteria when the rental is treated as a home occupation. Chapter 21.94 requires that the use "not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic beyond that which is normal in a residential district nor in any case require the parking of more than two additional vehicles at any one time." That two-vehicle limit, intended to keep a home business indistinguishable from ordinary residential activity, is the closest thing to a parking cap that applies. The chapter also restricts outdoor storage and changes to the property's outside appearance, reinforcing that the parcel must continue to look and function like a residence. Beyond the home-occupation rules, off-street parking generally follows the parking requirements of the dwelling's zoning district; the zoning ordinance, for example, sets a standard of one space per guestroom plus one for guestroom or roominghouse uses. Operators should plan to keep guest vehicles on the property and within these limits. California has no statewide STR parking standard.