Short-term rental permit rules in Orange County, CA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Unincorporated Orange County requires a Short-Term Rental (STR) permit before operating any rental of 30 days or less. The permit costs $250 and is obtained through OC Development Services. Operating without a permit triggers $1,000 per day penalties.
All short-term rentals in unincorporated Orange County must obtain a permit from OC Development Services with a $250 application fee. Applications are submitted through the myOCeServices portal. The permit process typically takes 3 to 8 weeks. Maximum overnight occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons. Parking requirements mandate that street parking remain available, with a maximum of one vehicle per one-bedroom unit or two vehicles for two or more bedrooms. STRs may not display exterior advertising signs. OC Code Enforcement proactively monitors STR listings and issues notices of violation for unpermitted rentals. Two or more violations result in permit revocation and a one-year ban on operating an STR.
$1,000 per day for unpermitted short-term rental operation, with each day constituting a separate violation. Two or more violations result in permit revocation and ineligibility to operate an STR for one year.
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See how Orange County's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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