Newport Beach, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

020 makes it unlawful for an owner to advertise or rent a lodging unit in a residential district or mixed-use area for 30 consecutive days or less without a valid short term lodging permit. 015 has barred new or renewed permits for single-unit residential (R-1) parcels since June 1, 2004 unless a permit already existed there and was never revoked. 042 caps citywide permits at 1,550: up to 1,475 in residential districts (with multi-unit developments of five or more units capped at 20 percent of units as short term lodgings) and up to 75 in the mixed-use area, with waiting lists maintained once each cap is reached.

Applications go to the Administrative Services Director and must include a business license, bedroom count, gross floor area, on-site parking description, a nuisance response plan, and CC&R review certification; renewal applications are due within 30 days of expiration or the permit is deemed abandoned. Permits can be denied only for lacking a business license, unpaid transient occupancy tax or fees, an inadequate nuisance response plan, or a prior revocation for the same unit and owner. A Council-set filing fee applies to new permits, renewals, reinstatements and transfers.