Ontario, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Ontario, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Development Code 5.03.363(B)
- Permit Term
- 12 months, annual inspection to renew
- Primary Residence
- Required; vacation rentals prohibited
- Business License
- Required (Title 3, Chapter 1, OMC)
- Allowed Zones
- AR-2, RE-2/4, LDR-5, MDR, HDR-45, MU zones
- Emergency Contact
- 24-hour response within 30 minutes
Summary
Ontario requires a Short-Term Rental Permit and a business license before any dwelling under 30 days is rented. Only the host's primary residence qualifies, and non-owner-occupied vacation rentals are prohibited.
Permit required for authorized short-term rental. No person, either for themselves or any other person, shall cause, allow, conduct, permit, maintain, or facilitate short-term rental at any dwelling unit within the city without first obtaining a short-term rental permit pursuant to this chapter, and complying with all other applicable provisions of this code. A short-term rental permit shall only be issued to authorize hosted stays and un-hosted stays. Vacation rentals are prohibited.
Full Breakdown
363 prohibits causing, allowing, conducting, permitting, maintaining, or facilitating a short-term rental at any dwelling unit without first obtaining a short-term rental permit. The permit authorizes only hosted stays and un-hosted stays; vacation rentals (dwellings that are not the host's primary residence) are prohibited outright. The dwelling must be the host's primary residence, and the host must be the property owner (or the spouse, parent, or adult child of the owner) or a tenant who occupied the property as a primary residence and has the owner's written authorization.
Applications go to the Planning Department (303 East B Street) via the Citizen Portal and must include a site/floor plan, documentation of the number of bedrooms (such as a County Assessor record), a parking plan, two forms of primary-residence proof in the host's name, emergency 24-hour/30-minute contact information, and evidence the applicant is obtaining a business license under Chapter 1 of Title 3 of the Ontario Municipal Code. STRs are allowed only in specified zones (AR-2, RE-2, RE-4, LDR-5, MDR-11/18/25, HDR-45, and MU zones). Permits are valid 12 months, require an annual inspection to renew, and are non-transferable.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a valid permit and business license is prohibited; advertising is prima facie evidence of operation. A violation is a public nuisance and a misdemeanor, with administrative civil penalties of $1,000 (first), $2,000 (second), and $3,000 (third and subsequent) per Section 5.03.363.K.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run an Airbnb in Ontario if I don't live there?
What do I need to apply for a short-term rental permit?
How long is the permit good for?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ontario
How Ontario compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare Ontario to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle short-term rental permits.