San Clemente, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in San Clemente, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Two approvals needed
- STLU operating license plus STLU zoning permit
- Issuing office
- Finance and Administrative Services / Community Development
- License term
- 12 months, renewed annually
- Runs with owner only
- Terminates automatically on sale (§3.24.180.C)
- Unlicensed operation
- Misdemeanor under § 3.24.270
Summary
Operating or advertising a short-term lodging unit in San Clemente requires two approvals: an STLU operating license from the Finance and Administrative Services Director's office and, separately, an STLU zoning permit confirming the property is zoned for the use. Both attach to the owner rather than the property and end automatically when ownership changes, under Municipal Code § 3.24.180.
No STLU as defined in this chapter shall be advertised rented or operated without an STLU operating license. No STLU as defined in Chapter 17.88 shall be advertised rented or operated without an STLU zoning permit. ... An STLU operating license is owner-specific and does not run with the land. Any change of ownership terminates an existing STLU operating license and requires a new STLU operating license to be issued to the new owner for continued operation of the STLU. ... No STLU operating license shall be issued for an STLU unless (1) the STLU is permitted under the requirements of Title 17 of this code or (2) the STLU is a legally established nonconforming use under Subsection 17.72.060(F).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Traffic: Supplement 30 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 66 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
190. 200. 210. New applications are processed first-come-first-served, but a renewal filed before the existing license expires is treated as a renewal instead.
Violations & Fines
Advertising, renting, or operating an STLU without a valid operating license, or advertising one after its license lapses, is a misdemeanor under § 3.24.270. Because the license does not run with the land, a buyer who keeps renting under the seller's license is also operating unlicensed and faces the same misdemeanor exposure until a new license is issued in their name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need one permit or two to run an STLU in San Clemente?
Does the license transfer when I sell the property?
How long does an STLU license last?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Clemente
How San Clemente compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare San Clemente 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 Orange County handle short-term rental permits.