San Bernardino County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in San Bernardino County, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 84.28.040
- Permits per parcel <2 acres
- 1 maximum
- Permits per parcel >=2 acres
- 2 maximum
- Permits per STR owner
- 2 maximum countywide
- Transferable on sale
- No, new owner must reapply
Summary
Unincorporated San Bernardino County requires a current STR permit before any dwelling can be rented short-term, capped at one or two per parcel.
A property owner may use a dwelling unit as a STR only if said owner has a current valid STR permit and complies with the requirements of this Chapter and other applicable provisions of the County Code. A separate permit shall be required for each dwelling unit used as a STR when there is more than one legal dwelling unit on the parcel. A maximum of two STR permits may be issued for a parcel 2 acres or greater. A maximum of one STR permit may be issued for a parcel less than 2 acres.
Full Breakdown
County Code § 84.28.040 bars using a dwelling as a short-term rental without a valid STR permit issued for that specific unit. Parcels under 2 acres get one permit max; parcels 2 acres or larger get up to two. No owner may hold more than two active permits countywide, apartments in multi-family projects can't qualify, and permits are non-transferable on sale. This applies only to the unincorporated county, not the 24 cities inside it, each of which sets its own STR rules.
Violations & Fines
Renting without a valid STR permit, exceeding the per-parcel or per-owner permit cap, or transferring a permit to a new owner violates § 84.28.040.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent my unincorporated San Bernardino County home short-term without a permit?
How many STR permits can one property get?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino County
How San Bernardino County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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