Imperial County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)

Some California jurisdictions require a short-term rental to be the host's primary residence (or cap non-owner-occupied rentals), but unincorporated Imperial County has no such rule because there is no dedicated vacation-rental ordinance to contain one. The Title 9 Land Use Ordinance does not distinguish between owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied transient rentals, and it has no homestead or primary-residence trigger for renting. What governs instead is the use classification: residential zones authorize dwellings and accessory dwelling units, while transient commercial lodging (hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, or guest ranch) is a separate use allowed only in the appropriate commercial or agricultural zones, sometimes only with a Conditional Use Permit. So whether a rental is lawful turns on the parcel's zoning and use approval, not on whether the owner lives there. The 8% Transient Occupancy Tax under Chapter 4.16 applies equally to owner-occupied and investor-owned transient rentals. Because the County has not created an STR program, there is also no owner-occupancy affidavit, no cap on investor-owned rentals, and no homestead exemption from STR rules. Owners considering a non-owner-occupied rental in unincorporated areas should still confirm zoning compliance with Planning & Development Services, since an unpermitted lodging use is enforceable regardless of residency.