Buena Park, CA Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)

Buena Park's ordinance is built around owner-occupancy. Section 19.348.080(E)(2) requires the host to reside on the property on which the short-term rental is located, and a rented sleeping area must at minimum include shared use of a full bathroom. The application must include documentation - driver's license, voter registration, vehicle registration, utility bills, or property tax records - establishing that the host resides at the unit as their primary residence; 'resides' is defined as legal/primary residence as reflected in title records, homeowner's exemption, voter or vehicle registration. The FAQ confirms: 'Per City Ordinance #1675, the property owner is required to reside on site in order to host a Short Term Rental. Whole home rentals are not permitted in Buena Park.' Only one or several rooms within the home may be rented. 'Owner' is defined as a person or persons - not a corporation or LLC - holding fee title, which eliminates investor and corporate STRs. Accessory dwelling units cannot be used as STRs, and Section 19.348.080(E)(10) makes a permit void upon approval of an ADU on the property; if an ADU exists, no structure on the property (including the primary home) may be an STR. Structures not built for habitable use (tents, trailers, tree houses, garages, sheds, RVs) cannot be rented or used to satisfy the owner-occupancy requirement.