In residential zones, a short-term rental must be the owner's primary residence. In commercial zones, an STR is allowed only on a lot already developed with an existing single-family dwelling. The County does not permit conversion of pure investment properties without these conditions.
Merced County's short-term rental framework is owner-oriented rather than treating STRs as open commercial lodging. In the residential zones (R-R, R-1, R-1-5000, R-2, R-3, R-4, M-H), the County's standards require that the short-term rental be the primary residence of the owner, meaning the host is expected to live at the property as their main home rather than operating a stand-alone investment rental. In commercial zones, Section 18.14.040(A)(7) limits short-term rentals to lots 'currently developed with an existing single-family dwelling' and approved through an Administrative Permit, and the Code states that short-term rentals 'do not include County approved hotels, motels, hostels, and time shares.' This primary-residence orientation steers short-term rentals toward home-sharing of an owner's actual residence and away from whole-neighborhood investor conversions. The requirement is enforced through the Administrative Permit process and any conditions of approval; a host who does not maintain the property as a primary residence (where required) may not qualify for or retain the permit.
Operating a short-term rental in a residential zone that is not the owner's primary residence, or without the required existing single-family dwelling in a commercial zone, is a violation that can result in permit denial or revocation and code enforcement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Merced County does not have its own curb-color ordinance; painted curbs in the unincorporated county follow California Vehicle Code Section 21458. Red means ...
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Merced County's Unified Development Ordinance requires off-street loading for commercial, mixed-use, and industrial uses. Under Section 18.38.210, such facil...
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Merced County restricts hazardous fence materials by zone. Barbed wire, electric fence, and razor wire are allowed only in agricultural and industrial zones;...
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Beyond height, Merced County's Chapter 18.34 sets sight-distance, corner-lot, and design requirements. Fences over 7 feet need a building permit, sight-trian...
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Merced County's zoning code exempts retaining walls less than 3 feet above finished grade from setback requirements. Separately, the California Building Code...
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Merced County does not use a dedicated 'hoarding' ordinance; excessive accumulation of animals is addressed through the pet-limit and permit rules (four dogs...
See how Merced County's primary-residence-only rule rules stack up against other locations.
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