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

270(C)(1) requires short-term rentals to be the primary residence of the owner, as defined under the section. 270(B)(7) defines primary residence as an owner's permanent residence or usual place of return for housing, as documented by at least two forms of identification. 270(C)(3) limits the county to only one short-term rental per parcel. The rule applies to both categories the county defines: hosted rentals, where the owner or operator is present during the stay, and vacation rentals, where the entire residence is rented without the owner present, both capped at 30 days or less per stay.

270(C)(4), where a short-term rental may operate on a parcel with an existing agricultural tourism enterprise approved by Conditional Use Permit, located within 100 feet of and subordinate to that enterprise, without the same owner-occupancy showing. Every operator must also designate a local emergency contact within a 30-mile radius available 24 hours a day, register guests on arrival, and comply with the county's Transient Occupancy Tax.