Santa Ana limits short-term rental operation to a host's primary residence. Investor-owned non-owner-occupied STRs are prohibited citywide, protecting long-term rental housing stock in the dense, Latino-majority urban core.
Under Santa Ana's STR program, only a host's primary residence (occupied at least 275 days yearly) qualifies for a permit. Hosts must show proof such as a driver's license, voter registration, or utility bills tying them to the dwelling. Operating an STR at a non-owner-occupied property triggers code enforcement. The rule pairs with the 2021 voter-approved Rent Stabilization framework to keep housing stock affordable for renters rather than tourists. Hosts are limited to one permitted STR address.
Operating an STR at a non-primary residence triggers permit revocation, fines escalating per night of unauthorized rental, and abatement of advertising listings.
Santa Ana, CA
Santa Ana completely prohibits short-term rentals (under 30 days) citywide as of April 2024. The City Council adopted an urgency ordinance banning all STR op...
Santa Ana, CA
Santa Ana completely prohibits short-term rentals (under 30 days) citywide as of April 2024. The City Council adopted an urgency ordinance banning all STR op...
See how other cities in Orange County handle primary-residence-only rule.
See how Santa Ana's primary-residence-only rule rules stack up against other locations.
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