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

Some cities limit STRs to an operator's primary residence as a middle-ground policy. Tustin does not take that approach; it bans short-term rentals outright. Per the City's official FAQ, 'Short term rentals are prohibited' and any residential rental under 30 days is treated as a hotel/motel use not allowed in residential districts. That prohibition does not distinguish between a primary residence and a non-primary one — there is no owner-occupancy exception that would let a homeowner legally host guests for under 30 days even in their own home. This is stricter than a primary-residence-only regime: in Tustin, even a resident owner who wants to rent a spare room on Airbnb for a weekend is engaged in a prohibited transient use if the term is under 30 days. The concept of a 'hosted' versus 'non-hosted' STR, central to cities like San Leandro, has no application in Tustin because neither is permitted. The only lawful way to rent a Tustin dwelling is on terms of 30 calendar days or more, which is a long-term tenancy rather than a short-term rental, and that is allowed whether or not the property is the owner's primary residence. Owners should not assume any owner-occupied home-sharing loophole exists; the City's published position is a flat prohibition.