CanIBnBCalifornia STR Rules
County jurisdiction · checked 2026-09-13

Can you BnB it in unincorporated Contra Costa County?

The rules, with their sources

Permit or licenseA permit or license is required before operating.L188-32.402 · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Hosted onlyThe code does not limit rentals to hosted stays.L1County Ordinance Code Title 8 Zoning, Division 88 Special Land Uses, Chapter 88-32 Short-Term Rentals (Ord. 2020-12 Sec. II, 6-2-20; definitions amended by Ord. No. 2024-23 Sec. III (Exh. A), 12-3-24) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Primary residenceThe code does not require the rental to be the operator's primary residence.L1County Ordinance Code Title 8 Zoning, Division 88 Special Land Uses, Chapter 88-32 Short-Term Rentals (Ord. 2020-12 Sec. II, 6-2-20; definitions amended by Ord. No. 2024-23 Sec. III (Exh. A), 12-3-24) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Night capUnhosted rentals are capped at 90 nights per year.L1County Ordinance Code Title 8 Zoning, Division 88 Special Land Uses, Chapter 88-32 Short-Term Rentals (Ord. 2020-12 Sec. II, 6-2-20; definitions amended by Ord. No. 2024-23 Sec. III (Exh. A), 12-3-24) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Caps and limits88-32.602 sets the day caps: non-hosted rentals a maximum of 90 days per calendar year, hosted rentals a maximum of 180 days per calendar year, and an overall maximum of 180 days per year. Only one short-term rental is allowed per lot, and units in buildings with five or more dwelling units are prohibited. Occupancy is two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons, with children under 12 not counted, and 88-32.604 caps occupancy at 20 persons at any time. Parking is one space for three or fewer bedrooms and two spaces for four or more, on the same lot, and guest vehicles may not exceed the number of spaces. Accessory dwelling units may not be operated as short-term rentals (88-32.606). Deed-restricted below market rate units are a ground for denial (88-32.408). No citywide or countywide numeric cap on the number of permits was found.L188-32.602 · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Transfer when the home sells88-32.414 is titled Permits Not Transferable and states in full that a short-term rental permit may not be transferred. The chapter provides no exception for family members, heirs, spouses, trusts, or entity or LLC membership changes, no transfer application window, no grace period, and no language making the permit run with the land. Ministerial permits expire one year from approval and renewal must be filed at least 30 calendar days before expiration (88-32.410), so a buyer must file a new application rather than renew the seller's permit. The application requires the property owner's consent and, for hosted rentals, documentation that the host's primary residence is on the same lot (88-32.406).L188-32.414 · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Read the code text →

In the county's own words

88-32.402“No person shall establish or operate a short-term rental in the unincorporated area of the county without first obtaining a permit.” source
88-32.414“A short-term rental permit may not be transferred.” source
88-32.602“Non-hosted rentals: max 90 days per calendar year; hosted: max 180 days per calendar year; overall max 180 days per year.” source
88-32.606“An accessory dwelling unit may not be operated as a short-term rental.” source

Citation: County Ordinance Code Title 8 Zoning, Division 88 Special Land Uses, Chapter 88-32 Short-Term Rentals (Ord. 2020-12 Sec. II, 6-2-20; definitions amended by Ord. No. 2024-23 Sec. III (Exh. A), 12-3-24)

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How this page was verified

Verified from the municipal code (level 1), checked on 2026-09-13 by the CanIBnB research desk. Research is AI assisted and human reviewed; the method, the level system, and the re-check schedule are on the How we verify page. If anything here is wrong, report it and it goes in the public corrections log.