Orange County · checked 2026-09-16
Can you BnB it in Fullerton?
RestrictedFullerton requires a short-term rental permit, caps whole-house rentals at 100 citywide, and voids permits when the property is sold. A moratorium adopted in May 2025 and extended in July 2025 stops new permits into 2027 while the city rewrites its rules.
Proposed, not in effect: Urgency moratorium on new short-term rental permits, adopted May 20, 2025 (Ord. 3342) and extended July 15, 2025 for 22 months and 15 days while the city drafts comprehensive STR regulations; reported to run until 2027 with phase-out of non-compliant rentals. (council date 2025-07-15)
source. This page states adopted law only; a pending change is never written as current law.
The rules, with their sources
Permit or licenseA permit or license is required before operating.L115.55.020 · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Hosted onlyThe code does not limit rentals to hosted stays.L1FMC 15.55.020 F Short-term rentals (Title 15 Zoning, Chapter 15.55); STR regulations added by 2020 code amendment (Titles 4 and 15); section history shows Ord. 3340 (2025); moratorium: urgency Ord. 3342 (May 20, 2025) extended July 15, 2025 · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Primary residenceThe code does not require the rental to be the operator's primary residence.L1FMC 15.55.020 F Short-term rentals (Title 15 Zoning, Chapter 15.55); STR regulations added by 2020 code amendment (Titles 4 and 15); section history shows Ord. 3340 (2025); moratorium: urgency Ord. 3342 (May 20, 2025) extended July 15, 2025 · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Permit capPermits are capped at 100.L115.55.020 · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Caps and limitsWhole-house (owner not residing) STR permits are capped at a council-set maximum, currently 100 under Resolution 2021-30. The code also applies different separation rules to whole-house versus hosted bedroom rentals (details not fully captured).L115.55.020 · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Transfer when the home sellsPermits are not transferable to other properties or to future property owners or authorized agents; if the residence is sold to a new owner the permit is void. No exceptions for family, trusts, or entity transfers appear in the code text we read. The city program page repeats that permits are null and void upon property ownership transfer.L115.55.020 · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Read the code text →
In the city's own words
15.55.020“The owner or the owner's authorized representative is required to obtain a short-term rental permit.” source
15.55.020“The City Council, by resolution, shall establish a maximum number of whole-house short-term rental permits which may be issued.” source
15.55.020“Short-term rental permits are not transferable to other properties or to future property owners or authorized agents. If the residence is sold to a new owner, the permit is void.” source
Citation: FMC 15.55.020 F Short-term rentals (Title 15 Zoning, Chapter 15.55); STR regulations added by 2020 code amendment (Titles 4 and 15); section history shows Ord. 3340 (2025); moratorium: urgency Ord. 3342 (May 20, 2025) extended July 15, 2025
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How this page was verified
Verified from the municipal code (level 1), checked on 2026-09-16 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.