CanIBnBCalifornia STR Rules
San Luis Obispo County · checked 2026-09-16

Can you BnB it in Morro Bay?

The rules, with their sources

Permit or licenseA permit or license is required before operating.L117.30.220.C.1 · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Permit capPermits are capped at 175.L117.30.220.D.1 · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Caps and limits17.30.220.D.1: maximum 175 full-home STVRs in residential zones with a chronologically maintained waiting list; home-share rentals exempt; no cap in commercial and mixed use zones. D.3: multi-family in commercial/MX capped at 12.5 percent of units (max 1 in buildings under 8 units).L117.30.220.D.1 · code text · checked 2026-09-16
SpacingA separation of 175 feet applies between rentals.L117.30.220 Short-term vacation rentals (IP), Title 17 Division III Chapter 17.30 Standards for Specific Uses; LCP amendment LCP-3-MRB certified via de minimis process reported September 9, 2021; zoning code certified by Coastal Commission 3/15/2024 as LCP-3-MRB-22-0059-2 · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Transfer when the home sells17.30.220.C.2: permits are non-transferable and unique to the specific property and property owner; a permit is not valid for a successor owner or host.L117.30.220.C.2 · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Read the code text →

In the city's own words

17.30.220.D.1“The maximum allowable number of full-home short-term vacation rentals in residential zones is one hundred seventy-five... No new permit applications for full-home short-term vacation rentals in a residential zone will be accepted until the number of active permits drops below one hundred seventy-five. This limitation shall not apply to home-share short-term vacation rentals in residential zones... No maximum number of short-term vacation rentals applies to the commercial and mixed-use zones.” source
17.30.220.C.2“Permits are non-transferable and are unique to the specific property and property owner. A permit for a property shall not be valid for a successor owner or host.” source
17.30.220.C.3“Short-term vacation rentals are permitted in residential, commercial, and mixed use zoning districts only. Full-home short-term vacation rentals in residential districts shall be subject to the density limitations of Section 17.30.220 D.” source
17.30.220.C.1“[Operators require a] short-term vacation rental permit from the city of Morro Bay, as well as a current and valid city business license... Permits shall be obtained by the property owner. Permits shall be valid for no more than twelve months, unless renewed.” source

Citation: 17.30.220 Short-term vacation rentals (IP), Title 17 Division III Chapter 17.30 Standards for Specific Uses; LCP amendment LCP-3-MRB certified via de minimis process reported September 9, 2021; zoning code certified by Coastal Commission 3/15/2024 as LCP-3-MRB-22-0059-2

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The checker resolves any California address to its jurisdiction and returns these rules with their verification level. Where a county or city publishes a licensed-rental registry or parcel map (Riverside County, San Diego, Palm Springs, and a growing list), it also runs parcel spacing, permit cap, and registry checks.

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.