Orange County · checked 2026-09-13
Can you BnB it in Orange?
RestrictedOrange requires a Short Term Rental Permit, caps active permits by council resolution at 125, and the cap is reached with applications closed and a waitlist by email. Permits are personal to the owner named on the application, cannot run with the land or be held by an LLC or corporation, so a buyer starts over on the waitlist.
The rules, with their sources
Permit or licenseA permit or license is required before operating.L15.94.030A · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Hosted onlyThe code does not limit rentals to hosted stays.L1OMC Ch. 5.94, Secs. 5.94.010 to 5.94.090 (Ord. 05-21, 2021) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Primary residenceThe code does not require the rental to be the operator's primary residence.L1OMC Ch. 5.94, Secs. 5.94.010 to 5.94.090 (Ord. 05-21, 2021) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Permit capPermits are capped at 125.L15.94.060B · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Caps and limitsCode sets the cap by council resolution (5.94.060B); the city STR page states the maximum of 125 registrations is reached and the application process is closed, with a waitlist by email. Also, permits issue only to individuals or personal trusts (no corporations, LLCs, or business trusts) and no more than two permits per individual or personal trust (5.94.060A).L15.94.060B · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Transfer when the home sellsA permit does not constitute a vested right, shall not run with the land, and is personal and limited to the owner listed on the application (5.94.030B). No family, heir, trust conversion, or entity exceptions appear; permits cannot be held by corporations or LLCs at all, and each permit expires one year from issuance with annual renewal (5.94.030C). A buyer must apply anew, and with the cap reached that means the waitlist.L15.94.030B · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Read the code text →
In the city's own words
5.94.030A“No person shall operate a short term rental business unless a permit has been obtained in accordance with this chapter.” source
5.94.030B“A permit obtained under this chapter does not constitute a vested right, shall not run with the land, and shall be personal and limited to the owner listed on the application.” source
5.94.060B“The maximum number of active short term rental permits in the City shall be as established from time to time by resolution of the City Council.” source
5.94.060A“A short term rental permit shall only be issued for a property owned by an individual or a personal trust. No short term rental permit shall be issued to a corporation, a limited liability company, or any form of business trust.” source
Citation: OMC Ch. 5.94, Secs. 5.94.010 to 5.94.090 (Ord. 05-21, 2021)
Check a specific address
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 2026-09-13 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.