Orange County · checked 2026-09-16
Can you BnB it in San Clemente?
RestrictedSan Clemente requires an STLU zoning permit and operating license, caps short-term lodging units at 20 percent of housing units in each allowed area, and limits occupancy to two per bedroom plus two with a hard maximum of 10. Permits are owner-specific and terminate on any change of ownership, so a buyer cannot inherit a seller's permit.
The rules, with their sources
Permit or licenseA permit or license is required before operating.L117.16.145(A) · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Hosted onlyThe code does not limit rentals to hosted stays.L1SCMC 17.16.145 (STLU Zoning Permit), 17.28.292 (Short Term Lodging Units), 3.24 Article III (STLU Operating License); enacting ordinance numbers not captured in fragments · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Primary residenceThe code does not require the rental to be the operator's primary residence.L117.28.292 (STARs) · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Caps and limitsThe number of STLUs excluding STARs in any STLU Allowed Area is limited to a maximum of 20 percent of the total housing units within each STLU Allowed Area (17.28.292). The maximum number of STLUs allowed within any single dwelling unit is one (17.28.292(C)(2)). STLUs are prohibited on properties with affordability restrictions. Eligibility is parcel specific via the STLU Allowed Area maps (Appendix C, Subject-Specific Maps).L117.28.292 · code text · checked 2026-09-16
SpacingA separation of 300 feet applies between rentals.L117.28.292 · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Transfer when the home sellsAn STLU zoning permit is owner-specific and does not run with the land; any change of ownership terminates an existing STLU zoning permit (17.16.145(K)). No exceptions for heirs, trusts, or entity changes appear in the portions we read; the full text of 17.16.145(K) still needs a complete read to confirm there are no carve-outs. A buyer must apply for a new permit and, in saturated Allowed Areas at the 20 percent cap, may not be able to get one.L117.16.145(K) · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Read the code text →
In the city's own words
17.16.145(A)“An STLU zoning permit is required to operate an STLU.” source
17.16.145(K)“An STLU zoning permit is owner-specific and does not run with the land. Any change of ownership terminates an existing STLU zoning permit.” source
17.28.292“The number of STLUs excluding STARs, in any STLU Allowed Area [...] shall be limited to a maximum of 20 percent of the total housing units within each STLU Allowed Area” source
17.28.292(C)(2)“The maximum number of STLUs allowed within any single dwelling unit is one.” source
Citation: SCMC 17.16.145 (STLU Zoning Permit), 17.28.292 (Short Term Lodging Units), 3.24 Article III (STLU Operating License); enacting ordinance numbers not captured in fragments
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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.