Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Rules in Irvine, CA (2026)

Whether Irvine, CA permits short-term rentals (Airbnb/VRBO) has not been confirmed from an official source. Contact the local planning department through their official website to verify current STR rules — including whether hosting is permitted at all, registration requirements, and any local restrictions — before listing your property on Airbnb, VRBO, or a similar platform.

Statewide Preemption

Registration Requirements

Whether short-term rental registration is required in Irvine has not been confirmed from official sources. Contact the local planning department or local building department to verify current registration requirements before hosting on Airbnb, VRBO, or similar platforms.

Operational Rules

No specific operational rules listed for short-term rentals in Irvine beyond standard property codes.

• •Irvine adopted a Short-Term Rental Ordinance in 2022 after previously having an effective ban
• •Primary residence requirement — property must be host's primary home
• •Whole-home STR limited to 120 nights per year when host is not present
• •HOA permission may be required — many Irvine Planned Communities have CC&R STR restrictions
• •Maximum occupancy: 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional
• •Registration number required on all platform listings
• •Transient Occupancy Tax (12%) collected by platforms
• •Local contact person designation required

Penalties for Violations

Specific penalty amounts for STR violations in Irvine are not listed. Contact the local planning department for enforcement information.

• ⚠$1,000 per day for STR without city registration
• ⚠HOA violations for CC&R non-compliance — separate from city fines
• ⚠$500 per violation for noise or occupancy issues

Frequently Asked Questions