With new short-term rental laws to navigate, figuring out how to Airbnb a house in Oceanside CA is complicated. Beginning on June 19th, 2019, if you rent a unit (or room) out for <30 days, it is considered a short-term rental in Oceanside. Becoming a successful Airbnb host is harder due to the new city ordinance for short-term rental licenses. There are exemptions to needing a permit, like if you live on the property yourself. However, not all hopeful Airbnb hosts are that lucky.
Here is a complete guide on how to navigate the short-term rental laws in Oceanside, which will help you identify if you need a license to Airbnb your house.
Does Oceanside Allow Short-term Rentals
The new Oceanside short-term rental ordinance allows Airbnb and VRBO rentals to occur under certain circumstances. As an Airbnb host, pending any exemptions, you must have a permit from the city of Oceanside before you can advertise or rent out your space. The short-term rental license is valid for 12 months and must be renewed annually.
The city is nervous about the treatment of short-term tenants and Airbnb guests, which is why they require the following:
- Someone must be available 24/7 to respond to complaints from the occupants of the short-term rental unit
- Short-term rental property owners should provide a phone number to call for complaints
Oceanside Short-term Rental Laws: Pros
Thankfully, the new short-term rental ordinance in Oceanside isn’t all bad. There are several short-term rental permit exemptions if an Airbnb host meets certain requirements:
License Exemption #1
- Primary Residence – if an Airbnb host lives in the house, or on the property, as their primary residence, they are exempt from needing a short-term rental license. Woohoo!
- Example 1: if you live in a single-family house and want to rent out the rooms on Airbnb, you can without a permit.
- Example 2: if you live in an ADU that you built in your backyard, you can live in the ADU and rent out your home on Airbnb.
- Example 3: if you live in a house and have an ADU in the backyard that was built before September 9th, 2017 with the proper permits, you don’t need a short-term rental license.
- Example 4: if you live in a duplex, you don’t need a short-term rental license to rent out the other unit on VRBO. This is a common way that homeowners successfully house hack in California.
License Exemption #2
- Gated HOA with +50 Units – if you live in a gated HOA community with +50 units, you’re allowed to Airbnb your property in Oceanside without a permit. Score! The community must meet certain parking requirements and also have 24-hour security or on-site management.
Note: As a short-term rental property owner in Oceanside, you still need to hold a valid TOT certificate even if you are exempt from needing a short-term rental license.
Oceanside Short-term Rental Laws: Cons
If you are exempt from needing a permit to Airbnb your house, fantastic! Sadly, not everyone is that lucky. Here is the downside of the new short-term rental license regulations in Oceanside.
Minimum Night Stay
You cannot rent out your apartment on Airbnb in Oceanside for only 1 night. There is a 2-night minimum for all short-term rental agreements.
Airbnb Guest Limit
Gone are the days when you could pack people into rooms and make tons of rental income from your Airbnb in Oceanside. Based on the new short-term rental laws, you are limited to two guests per room plus two more people per unit. Oside is trying to avoid Airbnb hosts piling items into rooms with tons of guests sleeping on bunk beds.
- Example: if you have a 3-bedroom house, you can rent it to a maximum of 8 people.
Daytime Guest Limit
There is also a limit to how many daytime guests that can be in your Airbnb property. That number is 10 people total regardless of the bedroom count, between the hours of 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM.
Steps to Airbnb Your House in Oceanside
Now, it’s time to get your short-term rental portfolio into gear! For hopeful Airbnb hosts that aren’t exempt from needing a permit, here are the steps that you can take to start renting out your property to short-term tenants.
Apply for Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate
Regardless of your exemption status, all short-term rental properties in Oceanside are required to hold a valid Transient Occupancy Tax Certificate.
- Apply for TOT Certificate here
Apply for Short-term Rental License
Once you’re set up with the TOT Certificate, you can start the short-term rental license application process.
- Apply for Short-term Rental License (STRO) here
Property Inspections are Required for Short-term Rental License
As part of the Oceanside short-term rental permitting process, you must have your property inspected before being granted a license. Again, the city is looking out for Airbnb and VRBO guests. They want to ensure that certain quality standards are met by short-term rental property owners.
Business License for Short-term Rentals in Oceanside
You don’t need a business license for your short-term rental property in Oceanside unless you have more than 4 total. This is different from the San Diego short-term rental laws, where all Airbnb hosts are required to have a business license. Oceanside fortunately isn’t as strict as other cities in the county.
Cost of Short-term Rental License in Oceanside
Owning a vacation rental comes with costs. You have to spend money to make money in real estate!
The permit fee for short-term rentals is $250. This is renewed annually by Airbnb hosts and property owners. The property inspection, which is part of the permitting process, also costs $172.
Is this getting too expensive for your taste? If you’d rather cash out of your property and not deal with the headaches of Airbnb hosting, contact us. We purchase homes in Oceanside that tired landlords don’t want to deal with anymore.
Airbnb My ADU in Oceanside
You can legally Airbnb an ADU in Oceanside if it was built prior to September 9th, 2017. New ADUs cannot be used as a short-term rental unit. The ADU must also have been built with the proper building permits.
If you have an ADU in your backyard that meets these criteria, and you live in the primary house, you don’t even need a license! You can sit back, relax, and sip on coffee while your short-term rental property starts making you money.
Can I Airbnb My Condo or Townhome in Oceanside
The same rules apply when trying to Airbnb a condo or townhome in Oceanside. You can rent out rooms within your townhome and earn passive rental income through Airbnb.
PRO TIP: double-check with your HOA on their short-term rental rules. Certain HOAs will sadly outlaw Airbnb and VRBO opportunities if they don’t see it fitting their ‘vibe’.
Units Oceanside Does Not Allow as a Short-term Rental
Not all properties in Oceanside legally support short-term rentals. Mobile home parks do not allow short-term rentals. Additionally, if your property is located in one of the following residential zoning districts and it is not your primary residence, you are not allowed to rent it as a short-term listing.
- R1, R3, RE, RS, RM, and RH
Navigating Oceanside Short-term Rental Laws
Sifting your way through the Oceanside short-term rentals laws is a worthwhile task if you can successfully acquire a permit. A short-term rental license can be the missing ingredient that you need to start making more income through Airbnb.
The STRO in Oceanside created more hoops for Airbnb hosts and property owners to jump through. If you’re wondering how to get a short-term rental license in Oceanside, this fact sheet will help. Use this guide to navigate the short-term rental laws and start renting your property out.