Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Santa Ana, CA

No — Airbnb-style short-term rentals are not allowed in Santa Ana, CA. The City of Santa Ana ordinance expressly prohibits the offering, rental, or maintenance of any short-term rental for less than 30 days. The ordinance was adopted via an urgency ordinance and regular ordinance (second reading approved April 16, 2024) and is in effect; violations may be prosecuted as infractions or misdemeanors and are subject to civil penalties. The ban applies to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.), not just Airbnb. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

The City of Santa Ana ordinance expressly prohibits the offering, rental, or maintenance of any short-term rental for less than 30 days. The ordinance was adopted via an urgency ordinance and regular ordinance (second reading approved April 16, 2024) and is in effect; violations may be prosecuted as infractions or misdemeanors and are subject to civil penalties.

No permit is currently required to operate a short-term rental in Santa Ana.

No. Because Santa Ana, CA prohibits this type of short-term rental, the ban covers Vrbo just as it covers Airbnb and Booking.com — switching platforms does not change the legal status. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Santa Ana are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Santa Ana. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.