Riverside Municipal Code Ch. 19.895 Room Rental Permit

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a procedure to permit owners of single-family residential properties to rent a room or rooms in the primary dwelling or dwellings, accessory dwelling unit and/or junior accessory dwelling unit, to more than two but not to exceed four individuals through a room rental permit process. The Room Rental Permit is only applicable to the RR, RE and R1 Zones.

(Ord. 7592 § 11(Exh. L), 2022; Ord. 7331 § 126, 2016; Ord. 7325 § 1, 2016; Ord. 7222 § 6, 2013)

The following procedures apply to applications for a Room Rental Permit:

A. Application. Owners of a single-family residential property that includes a primary dwelling or dwellings, accessory dwelling unit and/or junior accessory dwelling unit wishing to rent a room or rooms to more than two, but not more than four individuals shall make written application to the Community & Economic Development Department Director or his/her designee, including all the material deemed necessary to demonstrate compliance with the provisions for this use in Chapter 19.520 (Rental of Rooms), including, a signed copy of the Room Rental Permit Agreement to meet the requirements for additional rentals.

B. Approval. Upon receipt of a complete application, the Community & Economic Development Director or their designee shall grant the permit if all requirements of Chapter 19.520 (Rental of Rooms) are met. The Community & Economic Development Director or their designee shall approve the application unless findings are made that the approval would otherwise adversely affect the residential character of the neighborhood.

C. Renewal. A Room Rental Permit Agreement is effective for a period of one year from the date of issuance and is required to be renewed on an annual basis thereafter. Renewal of a Room Rental Permit Agreement is subject to the Room Rental Permit Requirements of this chapter.

D. Appeal. Any person may appeal the decision of the Community & Economic Development Director to the Planning Commission. A notice of public hearing for the appeal shall be provided pursuant to Section 19.670.030.

The decision of the Planning Commission may be appealed to the City Council. In the event of an appeal to the Planning Commission or City Council notice shall be given in the same manner as the Planning Commission appeal. The decision of the City Council shall be final.

E. Revocation. Three or more violations of any of the operational requirements of Section 19.520.030.B (Operation and Development Standards) including extraordinary police service or response complaints as defined by Chapter 9.60 of the Riverside Municipal Code or citations for violations related to noise or property use or maintenance within any running 12-month period, shall be grounds for revocation of the Room Rental Permit Agreement. Refer to Section 19.700.020 for revocation procedures.

A revoked Room Rental Permit Agreement may not be reissued for a minimum of one year from the revocation date. If a Room Rental Permit Agreement issued to the same owner for the same property is revoked a second time a Room Rental Permit Agreement may not be reissued for the subject property as long as it belongs to the same owner.

(Ord. 7743, § 17, 2025; Ord. 7592 § 11(Exh. L), 2022; Ord. 7331 § 126, 2016; Ord. 7325 § 1, 2016; Ord. 7222 § 6, 2013)