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Pacifica · Renting & eviction

Short-term rentals in Pacifica

Pacifica's own rules on short-term rentals, with the code text for every value.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Pacifica Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (extracted October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Pacifica's code says

Pacifica code What Pacifica's code adds
Allowed
  • Limited. Allowed as an accessory use to homes, subject to the city's rules and permit cap.
    Applies: In zoning districts where homes are allowed as a permitted or conditional use.
    § 9-4.4902 · code text
    Subject to the requirements of this article, including the short-term rental permit cap, short-term rentals are allowed as accessory uses to residential dwelling units in all zoning districts where residential dwelling units are allowed as a permitted or conditional use.
  • No.
    Applies: Not allowed in accessory dwelling units or junior accessory dwelling units.
    § 9-4.4903 · code text
    In accordance with Section 9-4.453(a)(6) and 9-4.454(a)(6), no person may operate a short-term rental in any accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit;
  • No.
    Applies: Not allowed anywhere not approved as a permanent home, including vehicles, trailers, tents, storage sheds and garages.
    § 9-4.4903 · code text
    No person shall operate or allow a short-term rental in any location not approved for use as a permanent dwelling unit (received Certificate of Occupancy or equivalent final inspection), including, but not limited to, any vehicle, trailer, tent, storage shed or garage;
  • Hosted rentals only.
    Applies: For a unit in a multi-family development, as an accessory use to that unit.
    § 9-4.4903 · code text
    For a multi-family development, only hosted short-term rentals may be operated as an accessory use to an individual unit within the multi-family development.
Cap on rentals
  • No more than 150 short-term rental permits at any given time.
    Applies: A citywide cap.
    § 9-4.4902 · code text
    The short-term rental permit cap shall be one hundred fifty (150) short-term rental permits at any given time.
Permit or registration
  • A short-term rental permit and a permit number.
    § 9-4.4904 · code text
    a short-term rental permit along with a short-term rental permit number may be approved and issued by the Administrator
Primary residence
  • Yes. The operator's primary residence must be at the rental site.
    Applies: For each short-term rental operator.
    § 9-4.4903 · code text
    Each operator operating a short-term rental shall have their primary residence at the site of the short-term rental.

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Can I rent out my home short-term in Pacifica?

Pacifica's code: Limited. Allowed as an accessory use to homes, subject to the city's rules and permit cap. (In zoning districts where homes are allowed as a permitted or conditional use.) (§ 9-4.4902); No. (Not allowed in accessory dwelling units or junior accessory dwelling units.) (§ 9-4.4903).

General information, not legal advice.

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