City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Dana Point, CA
How Dana Point regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Rules here limit which homes may operate as short-term rentals, how many, where, or for how many nights a year.
- Hard numerical permit cap: max 115 STR permits total outside the Coastal Zone (DPMC 5.38.030(a))
- Sub-cap: no more than 60 of the available permits may be Non-Primary (investment/whole-home) STRs (DPMC 5.38.030(b)(3))
- Night cap: Primary Residence STRs limited to 60 rental days per 12-month period (DPMC 5.38.090(d)(1))
- Host-present category: Home Stay / Multi-Family Home Stay STRs require the owner to be on-site 10pm-7am during the rental (DPMC 5.38.090(c)(1))
- One STR permit per owner; permits do not transfer on sale (except family/inheritance); waitlist once cap reached (DPMC 5.38.030(c),(g),(f))
- Coastal Zone STRs governed by a separate Coastal-Commission-certified CDP (CDP22-0010 / A-5-DPT-22-0038) which itself caps coastal-zone Non-Primary permits (Council-set at 115) — durable, Coastal-Act-certified restriction
- ADUs, JADUs, single-family-residential-duplex units, and designated affordable units are barred from STR use entirely (DPMC 5.38.090(a))
- Mandatory permit + annual renewal + inspection + TOT + $1M insurance + good-neighbor conditions
Based on: Dana Point Municipal Code Chapter 5.38, Short-Term Rental Permits (STR Program adopted / Council-approved Feb 2023
Summary of the rule
No more than 60 of the available STR Permits shall be for Non-Primary STRs (whole-home/investment rentals); Home Stay, Primary Residence, Multi-Family Home Stay and Mixed-Use STRs are preferred (0.75x fee, waitlist priority).
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 9, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Dana Point · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.