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  1. Home
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  5. California
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  7. Oakhurst

Oakhurst

Permissive
California · Madera CountyUpdated Apr 10, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 2 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 5, 2026Sources 2

Summary

Plain-english overview

Oakhurst is an unincorporated community regulated by Madera County, which is currently transitioning from a simple business license requirement to a comprehensive Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) ordinance.

Restriction level

Severity 0
Classification
Permissive
0
Severity

Why this classification

  • No STR-specific permit required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement
  • No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

Currently, you must have a valid Madera County business license and a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate to host. A new ordinance expected in early 2026 will introduce mandatory fire inspections, on-site parking requirements, and stricter occupancy limits (2 persons per bedroom plus 2).

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredNo
Night limit365/year
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$150

3 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1A major new STVR Ordinance is expected to be adopted in February 2026, which will introduce stricter on-site parking and occupancy rules.
  2. 2The total tax rate is 11.5%, which includes a 9% TOT and a 2.5% TBID assessment.
  3. 3Grandfathering status only applies to operators who maintain an active, non-lapsed business license.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility4 rules
  • Oakhurst prohibits STRs in the following property types: ADUs built after 2020.
  • Oakhurst allows STRs in the following zones: Residential, Agricultural, Commercial.
  • Oakhurst allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Cabin.
  • Oakhurst does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Requirements6 rules
  • Oakhurst STR warning: A major new STVR Ordinance is expected to be adopted in February 2026, which will introduce stricter on-site parking and occupancy rules.
  • Oakhurst STR warning: Grandfathering status only applies to operators who maintain an active, non-lapsed business license.
  • Oakhurst does not require STR registration.
Application process5 rules
  • Oakhurst STR permit - Step 1: Apply for County Business License. Obtain a general business license from the Madera County Tax Collector's office. Required documents: Business information, Parcel number. Time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: $65.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Madera County charges a registration fee of $150 (annual).
Taxes1 rule
  • Madera County charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.09%.
Limits & restrictions2 rules
  • Madera County limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests.
  • Madera County limits STRs to 365 nights per year.
Exemptions1 rule
  • Oakhurst exempts the following from STR regulations: bed and breakfast establishments, hotels and motels, long-term stays (30+ days), Stays over 30 consecutive days.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Oakhurst

0/3
steps completed
Step 1

Apply for County Business License

Obtain a general business license from the Madera County Tax Collector's office.

1-2 weeks$65
Documents needed
  • Business information
  • Parcel number
Official resource
Step 2

Register for TOT Certificate

Apply for a Transient Occupancy Tax certificate to legally collect and remit the 9% tax.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • Business license number
  • Property address
Official resource
Step 3

Pass Mandatory Fire Inspection

Schedule and pass a fire safety inspection by the Madera County Fire Department. This must be completed before a new or renewal permit can be processed.

2-4 weeks$150
Documents needed
  • Fire safety checklist
  • Inspection fee
Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

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