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  1. Home
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  3. Regulations
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  5. California
  6. ·
  7. Oxnard

Oxnard

Strict
California · City of OxnardUpdated Feb 10, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 5, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Oxnard strictly regulates short-term rentals through a tiered system of homeshares and vacation rentals with significant density caps and separation requirements.

Restriction level

Severity 63
Classification
Strict
63
Severity

Why this classification

  • Moderate night cap: 100 nights/year
  • High permit fee: $1595
  • Limited to 1 property per owner
  • Tenants cannot host
  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

Property owners must obtain a Short-Term Rental permit and a city business license. Hosted 'homeshares' require the owner to be present, while unhosted 'vacation rentals' are capped at 100 days per year and must be at least 100-200 feet from other rentals. Rentals are entirely prohibited in certain gated communities and in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredNo
Night limit100/year
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$1,595
Max fine$5,000

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Vacation rentals (unhosted) are limited to 100 days per year citywide.
  2. 2Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are completely prohibited for short-term rental use.
  3. 3Unpermitted operation carries a massive fine of $5,000 per day.
  4. 4Strict separation requirements (100-200 feet) mean a new permit might be denied if a neighbor already has one.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility8 rules
  • Oxnard does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • Oxnard prohibits STRs in the following zones: The Colony, Harbour Island, Mobile Home Parks.
  • Oxnard prohibits STRs in the following property types: ADU, RV, Boat, Yard, Balcony.
  • Oxnard allows STRs in the following zones: R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-BF, RB-1, CBD.
Requirements7 rules
  • Oxnard requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: 1,000,000.
  • Oxnard STR warning: Unpermitted operation carries a massive fine of $5,000 per day.
  • Oxnard STR warning: Strict separation requirements (100-200 feet) mean a new permit might be denied if a neighbor already has one.
Application process6 rules
  • Oxnard STR permit - Step 3: Safety Inspection. Pass a mandatory pre-permitting inspection by the City Building Official to verify bedroom count and life-safety compliance. Required documents: Inspection Checklist. Time: 1-2 weeks.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Oxnard charges a registration fee of $1595 (annual).
Taxes1 rule
  • Oxnard charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.1%.
Limits & restrictions5 rules
  • Oxnard has a neighborhood cap of 0.05% STR permits.
  • Oxnard limits STRs to 100 nights per year.
  • Oxnard limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests.
  • Oxnard requires a minimum stay of 3 nights.
  • Oxnard limits STRs to a maximum of 3 vehicles.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Oxnard requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted emergency contact, parking, trash plan, noise restrictions (Quiet hours 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM).
Penalties1 rule
  • Oxnard enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First violation: $1,000 fine. Subsequent violations: $2,000 for second; $3,000 and 2-year revocation for third. Maximum fine: $5000.
Exemptions1 rule
  • Oxnard exempts the following from STR regulations: bed and breakfast establishments, hotels and motels, long-term stays (30+ days), Occasional home exchange is not considered an STR.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Oxnard

0/4
steps completed
Step 1

Verify Eligibility

Ensure your property is not in a prohibited community (e.g., The Colony) and meets the separation requirements (100-200 feet from existing STRs) and neighborhood caps (5-10%).

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • Neighborhood Map Verification
Official resource
Step 2

Submit STR Permit Application

Complete the Land Use Application including a site plan, floor plan, and signed affidavit of compliance. Pay the initial application fee.

4-8 weeks$1,595
Documents needed
  • Site Plan
  • Floor Plan
  • Signed Affidavit
  • Proof of Ownership
Official resource
Step 3

Safety Inspection

Pass a mandatory pre-permitting inspection by the City Building Official to verify bedroom count and life-safety compliance.

1-2 weeksFree
Documents needed
  • Inspection Checklist
Official resource
Step 4

Obtain Business License & TOT Registration

Once the STR permit is approved, apply for a City Business License and register for Transient Occupancy Tax collection with the Finance Department.

1 week$150
Documents needed
  • Approved STR Permit
  • TOT Registration Form
Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 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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