Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Chico, CA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Chico, CA, but with restrictions. STRs are treated as taxable 'hotel' uses under Chico Municipal Code Chapter 3.52, including home-sharing and vacation rentals under 31 days. Operators must collect and remit a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and maintain a City business license; notably, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are strictly prohibited from being used as short-term rentals. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

STRs are treated as taxable 'hotel' uses under Chico Municipal Code Chapter 3.52, including home-sharing and vacation rentals under 31 days. Operators must collect and remit a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and maintain a City business license; notably, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are strictly prohibited from being used as short-term rentals.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Chico. 1) Apply for a City business license via the City's business license portal. 2) Register with the City’s TOT Processing Center by providing your name and property address to chicoTOT@hdlgov.com or (530) 767-1017. 3) File monthly TOT returns and remit the 10% tax via the HdL portal.

1) Apply for a City business license via the City's business license portal. 2) Register with the City’s TOT Processing Center by providing your name and property address to chicoTOT@hdlgov.com or (530) 767-1017. 3) File monthly TOT returns and remit the 10% tax via the HdL portal.

Vrbo is permitted in Chico, CA under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Chico are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Chico. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.