Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Cupertino, CA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Cupertino, CA, but with restrictions. STRs must be incidental uses operated by a primary resident, with unhosted stays limited to 60 days per year. Occupancy is capped at twice the number of bedrooms (or two for a studio), and operators must provide at least one on-site parking space and maintain a 24/7 local contact reachable within 60 minutes. 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 must be incidental uses operated by a primary resident, with unhosted stays limited to 60 days per year. Occupancy is capped at twice the number of bedrooms (or two for a studio), and operators must provide at least one on-site parking space and maintain a 24/7 local contact reachable within 60 minutes.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Cupertino. 1) Register the STR via the City's Host Compliance portal, submit the STR Acknowledgement Form, and pay the $211 fee. 2) Apply for a Business License Certification through the City's Accela online portal. 3) Maintain required documentation, including a guest manual and vehicle registry, to ensure ongoing compliance.

1) Register the STR via the City's Host Compliance portal, submit the STR Acknowledgement Form, and pay the $211 fee. 2) Apply for a Business License Certification through the City's Accela online portal. 3) Maintain required documentation, including a guest manual and vehicle registry, to ensure ongoing compliance.

Vrbo is permitted in Cupertino, 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 Cupertino 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 Cupertino. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.