Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Emeryville, CA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Emeryville, CA, but with restrictions. STRs are restricted to single-unit detached houses as an accessory use and are prohibited in ADUs/JADUs. The property must be the permittee's primary residence; non-hosted rentals are capped at 90 days per permit term, while hosted rentals have no day limit. Operators must maintain a business tax certificate, pay transient occupancy tax, and post safety/contact information. 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 restricted to single-unit detached houses as an accessory use and are prohibited in ADUs/JADUs. The property must be the permittee's primary residence; non-hosted rentals are capped at 90 days per permit term, while hosted rentals have no day limit. Operators must maintain a business tax certificate, pay transient occupancy tax, and post safety/contact information.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Emeryville. Submit an application to the Planning Division with the required fee and documents, including proof of primary residence (e.g., voter registration, utility bill), photos of safety equipment (detectors/extinguisher), and a current business tax certificate. The Planning Director reviews the application in consultation with building and fire officials; permits expire annually on December 31 and must be renewed before expiration.

Submit an application to the Planning Division with the required fee and documents, including proof of primary residence (e.g., voter registration, utility bill), photos of safety equipment (detectors/extinguisher), and a current business tax certificate. The Planning Director reviews the application in consultation with building and fire officials; permits expire annually on December 31 and must be renewed before expiration.

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