Short-Term Rental Regulations
in San Luis Obispo County, CA

Airbnb listings are allowed in San Luis Obispo County, CA, but with restrictions. County Vacation Rental Ordinance allows rental of a residence for less than 30 days in unincorporated SLO County but subject to location restrictions, operational standards, and zoning/land-use authorization. Operators must collect Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and comply with county permitting; an annual STR review fee is effective as of January 2026. 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.

County Vacation Rental Ordinance allows rental of a residence for less than 30 days in unincorporated SLO County but subject to location restrictions, operational standards, and zoning/land-use authorization. Operators must collect Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and comply with county permitting; an annual STR review fee is effective as of January 2026.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in San Luis Obispo County. 1) Obtain a Land Use Authorization / Vacation Rental Zoning Clearance from San Luis Obispo County Planning & Building via the PermitSLO portal. 2) Once authorized, contact the County Tax Collector to obtain a County Business License and Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate (initial fee $50). 3) Maintain compliance with TOT reporting while operating.

1) Obtain a Land Use Authorization / Vacation Rental Zoning Clearance from San Luis Obispo County Planning & Building via the PermitSLO portal. 2) Once authorized, contact the County Tax Collector to obtain a County Business License and Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate (initial fee $50). 3) Maintain compliance with TOT reporting while operating.

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