Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Santa Clara County, CA

Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are allowed in Santa Clara County, CA, but operators must obtain a permit before listing. Short-term rentals (STRs) in unincorporated Santa Clara County are defined as residential properties advertised or rented to guests for 30 days or less and are subject to an 8% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). Operators must register the property within 30 days of the first rental and file monthly TOT returns through the County's online portal. "Airbnb" is a brand name; the rules on this page apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.). See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rentals (STRs) in unincorporated Santa Clara County are defined as residential properties advertised or rented to guests for 30 days or less and are subject to an 8% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). Operators must register the property within 30 days of the first rental and file monthly TOT returns through the County's online portal.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Santa Clara County. 1) Register and apply via the County TOT/STR processing portal by selecting 'Submit a STR License Application' to create an account; 2) File monthly TOT returns and remit the 8% tax through the portal, phone, or mail; 3) If notified of non-compliance, complete the STR Compliance Application on the portal to verify activity.

1) Register and apply via the County TOT/STR processing portal by selecting 'Submit a STR License Application' to create an account; 2) File monthly TOT returns and remit the 8% tax through the portal, phone, or mail; 3) If notified of non-compliance, complete the STR Compliance Application on the portal to verify activity.

Yes. Vrbo operates under the same short-term rental rules as Airbnb in Santa Clara County, CA, since regulations apply to the rental activity rather than the booking platform. A permit is required before you list on Vrbo or any other platform. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.