Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Santa Maria, CA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Santa Maria, CA, but with restrictions. In the City of Santa Maria, STRs are subject to a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax and standard business licensing. In unincorporated Santa Barbara County (Inland Area), STRs are restricted to specific commercial zones, while homestays are allowed in residential and AG-I zones; both require compliance with safety codes and occupancy/parking/noise standards. 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.

In the City of Santa Maria, STRs are subject to a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax and standard business licensing. In unincorporated Santa Barbara County (Inland Area), STRs are restricted to specific commercial zones, while homestays are allowed in residential and AG-I zones; both require compliance with safety codes and occupancy/parking/noise standards.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Santa Maria. 1) Determine property zoning eligibility via the County's zoning lookup. 2) Apply for a Short-Term Rental or Homestay permit through the Accela permitting portal. 3) Ensure compliance with development standards (safety, parking, noise) and register for Transient Occupancy Tax collection.

1) Determine property zoning eligibility via the County's zoning lookup. 2) Apply for a Short-Term Rental or Homestay permit through the Accela permitting portal. 3) Ensure compliance with development standards (safety, parking, noise) and register for Transient Occupancy Tax collection.

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