Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Walnut Creek, CA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Walnut Creek, CA, but with restrictions. City of Walnut Creek requires a business license and payment of an 8.5% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT); zoning compliance must be verified with the City Planning duty planner. In unincorporated Contra Costa County, permits are required with limits of 180 days for hosted and 90 days for non-hosted rentals, and ADUs are prohibited as STRs. 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.

City of Walnut Creek requires a business license and payment of an 8.5% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT); zoning compliance must be verified with the City Planning duty planner. In unincorporated Contra Costa County, permits are required with limits of 180 days for hosted and 90 days for non-hosted rentals, and ADUs are prohibited as STRs.

No permit is currently required to operate a short-term rental in Walnut Creek.

Vrbo is permitted in Walnut Creek, CA under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. Last verified 2026-05-14.

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