Short-Term Rentals in Brentwood, CA: What Residents Actually Need to Know
If you live in Brentwood or are thinking about moving there, short-term rentals are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Brentwood has 7 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of short-term rentals, and some of them might surprise you.
Taxes & Fees
Brentwood imposes a 10 percent Transient Occupancy Tax on the rent paid by guests for stays of fewer than 30 consecutive days under Municipal Code Chapter 3.28. Operators must register, collect TOT from each guest, and remit the tax to the Finance Department on a regular schedule. Failure to collect or remit TOT results in penalties, interest, and liability for the tax itself.
Key details: TOT Rate: 10% of rent under 30 days. Operator Duty: Collect from guests, hold in trust. Cleaning Fees: Generally included in taxable base. Delinquency Penalty: 10% plus 10% after 30 days, 0.5%/month. Records Retention: Minimum 3 years, subject to audit.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Brentwood actively enforces its taxes & fees requirements.
Noise Rules
Brentwood prohibits short-term rentals citywide under Municipal Code Chapter 17.796 (Ord. 1079, adopted Dec 10, 2024), so STR-specific noise rules do not apply. Any rental of 30 days or fewer is unlawful, leaving Brentwood's general noise ordinance to govern occupant conduct at long-term rentals.
Key details: STR Status: Banned citywide. Code Section: BMC Ch. 17.796. Ordinance: No. 1079 (Dec 10, 2024). Threshold: 30 days or fewer prohibited. ADUs: Included in ban.
Operating, advertising, or booking a stay of 30 days or fewer is itself a code violation regardless of noise. The city may pursue administrative citations, fines, civil remedies, and nuisance abatement; each day a violation continues can be treated as a separate offense.
This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Brentwood actively enforces its noise rules requirements.
Insurance Requirements
Brentwood does not impose STR liability insurance minimums because the city prohibits short-term rentals entirely under BMC Chapter 17.796 (Ord. 1079, Dec 10, 2024). There is no permit or registration that an insurance certificate could attach to.
Key details: City Insurance Minimum: None (STRs banned). Code Section: BMC Ch. 17.796. Ordinance: No. 1079 (Dec 10, 2024). Permit Pathway: Does not exist. Long-Term Rentals: Use standard landlord policy.
Carrying private liability insurance does not legalize an otherwise prohibited stay of 30 days or fewer. Operating, booking, or advertising an STR violates Chapter 17.796 and can lead to administrative citations, fines, civil action, and nuisance abatement.
Compared to other cities, Brentwood takes a harder line on insurance requirements. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Registration Rules
Short-term rentals of under 30 consecutive days in Brentwood are subject to the City's Transient Occupancy Tax registration and business license requirements. Operators must register with the Finance Department, obtain a TOT certificate, and collect and remit the 10 percent Transient Occupancy Tax monthly. Operators should also check their zoning district and any HOA CC&Rs before listing.
Key details: Tot Registration And: TOT registration and City Business License required before first booking. Tot Rate Is: TOT rate is 10% of rent under Brentwood Municipal Code Chapter 3.28. Stays Under 30: Stays under 30 consecutive days are considered transient and taxable. Tot Certificate Must: TOT certificate must be posted on-site. Hoa Ccrs Under: HOA CC&Rs under Davis-Stirling may impose additional STR restrictions.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Occupancy Limits
Brentwood applies standard residential occupancy limits to short-term rentals. California Building Code and the Uniform Housing Code generally support a 2-persons-per-bedroom-plus-1 guideline as reasonable. Operators must also comply with fire and life-safety egress requirements, parking capacity, and any HOA occupancy limits in CC&Rs.
Key details: Common benchmark: 2: Common benchmark: 2 persons per bedroom plus 1 (HUD Keating Memo). Every sleeping room: Every sleeping room must have egress per CRC R310. Garage Conversion: Unpermitted conversions (garages, basements) do not count as bedrooms. Large events typically: Large events typically require a separate special event permit. HOA CC&Rs may: HOA CC&Rs may set stricter occupancy limits under Davis-Stirling.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Parking Rules
Short-term rental guests in Brentwood must follow the same parking rules as any other residents. On-site parking should accommodate guest vehicles to avoid impacts on neighbors. California Vehicle Code 22651(k) allows towing of vehicles parked on public streets for more than 72 consecutive hours, and Brentwood's overnight and oversized vehicle rules apply to guest vehicles.
Key details: Requirement: No STR-specific parking ordinance; standard residential rules apply. Local Contact: CVC 22651(k) allows tow after 72 hours parked on a public street. Requirement: No vehicles parked on unpaved yards; paved driveway or garage only. Requirement: Oversized vehicle and permit parking zone rules apply to guests. Requirement: HOA CC&R parking rules may be stricter and are enforced privately.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Permit Requirements
Short-term rentals are PROHIBITED in Brentwood. The City Council adopted a citywide STR ban in November 2024 (Chapter 17.796). It is unlawful to advertise, list, or rent any property for 30 days or fewer. No permit or registration is available.
Key details: STR Status: PROHIBITED (BMC Chapter 17.796). Effective: November 2024 — citywide ordinance. Definition: Any rental of 30 days or fewer. Platforms: Airbnb, Vrbo, etc. all prohibited.
Operating without permit: $500 to $1,000/day. Safety violations: immediate suspension. TOT non-remittance: back taxes + penalties.
This is one of the stricter rules in Brentwood's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
The Bottom Line
Brentwood is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 4 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Brentwood, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.
Keep in mind that Brentwood can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.