Short-Term Rentals in Cupertino, CA (2026)

10 verified short-term rentals rules for Cupertino, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

No one may advertise or operate a short-term rental in Cupertino without first registering it with the City and obtaining a City business license under Municipal Code Chapter 5.08. Registration is submitted on a City form with a fee set by City Council resolution, runs on a calendar-year basis, and must be renewed annually.

Cupertino Short-Term Rental Registration Requirement

Significant Restrictions

Cupertino Municipal Code §§ 5.08.030, 5.08.040

No dwelling unit or portion thereof shall be advertised or used as a short-term rental unless the host has registered the Short-term Rental in the registry created by the City as provided in this Chapter and obtained a City business license. ... Fee: ... The host shall pay a registration fee prescribed by City Council resolution, no part of which shall be returnable to the registrant. ... Term ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

Cupertino short-term rentals must observe quiet hours from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and cannot be used for commercial events, weddings, corporate functions or parties likely to violate noise, traffic or parking standards, under Municipal Code § 5.08.030. The rules apply to guests as well as hosts and carry the same misdemeanor enforcement as the rest of the chapter.

Cupertino Short-Term Rental Quiet Hours

Some Restrictions

Cupertino Municipal Code § 5.08.030, Items 10-11 (Activities Prohibited; Quiet Hours)

10. Activities Prohibited Short-term rentals shall not be used for commercial purposes and/or events that are likely to result in violations of traffic, parking, noise, or other standards regulating the residential use and character of the neighborhood. Such events include most weddings, corporate events, and parties. ... 11. Quiet Hours All short-term rental activity must comply with quiet hou...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Cupertino short-term rental hosts must pay a registration fee set by City Council resolution before receiving a permit, and hosting platforms handling bookings must collect and remit the same 12 percent transient occupancy tax that hotels pay. The platform acts as the host's tax agent under Municipal Code Section 5.08.060, working alongside Chapter 3.12's occupancy tax rules.

Cupertino Short-Term Rental Taxes and Fees

Some Restrictions

Cupertino Municipal Code §§ 5.08.040, 5.08.060

Fee: The host shall pay a registration fee prescribed by City Council resolution, no part of which shall be returnable to the registrant. ... Hosting platforms shall be responsible for collecting all applicable transient occupancy taxes and remitting the same to the City, unless the City and hosting platform have entered a valid voluntary collection agreement or other agreement for the collecti...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Cupertino requires every short-term rental to keep the zoning district's minimum parking spaces on-site and to set one of those spaces aside specifically for rental guests. Hosts must also log the license plate of every guest vehicle, under Municipal Code § 5.08.030, tying parking compliance directly to the property's registration.

Cupertino Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Some Restrictions

Cupertino Municipal Code § 5.08.030, Item 7 (Parking)

7. Parking The primary residence must have the minimum parking spaces required for the zoning district in which it is located pursuant to Chapter 19.124. The host shall designate an on-site parking space for short-term rental occupants and shall make the space available during the term of the short-term rental. The host shall maintain a record of vehicle license plate information for vehicles a...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Cupertino caps how many overnight guests a short-term rental can host based on unit size. A studio or single-room rental is limited to two guests, while a one-bedroom or larger unit allows up to twice the number of bedrooms in overnight guests, under Municipal Code § 5.08.030.

Cupertino Short-Term Rental Guest Limits

Some Restrictions

Cupertino Municipal Code § 5.08.030, Item 5 (Maximum Number of Overnight Guests)

5. Maximum number of overnight guests Studio unit/or single room rental - Maximum of two guests. One-bedroom or more - Total of two times the number of bedrooms in the dwelling unit or portion thereof rented per the rental agreement.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Night Caps

Cupertino caps un-hosted short-term rental stays, where the host is not present, at sixty nights per calendar year under Municipal Code § 5.08.030. Hosted stays, where the host remains on-site for the entire rental, carry no annual limit and may occur throughout the year, giving on-site hosts far more flexibility than absentee ones.

Cupertino Short-Term Rental Night Cap

Some Restrictions

Cupertino Municipal Code § 5.08.030, Item 4 (Duration)

4. Duration Hosted stays may occur throughout the calendar year without a limitation on the cumulative number of short-term rentals. Un-hosted stays shall be limited to sixty nights per calendar year.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

Cupertino requires every short-term rental to have a 'Local Contact,' either the host or someone the host designates, who must be reachable throughout the rental and respond to complaints about the property's condition, operation, or guest conduct within sixty minutes. The code also distinguishes hosted stays, where the host remains on-site, from un-hosted stays where the host is away.

Cupertino Short-Term Rental Local Contact Rule

Some Restrictions

Cupertino Municipal Code § 5.08.020

"Host" means a natural person or people who offer(s) short-term rentals in their primary residence. ... "Local Contact" means the host or a person designated by a host who shall be available during the term of any short-term rental for the purposes of: Responding within sixty minutes to complaints regarding the condition or operation of the short-term rental, or the conduct of guests, and Takin...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Cupertino only allows short-term rental activity as a home occupation inside a host's primary residence. Municipal Code § 5.08.030 states short-term rental activity is not permitted if the dwelling unit is not used as a primary residence, and registration requires documented proof of that status, closing off second homes, investment rentals and most Accessory Dwelling Units.

Cupertino Short-Term Rentals Primary Residence Rule

Significant Restrictions

Cupertino Municipal Code § 5.08.030

Short-term rental activity is allowed to be conducted as a home occupation within a primary residence subject to further restrictions in this Chapter. Short-term rental activity is not permitted if the dwelling unit is not used as a primary residence. ... ... 1. Type of Unit Short-term rentals are allowed within any legally permitted dwelling unit or portion thereof, except for any Accessory Dw...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Repeat Violator Strikes

Cupertino bars a short-term rental from registering, and revokes an active registration, once two Municipal Code violations accumulate on the property within twelve months. A host with two violations tied to any other Cupertino short-term rental in that period is likewise blocked from registering a new one, under Municipal Code Sections 5.08.040(E) and 5.08.050(A).

Cupertino STR Two-Violation Registration Bar

Some Restrictions

Cupertino Municipal Code Sec. 5.08.040(E) and Sec. 5.08.050(A)

The short-term rental and the property on which it is located have not had two or more violations of the Cupertino Municipal Code within the last twelve months from registration submittal and have not been denied registration or had registration revoked within the preceding twelve months; The host has not had two or more violations of the Cupertino Municipal Code within the last twelve months f...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Platform Liability

Cupertino requires short-term rental hosting platforms to collect and remit transient occupancy tax, prompt hosts to post the City's registration number, and cut off bookings for non-compliant listings within five business days. A platform that ignores these duties is guilty of a misdemeanor under Municipal Code Sections 5.08.060 and 5.08.070.

Cupertino STR Hosting Platform Duties

Significant Restrictions

Cupertino Municipal Code Sec. 5.08.060 and Sec. 5.08.070

Hosting platforms shall be required to prompt hosts to include the City-issued registration number in their listing(s), in a format designated by the City. Upon notice from the City that a listing is non-compliant, hosting platforms shall cease any short-term rental booking transactions for said listing(s) within five business days. A hosting platform shall not complete any booking transaction ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Cupertino city rules.

Short-Term Rentals in Santa Clara County →