Short-Term Rentals in Redwood City, CA (2026)

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

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

Redwood City requires every host to register a short-term rental with the City before advertising or renting it out. Zoning Code Section 31.3 limits registration to primary residences, excludes Single Room Occupancy facilities and Group Homes, and ties approval to a clean compliance history. The City Manager or a designee decides each application and can deny or later revoke it.

Redwood City STR Registration Requirement

Significant Restrictions

Redwood City Zoning Code Sec. 31.3(C), (E)(1)

C. Permitted Use. Short-term rental uses shall be permitted in any primary residence except Single Room Occupancy Facilities and Group Homes subject to the requirements of this Section, including compliance with the operating standards, registration, Transient Occupancy Tax payments, and recordkeeping obligations. Except as provided for in this Section, all other short-term rental uses shall be...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

Redwood City bans weddings, corporate events, and other commercial functions at short-term rentals whenever they could cause traffic, parking, noise, or similar problems for the neighborhood. Zoning Code Section 31.3(D)(6) treats hosting such an event as a violation of the short-term rental operating standards, regardless of guest count or time of day.

Redwood City STR Special Event Ban

Significant Restrictions

Redwood City Zoning Code Sec. 31.3(D)(6)

6. Special Event. Weddings, corporate events, commercial functions, and any other similar events which have the potential to cause traffic, parking, noise or other problems in the neighborhood are prohibited from occurring at the short-term rental property, as a component of short-term rental activities. E. Registration and Annual Renewal. 1. Application. Prior to advertising or making ava...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Every short-term rental in Redwood City counts as a 'hotel' under the Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax Ordinance, so each guest owes a twelve percent tax on the rent charged. Hosts collect the tax unless a hosting platform has signed a voluntary agreement with the City to collect it instead.

Redwood City Short-Term Rental Tax Rate

Some Restrictions

Redwood City Code Sec. 32.71, Sec. 32.75

HOTEL: ... A hotel also includes a short-term rental as provided for in Section 31.3 of the Redwood City Zoning Ordinance. ... Sec. 32.75. - IMPOSITION; AMOUNT; WHERE PAYABLE: For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of twelve percent (12%) of the rent charged by the operator. Said tax constitutes a debt owed by the transient to...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Redwood City does not require a short-term rental to add any parking beyond what already exists on the lot. Zoning Code Section 31.3(D)(5) simply requires that existing on-site parking spaces be made available to short-term renters, and the rule leaves the number of spaces required for the dwelling unchanged.

Redwood City STR Parking Rule

Light Restrictions

Redwood City Zoning Code Sec. 31.3(D)(5)

5. Parking. No additional parking shall be required for short-term rentals. Existing on-site parking spaces shall be made available to short-term renters. 6. Special Event. Weddings, corporate events, commercial functions, and any other similar events which have the potential to cause traffic, parking, noise or other problems in the neighborhood are prohibited from occurring at the short-ter...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Redwood City Municipal Code Chapter 42A limits short-term rental occupancy to two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests per stay, capped at ten guests total. STRs are restricted to the host's primary residence; second homes and investment properties are not permitted. Hosted stays (host on-site) have no annual day cap, while un-hosted stays are limited to 120 nights per calendar year. ADUs are prohibited from STR use unless they were registered with the City before January 1, 2020. Hosts must also designate a local contact who will respond to complaints whenever the host is away.

Redwood City STR Occupancy Limits

Heavy Restrictions

California Health & Safety Code § 17920.3

(l) All buildings or portions thereof not provided with adequate exit facilities as required by this code, except those buildings or portions thereof whose exit facilities conformed with all applicable laws at the time of their construction and that have been adequately maintained and increased in relation to any increase in occupant load, alteration or addition, or any change in occupancy.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Redwood City allows short-term rentals only inside a host's primary residence, defined by physical presence and one per person. Single Room Occupancy Facilities and Group Homes are barred outright, and non-primary-residence rentals are prohibited except for accessory dwelling units registered before January 1, 2020.

Redwood City STR Primary Residence Rule

Significant Restrictions

Redwood City Zoning Code § 31.3.C

C.Permitted Use. Short-term rental uses shall be permitted in any primary residence except Single Room Occupancy Facilities and Group Homes subject to the requirements of this Section, including compliance with the operating standards, registration, Transient Occupancy Tax payments, and recordkeeping obligations. Except as provided for in this Section, all other short-term rental uses shall be ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Repeat Violator Strikes

A Redwood City short-term rental host whose registration is denied or revoked for fraud, false statements, or any code violation is locked out from reapplying for 24 months under Zoning Code Section 31.3.G, a strike-style repeat-violator rule enforced by the Zoning Administrator after notice and a hearing.

Redwood City STR Revocation Waiting Period

Significant Restrictions

Redwood City Zoning Code § 31.3.G.1, G.4

1.Revocation of Registration. A short-term rental registration issued under the provisions of this Section may be revoked by the Zoning Administrator after notice and hearing as provided for in this Section, for any of the following reasons:a.Fraud, misrepresentation, or false statements contained in the application;b.Fraud, misrepresentation, or false statements made in the course of carrying ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Platform Liability

A hosting platform that signs a voluntary collection agreement with Redwood City takes on 'the same duties and liabilities of the operator' for transient occupancy tax, meaning Airbnb-style platforms can register, collect, and remit the 12% tax on behalf of every host who books solely through them.

Redwood City Hosting Platform TOT Liability

Some Restrictions

Redwood City Code sec. 32.80

Any hosting platform that assists with arranging transient occupancy may enter into a voluntary collection agreement (or equivalent) with the City for the collection and payment of transient occupancy taxes. Where a hosting platform has entered into such an agreement, the hosting platform shall have the same duties and liabilities of the operator under this Article. Compliance with the provisio...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Looking for San Mateo County county-wide rules?

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

Short-Term Rentals in San Mateo County →