10 verified short-term rentals rules for Union City, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Union City has no dedicated short-term rental permit ordinance. Anyone renting dwelling units must register with the Finance Department and hold a business license under Municipal Code Chapter 5, and zoning rules in Chapter 18.32 govern where rentals are allowed.
Union City has no STR-specific noise ordinance. Short-term rental guests are subject to the citywide noise and nuisance rules, and zoning requires that residential uses not create noise impacts on adjacent residents.
Union City levies a Transient Occupancy Tax of 13.86% (effective July 1, 2024) under Municipal Code Chapter 3.18 on stays up to 30 days, including short-term rentals. Airbnb collects and remits TOT automatically; other-platform and direct hosts must register and remit themselves.
Union City has no STR-specific parking ordinance. Off-street parking is governed by the general zoning code, and any accessory-dwelling parking must be contained on private property without overhanging the public right-of-way per Section 18.32.020.
Union City has no STR-specific guest cap, but zoning Section 18.32.020(E) permits room, room-and-board, or boarding houses for not more than two paying guests in R and RS residential districts. Building and fire occupancy codes also apply.
Union City does not require short-term rental hosts to carry a specific amount of liability insurance. No insurance mandate appears in the Municipal Code or the rental registration form; coverage is left to the host and platform.
Union City has not adopted an annual night cap limiting how many days a property can be rented short-term. The only duration rule is the 30-day TOT threshold and the ADU minimum 30-day rental term in Section 18.32.020(M).
Union City requires every owner who rents dwelling units to file a Short-Term Rental Application with the Finance Department's Revenue Division. The form captures owner identity, property addresses, and a local emergency contact available at any time.
Union City has no ordinance requiring a host to be present during a short-term rental. The registration form instead requires a local emergency contact reachable at any time, and zoning allows boarding for up to two paying guests.
Union City has not adopted a primary-residence requirement for short-term rentals. No ordinance limits rentals to a host's primary home, though accessory dwelling units cannot be rented for fewer than 30 days under Section 18.32.020(M).
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Union City city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Alameda County →