Taxes & Fees: Costa Mesa vs Midway City
How do taxes & fees rules compare between Costa Mesa, CA and Midway City, CA?
Costa Mesa and Midway City have similar restriction levels.
Costa Mesa, CA
Orange County
Costa Mesa does not collect transient occupancy taxes from residential short-term rentals because the activity is prohibited citywide under Ordinance 2021-17. Only legally permitted lodging businesses collect TOT.
View full Costa Mesa rules →Midway City, CA
Orange County
STR operators in unincorporated Orange County must pay a $250 permit fee and collect a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on all rentals of 30 days or less. The TOT is administered by the OC Treasurer-Tax Collector and must be remitted to the county.
View full Midway City rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Costa Mesa | Midway City |
|---|---|---|
| Residential STR Tax | Not applicable — STRs banned | - |
| Hotel/Motel TOT | Commercial zones only | - |
| STR Permits | None issued | - |
| Illegal STR Fine | Up to $1,000 per day | - |
| TOT Rate | - | 10% of rent |
| Permit Fee | - | $250 |
| Renewal | - | Every 2 years |
| TOT Administrator | - | OC Treasurer-Tax Collector |
| Unpermitted Penalty | - | $1,000/day |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Costa Mesa FAQ
Do I need to pay TOT for a short-term rental in Costa Mesa?
No, because short-term rentals are prohibited citywide. Only legally permitted hotels and motels in commercial zones collect and remit TOT.
What if I'm operating an illegal rental?
You face fines up to $1,000 per day for the illegal rental. You may also face state and federal tax consequences for unreported rental income.
Midway City FAQ
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in unincorporated Orange County?
A 10% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) must be collected on all rentals of 30 days or less and remitted to the OC Treasurer-Tax Collector. The STR permit costs $250 with biennial renewal.
Does Airbnb collect TOT for Orange County?
Some platforms collect and remit TOT on behalf of hosts, but operators remain responsible for confirming proper collection. Register with the OC Treasurer-Tax Collector at octreasurer.gov.
Compare other topics
See how Costa Mesa and Midway City compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool