Taxes & Fees: Moorpark vs Ventura
How do taxes & fees rules compare between Moorpark, CA and Ventura, CA?
Ventura has fewer restrictions than Moorpark.
Moorpark, CA
Ventura County
Moorpark imposes a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on stays of 30 days or less at hotels and lodging establishments under MMC Chapter 3.16. Since residential short-term rentals are prohibited, the TOT applies only to licensed hotels and motels. The tax rate is set by ordinance and collected by operators.
View full Moorpark rules →Ventura, CA
Ventura County
Ventura (officially San Buenaventura) imposes a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax on all STR stays of 30 days or less under SBMC §4.115.030. Every short-term vacation rental operator must hold an STVR permit (SBMC §6.455.040), a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate, a business tax certificate (SBMC §6.455.050(B)), and post a $1,500 surety bond (SBMC §6.455.050(C)) unless waived under §6.455.125(G)(9).
View full Ventura rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Moorpark | Ventura |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Applies To | Hotels/motels only | - |
| Residential STRs | Banned, TOT not applicable | - |
| Code Section | MMC Chapter 3.16 | - |
| Collection | By operator at time of payment | - |
| Threshold | Stays of 30 days or less | - |
| TOT rate | - | 10% of rent for stays of 30 days or less (SBMC §4.115.030) |
| Surety bond | - | $1,500 — waivable if rental contract bans 10 p.m.–7 a.m. parties (§6.455.050(C), §6.455.125(G)(9)) |
| Liability insurance | - | $1 million per-occurrence STR liability per city Quick Reference (program requirement) |
| Other certificates | - | Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate + business tax certificate required (§6.455.050(B)) |
| TOT remittance | - | Quarterly, due last day of month after quarter end |
| Code currency | - | SBMC current through Ord. 2024-005 (June 4, 2024) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Moorpark FAQ
Does Moorpark have a transient occupancy tax?
Yes, Chapter 3.16 imposes a TOT on hotel and motel stays of 30 days or less. However, since residential short-term rentals are banned in Moorpark, the tax only applies to licensed lodging establishments.
Do I need to pay TOT if I rent my home for 30 days?
No, because renting your home for 30 days or less is prohibited in Moorpark. Only rentals of 31 or more consecutive days are allowed for residential properties, and those are not subject to TOT.
Where do I find Moorpark's TOT rate?
The TOT rate is established by ordinance under Chapter 3.16. Contact the City Finance Department at (805) 517-6200 for current rates and registration requirements.
Ventura FAQ
What is Ventura's transient occupancy tax rate on STRs?
10% of the rent the operator charges for any stay of 30 consecutive days or less, set by SBMC §4.115.030. The STVR definition in §6.455.020 uses the same 30-day cutoff, so every Airbnb/Vrbo booking under one month is subject to the tax.
Do I have to post a surety bond?
Yes. SBMC §6.455.050(C) requires a $1,500 bond from a California-licensed surety with an A.M. Best 'A-' or better rating. The bond can be waived under §6.455.125(G)(9) if your rental agreement expressly forbids parties and loud social events between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Is liability insurance also required?
The city's published STVR Quick Reference states operators must carry $1 million per-occurrence short-term rental liability insurance. Chapter 6.455 itself does not codify that figure, but the city enforces it as a program condition tied to permit issuance.
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