Permit Requirements: San Francisco vs San Jose
How do permit requirements rules compare between San Francisco, CA and San Jose, CA?
San Jose has fewer restrictions than San Francisco.
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco County
San Francisco Administrative Code Chapter 41A requires all STR hosts to register with the Office of Short-Term Rentals (OSTR) and obtain a Business Registration Certificate from the Treasurer & Tax Collector. Primary residence only; host must occupy the unit at least 275 days per year. ADUs, BMR units, SROs, and dormitories are ineligible. Registration fee is $250 and certificates are valid for two years.
View full San Francisco rules →San Jose, CA
Santa Clara County
San Jose regulates STRs under SJMC §20.80 Part 2.5. Hosts must obtain a business tax certificate. Owner-occupied rentals have unlimited days; non-owner-occupied are capped at 180 days per year.
View full San Jose rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | San Francisco | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | OSTR + Business Registration | - |
| Primary Residence | Min. 275 nights/year | - |
| Fee | $250; valid 2 years | - |
| Insurance | $500K liability required | - |
| Annual Cap (Unhosted) | - | 180 days |
| Hosted Cap | - | Unlimited |
| Max Occupants | - | 10 guests |
| Code | - | SJMC §20.80 Part 2.5 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
San Francisco FAQ
Do I need a permit to list my property on Airbnb in San Francisco?
San Francisco Administrative Code Chapter 41A requires all STR hosts to register with the Office of Short-Term Rentals (OSTR) and obtain a Business Registration Certificate from the Treasurer & Tax Collector. Primary residence only; host must occupy the unit at least 275 days per year. ADUs, BMR...
What are the short-term rental registration requirements in San Francisco?
Registration: OSTR + Business Registration. Primary Residence: Min. 275 nights/year. Fee: $250; valid 2 years. Insurance: $500K liability required.
San Jose FAQ
Do I need a permit to list my property on Airbnb in San Jose?
San Jose regulates STRs under SJMC §20.80 Part 2.5. Hosts must obtain a business tax certificate. Owner-occupied rentals have unlimited days; non-owner-occupied are capped at 180 days per year.
What are the short-term rental registration requirements in San Jose?
Annual Cap (Unhosted): 180 days. Hosted Cap: Unlimited. Max Occupants: 10 guests. Code: SJMC §20.80 Part 2.5.
Compare other topics
See how San Francisco and San Jose 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