Taxes & Fees: Santa Paula vs Ventura
How do taxes & fees rules compare between Santa Paula, CA and Ventura, CA?
Santa Paula and Ventura have similar restriction levels.
Santa Paula, CA
Ventura County
Santa Paula imposes a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on all short-term rental stays of fewer than 30 consecutive days. Hosts must register as TOT collectors and remit taxes quarterly to the City Finance Department.
View full Santa Paula 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 | Santa Paula | Ventura |
|---|---|---|
| TOT Rate | 10% | - |
| Filing Frequency | Quarterly | - |
| Applies To | Stays under 30 days | - |
| Late Penalty | 10% + 1.5% monthly interest | - |
| Code Section | SPMC Chapter 35 | - |
| 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.
Santa Paula FAQ
What is the hotel tax rate in Santa Paula?
The Transient Occupancy Tax is 10% on all short-term stays under 30 days, including vacation rentals and Airbnbs, per SPMC Chapter 35.
Does Airbnb collect the TOT for Santa Paula?
Some platforms may collect and remit TOT directly, but hosts are ultimately responsible for verifying compliance. Register with the Finance Department regardless.
What happens if I don't pay the TOT?
Penalties include 10% of unpaid tax plus 1.5% monthly interest. The city can audit and assess back taxes for up to 3 years.
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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