7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 9 cities in Contra Costa County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Short-term rentals in unincorporated Contra Costa County require a permit from the Department of Conservation and Development under Ordinance No. 2020-12. ADUs may not be used as short-term rentals. A 10% Transient Occupancy Tax applies.
Unincorporated Contra Costa County regulates short-term rentals under Chapter 88-32 of the County Ordinance Code (added by Ordinance 2020-12). The STR operating standards prohibit excessive noise inconsistent with residential use. The ordinance does not set a specific decibel limit or fixed quiet-hour window; instead it pairs that standard with a hard 20-person gathering cap and a ban on weddings, conferences, and other commercial special events.
Contra Costa County imposes a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax on short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) in the unincorporated area. Operators must register, collect the tax, and remit it monthly or quarterly to the Treasurer-Tax Collector. Airbnb collects and remits TOT directly for qualifying bookings.
STR parking in unincorporated Contra Costa County must comply with the residential zone's parking standards, typically 2 off-street spaces for a single-family home. On-street parking follows the California Vehicle Code 72-hour rule and any local no-parking designations.
California Vehicle Code § 22651(a)-(d), (k)
A peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, or a regularly employed and salaried employee who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations of a city, county, or jurisdiction of a state agency in which a vehicle is located may remove a vehicle located within the territorial limits in which the offic...
Contra Costa County does not set a county-wide explicit per-night occupancy cap for STRs, but general building code occupancy standards apply. Uniform Housing Code and California Building Code limit occupants based on bedroom count and square footage, typically 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests.
Cal. HSC Code § 17920.3
CHAPTER 2. Rules and Regulations [17920 - 17929] ( Chapter 2 added by Stats. 1961, Ch. 1844. ) 17920.3. Any building or portion thereof, regardless of zoning designation or approved uses of the building, including any dwelling unit, guestroom or suite of rooms, or the premises on which the same is located, in which there exists any of the following listed conditions to an extent that endangers ...
Unincorporated Contra Costa County does not require short-term rental operators to carry a county-mandated minimum liability insurance policy. The Chapter 88-32 STR ordinance (added by Ordinance 2020-12) and the county's published STR application materials regulate registration, occupancy, parking, and operating standards but do not impose a $500K or $1M liability floor of the kind seen in some California cities.
Contra Costa County requires operators of short-term rentals in unincorporated areas to register with the Treasurer-Tax Collector for Transient Occupancy Tax purposes. STR operators must obtain a TOT certificate and business license, and some areas require additional land use permits depending on zoning.
9 cities in Contra Costa County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
7 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Noise Rules
7 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Noise Rules
7 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Noise Rules
7 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Noise Rules
7 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Noise Rules
7 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Noise Rules
7 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Noise Rules
6 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Noise Rules
7 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Noise Rules
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