South Gate, CA Hotels & Lodging: Transient Occupancy Tax (2026)
Key Facts
- Tax rate
- 8% of rent
- Applies to stays of
- 30 days or less
- Registration deadline
- 30 days after opening
- Late penalty
- 10% plus 10%/30 days
Summary
South Gate taxes hotel and motel stays of 30 days or less at 8% of the rent charged, collected by the operator from each transient guest and remitted to the city quarterly.
For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel or motel, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of eight percent of the rent charged by the operator. The tax constitutes a debt owed by the transient to the city which is extinguished only by payment to the operator or to the city. The transient shall pay the tax to the operator of the hotel or motel at the time the rent is paid. If the rent is paid in installments, a proportionate share of the tax shall be paid with each installment. The unpaid tax constitutes a debt owed by the transient's ceasing to occupy space in the hotel or motel. If for any reason the tax due is not paid to the operator of the hotel or motel, the tax administrator may require that such tax shall be paid directly to the tax administrator. (Ord.1258 § 1 (part), 2-24-1975; Ord.1273 § 2, 8-11-1975; Ord. 1643 § 1, 10-22-1984)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4847832; v1 updated 2026-05-12; through 05-12-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 2.74, the Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax Ordinance, taxes anyone occupying a hotel or motel room for 30 consecutive days or less at 8% of the rent (§ 2.74.030). Every operator must register each hotel or motel with the tax administrator within 30 days of the ordinance's effective date or of opening, and post a transient occupancy registration certificate on the premises (§ 2.74.060). Operators collect the tax with the rent and remit it to the city each calendar quarter; the code doesn't separately define or exempt short-term rentals, so a host renting rooms to transients falls under the same 8% tax.
Violations & Fines
Late remittance draws a 10% penalty, plus another 10% for each additional 30 days delinquent, a 25% penalty for fraud, and 0.5% monthly interest on the unpaid tax (§ 2.74.080).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is South Gate's hotel occupancy tax rate?
Do hotel operators have to register with the city?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in South Gate
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