Turlock, CA Hotels & Lodging: Transient Occupancy Tax (2026)
Key Facts
- Tax rate
- 9% of rent charged
- Applies to stays of
- 30 days or less
- Registration required
- Business License Certificate
- Late penalty
- 10%, plus 10% after 30 days
- Records retention
- 3 years, operator-kept
Summary
Turlock taxes hotel and short-term rental stays at 9% of rent charged for occupancies of 30 days or less, collected by the operator and remitted to the Finance Office each quarter.
For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient shall be subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of nine (9%) percent of the rent charged by the operator. Such tax shall constitute a debt owed by the transient to the City, which debt shall be extinguished only by payment to the operator or to the City. The transient shall pay the tax to the operator of the hotel 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 shall be due upon the transient's ceasing to occupy space in the hotel. If for any reason the tax due is not paid to the operator of the hotel, the Finance Director may require that such tax shall be paid directly to the Finance Office. (756-CS, Amended, 12/26/91; 1126-CS, Amended, 10/08/09)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4937289; v6 updated 2026-06-25).
Full Breakdown
Every operator of a hotel, motel, or other structure rented to transients for 30 days or less must collect a 9% transient occupancy tax on the rent charged and remit it to the Finance Office, per Turlock Municipal Code § 3-6-02. The code's definition of "hotel" in § 3-6-01(b) is broad, any structure, or portion of one, occupied by transients for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping, which reaches short-term rental hosts as well as traditional hotels and motels. Operators must register for a Business License Certificate with the Finance Director under § 3-6-05 before renting to transients, and the certificate must be posted on the premises.
Violations & Fines
Late remittance draws a 10% penalty, a second 10% penalty after 30 more days, up to 25% more for fraud, plus 0.5% monthly interest; failing to register or filing a false return is a misdemeanor under § 3-6-14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Turlock's transient occupancy tax apply to Airbnb-style rentals?
Who collects and remits Turlock's hotel tax?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Turlock
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Transient Occupancy Tax in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle transient occupancy tax.