Contra Costa County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Contra Costa County, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Chapter 88-32 (added by Ord. 2020-12)
- Permit Required
- § 88-32.402 - ministerial STR permit
- Permit Term
- 1 year, non-transferable (§§ 88-32.410, 88-32.414)
- Renewal Deadline
- At least 30 days before expiration
- Also Required
- Business license (§ 88-32.614) + TOT cert (§ 88-32.616)
- Responsible Party
- Age 18+, within 30 miles, phone-reachable 24/7
Summary
Operating a short-term rental in unincorporated Contra Costa County requires a ministerial STR permit issued under Chapter 88-32, plus a business license and a transient occupancy registration certificate before any rental.
88-32.402 Permit - required. No person shall establish or operate a short-term rental in the unincorporated area of the County without first obtaining a permit as provided in this chapter.
Full Breakdown
), assessor's parcel number, a site plan showing required off-street parking, a floor plan of the dwelling, the property owner's consent, a statement that no restrictive covenant prohibits the rental, and the name of a responsible party 18 or older who lives within a 30-mile radius and is reachable by phone during the entire rental period. 602 are met. 410 sets the permit term at one year, with renewal applications due at least 30 days before expiration. 414). 616 requires a valid transient occupancy registration certificate issued under Chapter 64-4.
Permits are denied if the dwelling is a deed-restricted below-market-rate unit, located in a building with five or more units, on a Williamson Act parcel, or the applicant is delinquent on County taxes.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a permit, business license, or TOT registration certificate is a violation of Chapter 88-32. Under Section 88-32.802, the County may pursue any remedy allowed by code, including permit revocation, administrative fines, infraction citations, and any other remedy allowed by law. A prior revocation within 24 months is itself grounds for denying a new application under Section 88-32.408(a)(5).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to rent my home short-term in unincorporated Contra Costa County?
How long is a Contra Costa County short-term rental permit valid?
What dwellings cannot get an STR permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Contra Costa County
How Contra Costa County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare Contra Costa County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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