Daly City, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Daly City, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- STR Permit
- Required from Planning Department
- Business License + TOT Certificate
- Required from Finance Department
- New Permit Fee
- $750.00
- Renewal Fee
- $142.50
- Business License
- Starting at $110.00
- Expiration
- September 30 annually
- Effective Date
- January 1, 2021 (Ord. 1440)
Summary
Daly City requires both a Short-Term Rental Permit from the Planning Department and a business license (with a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate) from the Finance Department before renting any home for 30 consecutive days or less. The new-permit fee is $750.00 and both credentials expire September 30 each year.
The host is required to obtain a business license from the Finance Department and Short-Term Rental permit from the Planning Department before renting any primary residence to any guest. A. Business License. To apply for a business license, a host shall file an application with the Finance Department as stipulated in Chapter 5.12 (Licensing Regulations) and obtain a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate from the Finance Department as stipulated in Chapter 3.32 (Transient Occupancy Tax). B. Short-Term Rental Permit. To apply for a Short-Term Rental permit, a host shall file an application with the Planning Department on a form provided by the Planning Department and shall include all information required by the instructions on the application and the guidelines necessary to implement this Chapter.
Full Breakdown
Ordinance No. 92 (Short-Term Rentals) to the Daly City Municipal Code. 32 (Transient Occupancy Tax), and a Short-Term Rental Permit from the Planning Department before renting any primary residence to any guest. The application must include a notarized affidavit confirming the home is the host's primary residence (and a notarized supplemental authorization form signed by the property owner if the host is a tenant), the name and contact information of a designated local responsible contact person available 24 hours per day who can respond within one hour, confirmation that the space meets fire and life safety requirements (smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, adequate egress), and a signed indemnification and hold-harmless agreement in a form approved by the City Attorney.
00. Two documents proving primary residency (state ID plus a utility bill, property tax bill, credit card bill, voter registration, or bank statement) must accompany the application to the Planning Division at 333 90th Street, (650) 991-8033.
Violations & Fines
Operating a short-term rental without the required permit and business license violates Chapter 5.92 and subjects the operator to administrative fines and penalties under Chapter 8.16 (Property Maintenance and Nuisance Abatement), plus civil injunctions, license revocation, and an order to pay back transient occupancy taxes and disgorge illegally obtained rental revenue under Section 5.92.080.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to list my Daly City home on Airbnb or VRBO?
How much does a Daly City short-term rental permit cost?
Can renters (not just owners) get a Daly City STR permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Daly City
How Daly City compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare Daly City to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Mateo County handle short-term rental permits.