Short-term rental permit rules in San Francisco, CA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
San Francisco Administrative Code Chapter 41A requires all STR hosts to register with the Office of Short-Term Rentals (OSTR) and obtain a Business Registration Certificate from the Treasurer & Tax Collector. Primary residence only; host must occupy the unit at least 275 days per year. ADUs, BMR units, SROs, and dormitories are ineligible. Registration fee is $250 and certificates are valid for two years.
Chapter 41A.5 requires two registrations: a Business Account Number (BAN) from the Treasurer and the Short-Term Residential Rental Certificate from OSTR. The registration number must appear on all listings. Hosts must be permanent residents occupying the unit as primary residence for at least 275 nights/year. Only the unit the host lives in may be listed — other units in the same building are ineligible. Hosts must carry $500,000 liability insurance. Quarterly reports (January, April, July, October) are required. A posted fire safety sign inside the front door is required when hosting.
Operating without registration: $484/day per listing. Platform violations: $1,000/listing/day.
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