Short-term rental permit rules in San Leandro, CA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
San Leandro requires a hosted Short-Term Rental (STR) permit plus a city business license for any rental under 30 days. Non-hosted STRs (whole-home/vacation rentals where the host is absent) are banned citywide under Municipal Code Chapter 4-41.
Under San Leandro Municipal Code Title 4, Chapter 4-40 (effective July 3, 2019), operators of hosted STRs — defined as renting a residential dwelling unit (or portion) for less than 30 days while the host occupies the home — must obtain both a city business license and a hosted STR permit before listing. Applications go to the Finance Department (835 E. 14th Street, Suite 215) and are reviewed in coordination with the Community Development Department (Chief Building Official, Planning, Code Enforcement) and the Police Department. The Finance and Community Development Directors must find that the dwelling conforms to the Standards section (Sec. 4-40-130). Permits are limited to one per dwelling unit, are not transferable, and may only be issued to natural persons (not corporate entities). Chapter 4-41 (effective June 19, 2019) prohibits all non-hosted STRs citywide.
Operating a non-hosted STR or an unpermitted hosted STR is a misdemeanor. Per the FAQ summarizing Chapter 4-41 enforcement: first violation = misdemeanor prosecution, $1,000 fine or up to 6 months in jail. Second violation = $1,000 fine or 6 months in jail, declaration of public nuisance, and recovery of the City's attorneys' fees. Third violation within 2 years = $1,000 fine or 6 months in jail, triple damages, and recovery of City's legal fees. The City Attorney is authorized to bring punitive damages actions without City Council approval. Enforcement is handled by Code Enforcement and the Police Department, supported by a third-party data monitoring firm that tracks listings on Airbnb/VRBO.
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San Leandro, CA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
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