Anaheim Registration Rules Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Anaheim's registration framework for short-term rentals operates on two parallel tracks: the operational permit through the Planning and Building Department and the tax registration through the Finance Department. Every STR operator must obtain a Transient Occupancy Tax certificate and remit the city's 15% TOT on gross rental receipts from all stays of fewer than 30 consecutive days. This is the same tax rate applied to Anaheim's hotels and motels, reflecting the city's position as a major tourism destination with approximately 25 million annual visitors.

The Finance Department issues TOT certificates and determines the filing frequency — monthly for high-volume operators and quarterly for lower-volume hosts. Operators must maintain records of all rental transactions, including guest names, dates of stay, amounts collected, and TOT remitted, for a minimum of three years. Airbnb and certain other platforms have entered into voluntary collection agreements with the City of Anaheim under which the platform collects and remits TOT directly. However, hosts remain legally responsible for ensuring that the correct amount is collected and remitted; if a platform under-collects due to pricing discrepancies, the host is liable for the difference.

All STR listings must prominently display the city-issued permit number. Listings without a permit number are flagged by the city's compliance monitoring service and may result in enforcement action against both the host and the platform. The city also requires operators to register with the Orange County Tax Collector for any applicable Measure H or county tourism assessments that apply to transient lodging.