Brentwood, CA Short-Term Rentals: Registration Rules (2026)

Brentwood treats stays of fewer than 30 consecutive days as transient occupancies under Municipal Code Chapter 3.28, which imposes a Transient Occupancy Tax on rent paid by guests. Any operator renting a room, accessory dwelling unit, or entire home for less than 30 days must register with the City of Brentwood Finance Department as a TOT operator, obtain a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate, and obtain a City Business License. The TOT certificate must be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises. Operators are required to collect the tax from each guest, report gross rent received, and remit the tax to the city on a regular (typically monthly or quarterly) schedule. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo may collect and remit TOT on behalf of hosts in some California cities, but operators remain legally responsible for compliance and should confirm status with the Finance Department. In addition to tax registration, operators should verify that the property's zoning designation and any applicable Planned Development overlays permit transient lodging; some PD zones and deed-restricted communities prohibit or limit STRs. HOAs governed by Davis-Stirling (CA Civil Code 4000 et seq.) may impose their own STR restrictions in CC&Rs that are enforceable separately from city rules. Operators must also comply with general standards: working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors (Health and Safety Code 13113.7 and 17926), pool/spa barriers under HSC 115920, and posted emergency information. Violations can include back taxes, penalties, interest, and revocation of the TOT certificate and business license.