Santa Clara County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Registration Rules (2026)

Unincorporated Santa Clara County does not run a dedicated short-term-rental registration program. The registration obligation that does apply comes from the Transient Occupancy Tax Ordinance (Division A30, Chapter V). Under Sec. A30-53, the operator of any hotel in the unincorporated areas of the County renting occupancy to transients must register the hotel with the Director of Finance and obtain a 'Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate,' which must be posted at all times in a conspicuous place on the premises. The certificate must state the operator's name, the hotel address, and the issuance date. The ordinance is explicit that the certificate does not authorize any person to conduct any unlawful business or to conduct a lawful business in an unlawful manner, and does not by itself authorize operation of a hotel; in other words, registering for the tax does not override underlying zoning or other requirements. 'Hotel' is defined broadly in Sec. A30-49 to include a room or rooms in a hotel, inn, tourist home or house, motel, or other lodging, including recreational-vehicle sites, which is how a short-term rental is captured. Hosts in unincorporated areas register and remit through the County Department of Tax and Collections.