Martinez requires short-term rental (STR) operators to register with the City, obtain a business license, and remit Transient Occupancy Tax at 10 percent. An STR is any rental of a residential dwelling for 30 days or less. Registration requires proof of ownership or landlord authorization, a local contact, and compliance with safety and parking standards.
Martinez regulates short-term rentals through its business license program under Municipal Code Title 5 and Transient Occupancy Tax Ordinance under Title 3, Chapter 3.32. Operators of any STR (rentals of 30 consecutive days or fewer) must apply for a business license, register as a transient occupancy tax collector, and provide a 24-hour local contact person who can respond to complaints within one hour. Registration requires the property address, owner information, landlord consent letter if the operator is a tenant, certification of smoke/carbon monoxide detector compliance, and a parking plan demonstrating adequate on-site spaces. Platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit the 10 percent TOT to Martinez under agreements with the City, but hosts remain responsible for ensuring remittance and filing quarterly returns. Operating without registration subjects the owner to back-taxes, penalties, and administrative fines up to $1,000 per violation per day. Martinez does not currently cap the number of STR nights per year but reserves the right to deny or revoke permits for properties with documented nuisance violations.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how other cities in Contra Costa County handle registration rules.
See how Martinez's registration rules rules stack up against other locations.
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