Newport Beach Registration Rules Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

NBMC Chapter 5.95 imposes comprehensive registration and transparency requirements on short-term lodging operators in Newport Beach. Upon receiving an STL permit, the operator is assigned a unique permit number that must be prominently displayed on every listing, advertisement, and booking platform where the property is offered for short-term rental. The permit number must appear in the listing title or description on all platforms, and failure to display a valid permit number creates a rebuttable presumption that the listing is operating without a permit.

Separately, the operator must register with the Newport Beach Finance Department for the collection and remittance of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) at the current rate of 10% on all short-term rental income. TOT must be collected from guests at the time of booking and remitted to the city on a monthly or quarterly basis as directed by the Finance Department. Failure to collect or remit TOT is a separate violation from operating without an STL permit and carries its own penalties including back taxes, interest, and administrative fines.

The city's partnership with third-party compliance monitoring services enables continuous scanning of major booking platforms. When an unpermitted listing is identified, an automated notice of violation is generated and sent to the property owner and listing host. The notice provides a brief compliance window — typically 15 days — to either obtain a valid permit or remove the listing. After the compliance window expires, administrative fines begin accruing daily. Newport Beach has also engaged directly with platform operators to request removal of listings that violate local registration requirements, leveraging the platforms' own policies requiring host compliance with local laws.