Short-term rental operators must complete the Palo Alto Transient Occupancy Tax registration, display the certificate number in listings, and renew as directed.
Before advertising a short-term rental in Palo Alto, operators must complete the Transient Occupancy Tax Registration Application with the Finance Department's Revenue Collections Division. The application requires the property address, parcel number, owner contact information, local responsible party, and platform details. Once approved, the city issues a certificate of authority and a registration number that must be displayed on every listing on Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and other platforms. Certificates typically remain valid as long as the operator files required TOT returns and pays taxes on time; the city may suspend or revoke a certificate for nonpayment, repeated nuisance violations, or operation of an illegal unit. Changes in ownership or property address require a new application. Registration questions can be directed to Palo Alto Revenue at 650-329-2100.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how other cities in Santa Clara County handle registration rules.
See how Palo Alto's registration rules rules stack up against other locations.
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