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

The County's registration requirement for short-term rentals flows from its Transient Occupancy Tax Ordinance, not a separate STR program. County Regulatory Code Sec. 22.206 (Registration) provides that 'within 30 days after commencing business, and annually thereafter in July of each year, an operator of a hotel renting occupancy to transients shall register the hotel with the Tax Collector and obtain a transient occupancy registration certificate from the County,' which must be posted conspicuously. For STR operators specifically, the Treasurer-Tax Collector launched its Host Compliance registration and reporting portal effective June 11, 2024, with reporting beginning July 1, 2024 for Quarter 4 of fiscal year 2023-2024. The County advises allowing up to 30 days for review of a registration, and recommends having a copy of the property deed ready; the online process takes roughly 15 minutes. Operators managing several properties can use a 'Bulk Property Registration' option. The certificate is non-transferable and becomes void on a change of name, sale, transfer, or cessation of business. A short-term rental is defined as a stay of 30 days or less. The County imposes no rental-night cap, lottery, or owner-occupancy requirement as a registration condition.