Short-term rentals in San Ramon are heavily restricted. The City does not have a permissive STR ordinance, and most residentially-zoned properties are not authorized to operate rentals under 30 days. Operators must check current zoning code and TOT registration requirements with the Finance Department, and HOA CC&Rs in master-planned communities frequently ban STRs outright.
San Ramon, a predominantly residential Tri-Valley city, has taken a conservative approach to short-term rentals. Unlike Bay Area cities with dedicated STR ordinances, San Ramon's Municipal Code does not expressly authorize transient (under 30-day) rentals in single-family residential zones, which creates ambiguity that typically favors restriction rather than permission. Any property owner considering operating an STR must confirm current status with the Planning Division, as the City has periodically considered formal STR regulations. Hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast inns are regulated separately under the zoning code and require a Conditional Use Permit in appropriate commercial or mixed-use zones. Regardless of zoning authorization, any transient occupancy of under 30 days triggers the 10 percent Transient Occupancy Tax under the San Ramon Municipal Code, administered by the Finance Department. Operators must register for a TOT certificate, collect the tax from guests, file monthly or quarterly returns, and remit collected tax to the City. Failure to register and remit TOT is a municipal code violation subject to back taxes, penalties, and interest. The most significant restriction for San Ramon homeowners is private CC&R enforcement. Virtually every master-planned community in the city, including Canyon Lakes, Gale Ranch, Windemere, Twin Creeks, and Bollinger Hills, contains CC&R provisions that limit rental terms (typically 30-day or 6-month minimums) or prohibit transient rentals outright. Davis-Stirling Act (California Civil Code 4000+) provides HOAs with robust enforcement tools including fines, liens, and injunctive relief. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo may auto-collect and remit California and some local taxes but do not resolve underlying zoning or CC&R issues.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how other cities in Contra Costa County handle registration rules.
See how San Ramon's registration rules rules stack up against other locations.
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