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Cupertino, CA Short-Term Rentals: Repeat Violator Strikes (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Violation threshold
Two Municipal Code violations in 12 months
Governing sections
Sec. 5.08.040(E) and Sec. 5.08.050(A)
Appeal deadline
14 calendar days to the City Clerk
Hearing timeline
Independent hearing officer decides within 30 days
Enforcing office
City Manager or designee

Summary

Cupertino bars a short-term rental from registering, and revokes an active registration, once two Municipal Code violations accumulate on the property within twelve months. A host with two violations tied to any other Cupertino short-term rental in that period is likewise blocked from registering a new one, under Municipal Code Sections 5.08.040(E) and 5.08.050(A).

The short-term rental and the property on which it is located have not had two or more violations of the Cupertino Municipal Code within the last twelve months from registration submittal and have not been denied registration or had registration revoked within the preceding twelve months; The host has not had two or more violations of the Cupertino Municipal Code within the last twelve months from registration submittal related to any short-term rental, has not been denied registration for any other short-term rental within the preceding twelve months, and has not had a short-term rental registration revoked at any time; and ... That two violations of the Cupertino Municipal Code have occurred on the property on which the short-term rental is located within the preceding twelve months;

Full Breakdown

Cupertino's short-term rental ordinance treats repeat code violations as a registration killer rather than a fine-only offense. 040(E), the City will register a short-term rental only if the property has not had two or more Municipal Code violations within the twelve months before the registration submittal and has not had a registration denied or revoked in the preceding twelve months. The same subsection blocks a host who has racked up two or more violations tied to any other short-term rental anywhere in the City within the past year, even if the current property is clean.

050(A) means any City-issued citation, unresolved notice of violation, unresolved cease-and-desist order, or other documented breach; each distinct incident counts as one violation. 050(A), alongside misrepresentation, unlawful operation, a serious threat to health or safety, or refusal to allow a City inspection. The City Manager or a designee may issue a notice of pending revocation, or an immediate notice of suspension pending revocation if the activity poses a serious threat to public health or safety, and must decide within thirty calendar days after the response deadline in that notice. Every notice and determination goes by mail to the host, the property owner, and the designated local contact.

Violations & Fines

Revocation grounds under Section 5.08.050(A) include obtaining registration by misrepresentation or fraud, operating in violation of local or state law, two Municipal Code violations on the property within the preceding twelve months, a serious threat to health or safety, and refusing to allow a City inspection. A revoked host has fourteen calendar days to file a written appeal with the City Clerk; an independent hearing officer selected by the City Manager hears the matter within thirty days and issues a final written decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many violations does it take to lose a Cupertino short-term rental registration?
Two. Under Municipal Code Section 5.08.050(A), a short-term rental registration may be revoked once two Municipal Code violations, such as citations or unresolved notices of violation, occur on the property within the preceding twelve months. The same two-violation count also bars a fresh registration under Section 5.08.040(E).
Can violations at a different property block a new Cupertino STR registration?
Yes. Section 5.08.040(E) denies registration to a host who has had two or more Municipal Code violations tied to any other short-term rental in Cupertino within the preceding twelve months, even if the property being registered has a clean record.
How do I appeal a revoked short-term rental registration in Cupertino?
File a written notice of appeal with the City Clerk within fourteen calendar days of the revocation decision. An independent hearing officer chosen by the City Manager holds a hearing within thirty days, and the officer's written decision is final except for judicial review.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Cupertino

All Cupertino rules

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