Alameda, CA Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)

The clearest, most firmly established Alameda short-term rental rule is the tax. The City of Alameda imposes a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) of 14% on transient lodging, and that tax applies to short-term rentals booked for 30 nights or fewer - the same threshold Alameda uses to distinguish transient occupancy. The City confirms the 14% rate, and Airbnb's tax-collection help center states that guests booking listings located in the City of Alameda pay a 14% Transient Occupancy Tax of the listing price including any cleaning fees for reservations of 30 nights and shorter. For Airbnb listings, Airbnb collects and remits this TOT to the City on hosts' behalf; for bookings made through other platforms or directly, the host is responsible for collecting the tax from guests and remitting it to the City, typically on a monthly basis using the City's filing process. Beyond TOT, a host operating an STR as a business is expected to obtain a City business license; Alameda business license fees are based on gross receipts, with annual renewal due by June 30. There is no separate STR-specific permit fee in current code because Alameda has not adopted a dedicated STR permit. Note that the City had a Transient Occupancy Tax measure in the pipeline aimed at regional parity; the 14% figure is the rate confirmed by the City and Airbnb in the available information, but hosts should verify the current rate and any voter-approved change directly with the Alameda Finance Department before relying on it.