Chula Vista, CA Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- TOT rate
- 10% of rent charged
- Council rate floor (temporary)
- 8%, max 1 year
- Platform remittance frequency
- Monthly, City-approved form
- Platform recordkeeping
- 4 years
- TOT nonpayment classification
- Minor violation, $100-$1,500 fine
Summary
Chula Vista charges a 10 percent transient occupancy tax on short-term rental stays, collected by the host or the hosting platform and remitted to the City. Hosting platforms must collect and remit TOT monthly and report every booking to the City.
For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel or campsite, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of 10 percent of the rent charged by the operator. Said tax constitutes a debt owed by the transient to the City which is extinguished only by payment to the operator or to the City. The transient shall pay the tax to the operator of the hotel or campsite at the time the rent is paid.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3623, passed May 19, 2026).
Full Breakdown
40 CVMC, treating the Permittee as the tax 'operator' and the guest as the 'transient'; if a rental operates without a valid permit, the owner or long-term tenant is still treated as the operator for tax purposes. 030 sets the tax at 10 percent of the rent charged, owed by the transient and payable to the operator at the time rent is paid, or in installments if rent is paid that way; the City Council may temporarily lower the rate to no less than 8 percent for up to one calendar year after a noticed public hearing, but has not done so as a standing rule.
150(C), a hosting platform operating in the City must collect all required TOT on bookings it facilitates and remit the taxes monthly using a City-approved form, issue receipts stating the tax amount separately, and retain remittance documentation for four years. 150(B)).
Violations & Fines
Failing to pay the required Transient Occupancy Tax on a short-term rental is classified as a 'minor violation' under CVMC 5.68.160(I)(2)(b), triggering escalating administrative fines of $100 (first offense) up to $1,500 (fifth and subsequent offenses) within a rolling 12-month period (CVMC 5.68.160(J)(1)). A hosting platform that fails in its collection, remittance, or reporting duties can be fined $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second within 12 months, and $2,000 for a third or later offense (CVMC 5.68.160(K)). Operating without paying the required application or renewal fee under the master fee schedule can also block permit issuance or renewal (CVMC 5.68.070, 5.68.080(J)(1)).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chula Vista's transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals?
Who is responsible for collecting the TOT on an Airbnb booking?
What happens if I don't pay the occupancy tax on my short-term rental?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chula Vista
How Chula Vista compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·California rules heatmap·Compare Chula Vista to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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