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

Short-term rentals in Hemet are subject to the city's transient occupancy tax (TOT), which the municipal code addresses in Chapter 74, Article III (Section 74-100 et seq.). TOT is paid by the guest on stays by a 'transient' and is collected by the lodging operator and remitted to the city. The City of Hemet operates an official TOT page and an online remittance portal through HdL Companies, with returns filed on a periodic (quarterly) basis. When the City Council introduced its short-term rental ordinance in June 2025, TOT collection was identified as one of the central enforceable obligations placed on STR operators, alongside registration and good-neighbor rules. The city's adopted budget lists transient occupancy tax as an ongoing General Fund revenue source generated by local hotels, motels, and other lodging. Important: the precise city TOT percentage is fixed by the city's tax ordinance, and a current figure should be confirmed directly with the City of Hemet Finance Department or its TOT processing center; do not assume the city rate matches the separate Riverside County TOT, which applies only in unincorporated areas. In addition to TOT, operators may owe a city business-related registration and applicable state and local sales taxes on any taxable services.