Lincoln has no short-term-rental-specific permit. Every business operating within city limits, including STR hosts, must obtain a City business license under Lincoln Municipal Code Title 5 and remit any applicable State and County transient occupancy taxes.
The City of Lincoln's Business Licenses and Registration program (administered under LMC Title 5, Business Taxes, Licenses and Regulations) states 'the City of Lincoln requires a business license for any business activity conducted within city limits, even if the business is located outside the city.' Applications and renewals are processed through the City's third-party portal at lincoln.hdlgov.com. The standard application/renewal fee is $21.00 plus a $4.00 SB 1186 state disability-access surcharge. Home-occupation licenses (which generally cover hosts operating an STR out of a primary residence) cost $124. Lincoln's published code titles (per the City's confirmation that 'ordinances are available through the Municipal Code, accessible via library.municode.com/ca/lincoln/codes/code_of_ordinances') do not list a dedicated short-term-rental chapter. Hosts must still confirm any applicable transient occupancy tax (TOT) obligation directly with Lincoln Finance (916-434-2400) and with Placer County, since Placer levies its own TOT in unincorporated areas under Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code §7280.
Operating without a current business license is unlawful under LMC Title 5. The City applies a 10% per month penalty up to 60% of the fee for delinquent license accounts. Failure to remit TOT to the City or County can result in interest, penalties, and a tax lien under California Revenue and Taxation Code §7283.5.
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Lincoln, CA
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