Ventura County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- Business license
- Required, County-issued
- Business tax
- Paid annually
- Transient occupancy tax
- Registration and payment required
- Proof needed
- Before permit issuance
Summary
Short-term rental and homeshare owners in unincorporated Ventura County must hold a County business license, pay business taxes, and register for and pay transient occupancy tax.
To the extent required by applicable County ordinance, the owner of a short-term rental or homeshare shall acquire and maintain a valid County business license, timely pay annual business taxes evidenced by a business tax certificate, and/or obtain and maintain a valid County transient occupancy tax registration certificate and timely pay all required County transient occupancy taxes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
Owners operating a homeshare or short-term rental in the unincorporated area of Ventura County must acquire and maintain a valid County business license, timely pay the annual business taxes shown on their business tax certificate, and obtain a County transient occupancy tax registration certificate and pay all required transient occupancy taxes. Proof of compliance with these business tax, licensing, and transient occupancy tax requirements must be submitted before the County will issue a short-term rental or homeshare permit.
Violations & Fines
Operating a short-term rental without a current business tax certificate or transient occupancy tax registration violates the ordinance and can block permit issuance or renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do short-term rental hosts in unincorporated Ventura County pay transient occupancy tax?
Is proof of tax compliance needed to get a short-term rental permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura County
How Ventura County compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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