Santa Clara, CA Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- Tax rate
- 13.5% of rent, effective January 1, 2025
- Transient threshold
- 30 consecutive days or less
- Registration deadline
- Within 30 days of starting to rent
- Filing frequency
- Quarterly, by month-end after quarter close
- Late penalty
- 25% for willful noncompliance, plus interest
- Enforcing office
- City Director of Finance
Summary
Santa Clara taxes short-term rental stays at 13.5% of rent under its transient occupancy tax chapter. Any host renting a room, unit or house for 30 consecutive days or less counts as a taxable "hotel" occupancy, and the host must collect and remit the tax to the Director of Finance.
(a) For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax as imposed from time to time by City Council resolution. Said tax shall be a percentage of the rent charged by the operator to the occupant. (b) On and as of January 1, 2025, and continuing thereafter until further change by City Council resolution, the amount of the tax imposed is thirteen and one-half percent (13.5%) of the rent charged by the operator.
Full Breakdown
020(b)). 020(g)). That makes most Airbnb-style bookings taxable. 5% of the rent charged. 050(d)). 080). 090(a)). 120(a)). 040).
Violations & Fines
Late or unremitted tax draws interest calculated at the latest T-bill rate plus 3% per month on the unpaid balance (§ 3.25.110(a)). If the Director of Finance finds willful noncompliance or repeated delinquency, a 25% penalty is added on top of the interest (§ 3.25.100(b)). Where an operator fails to report, the Director may audit the operator's records and bill the audit cost to the operator, then assess tax, interest and penalties by mailed and posted notice; the operator has 30 days to request a hearing on the assessed amount (§ 3.25.120).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Santa Clara's hotel tax apply to a room I rent out on Airbnb?
How much transient occupancy tax do I owe as a Santa Clara host?
How often do I have to file and pay the tax?
What happens if I don't register or pay on time?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara
How Santa Clara compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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Taxes & Fees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle taxes & fees.