Stockton imposes an 8% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on the rent charged to any transient occupying a hotel, motel, vacation rental, or short-term rental for 30 consecutive days or less, collected by the operator under Stockton Municipal Code Chapter 3.28.
The Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax of the City of Stockton (SMC Chapter 3.28) requires every operator renting lodging — including short-term rentals, Airbnb, Vrbo, and traditional hotels — to charge guests an 8% tax on rent for stays of 30 consecutive days or less and remit it to the City Tax Administrator. Operators must register with the city and obtain a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate before commencing business. In addition, all STR operators must obtain a Stockton business license under Title 5 of the Municipal Code before doing business in the city (Business License office at 501 W. Weber Avenue). California state law SB 346 and related lodging legislation also allow online platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo) to collect and remit TOT directly under voluntary collection agreements with the city, but legal responsibility for the tax remains with the operator.
Failure to register, collect, or remit TOT is a misdemeanor under SMC Chapter 3.28 with penalties of 10% added for delinquency after 30 days, an additional 10% if not paid within 60 days, plus interest at 0.5% per month on unpaid tax. Operating without a business license is separately punishable under SMC Title 5. Operating an STR without complying constitutes a violation enforceable through code enforcement abatement and civil penalties.
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