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

Westminster imposes a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), commonly called a 'bed tax,' on the privilege of occupancy in a hotel. The Municipal Code's Transient Occupancy Tax chapter sets the rate at eight percent (8%) of the rent charged by the operator, collected from each transient guest. This is the city tax that lawful hotels and motels must collect and remit; it is separate from California state and Orange County taxes and from the city's general sales/use tax. Because Chapter 9.74 prohibits residential short-term rentals of 30 days or less, there is no TOT collection pathway for a home-based STR - a banned use cannot lawfully collect or remit bed tax. There are also no STR application, registration, or renewal fees, because the City issues no STR permits or licenses. Indeed, one rationale city officials cited for the ban was that unpermitted residential STRs deprive the city of the same transient occupancy taxes hotels and motels pay. Property owners considering paid lodging should note that only expressly permitted hotels, motels, and lodging houses can lawfully operate and collect the 8% TOT. Third-party host guides citing a '7% accommodations tax' or '$200 STR renewal fee' for Westminster, California are not supported by the City's code or FAQ and appear to conflate Westminster with other jurisdictions.