The short-term rental market has grown exponentially with platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and FlipKey. For hosts, renting out homes or rooms for less than 30 days can provide lucrative income amid high demand. However, cities across Silicon Valley have tightened regulations on short-term rentals to address concerns like noise, parking, and neighborhood character. Navigating the patchwork of local rules is crucial for short-term rental owners to avoid hefty fines. This guide summarizes key short-term rental regulations in major Silicon Valley cities.
City of San Jose
– Hosts must register short-term rentals and payTransient Occupancy Tax
– Whole home rentals capped at 180 nights per year
– Primary residence rentals have no night cap
– No more than 2 adults per bedroom or 4 adults maximum
– Host must respond to problems within 60 minutes
– No parties, events, weddings allowed
City of Santa Clara
– Short-term rentals prohibited in most residential areas
– Allowed in commercial zones with permit and inspection
– Subject to transient occupancy tax collection
– Max occupancy limits based on size
– 24/7 local contact person required
– Posting rental rules and city permit # required
City of Sunnyvale
– Home-sharing allowed but whole home rentals prohibited
– Home-sharing registration and Transient Occupancy Tax required
– Max 90 days home-sharing allowed per year
– Host must be present during stays
– Property inspection required
– Parking rules and noise limits enforced
City of Mountain View
– Short-term rentals must register and pay Transient Occupancy Tax
– Whole home rentals capped at 90 days per year
– No cap for renting only a portion of a home
– Host must respond to complaints within 1 hour
– Events, parties, weddings prohibited
– Occupancy limits based on bedrooms
City of Palo Alto
– Short-term rentals limited to hosted home-sharing only
– Max 90 nights per year cap on home-sharing
– Host must live on-site during stays
– 24/7 local contact person required
– Proof of liability insurance required
– Transient Occupancy Tax must be remitted
City of Cupertino
– Short-term rental permit and Transient Occupancy Tax required
– For multi-family, HOA approval may be required
– Whole unit rentals capped at 90 days per year
– Parking rules and occupancy limits enforced
– Host must respond to issues within 1 hour
– Weddings, events, parties prohibited
Remaining Compliant Across Silicon Valley
The regulations across cities vary widely. Some ban whole home rentals outright while others cap nights and impose steep taxes. Noise monitors, inspections, and local contact requirements create additional obligations. Those planning to host short-term rentals in Silicon Valley must research hyper-local rules in detail to remain compliant and avoid fines.
Partnering with Intempus can make navigating Silicon Valley’s complex short-term rental regulations simple. Our experienced local team stays on top of the patchwork of ordinances across the region. We handle registrations, tax payments, caps management, and compliance issues for short-term rental owners. Focus on great hospitality—we’ll handle the headaches of compliance. Contact us today to make short-term renting easy and profitable in this high-demand area.
