Short Term Rentals

Short term residential rentals (STRs) hosted by single-family homeowners are allowed in Brisbane subject to City approval of a short term rental permit and compliance with a number of operational standards, including but not limited to homeowner occupancy requirements and quarterly payment of transient occupancy taxes (TOT). An STR is defined as the rental of a room or rooms within single-family dwellings by the homeowner for less than 30 consecutive days. Rentals of residential homes for 30 consecutive days or longer are not subject to City permitting requirements. 

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Click here to apply online for both STR registration and Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) registration. Learn more about the eligibility criteria and documentation you will need to complete your application below! 

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STR Rules and Regulations

Want to host an STR in your home? Learn the ground rules first! The STR Information handout and Host Guide have all the relevant details about who can host STRs, where they can be hosted, and the rules that apply to hosting.

TOT Payment

All STR hosts with an approved STR permit must register to pay quarterly TOT taxes (current TOT rate: 14%; subject to future change by the City Council). TOT registration and payment can be completed online via Host Compliance's registration portal. Taxable receipts include, but are not limited to, nightly rents, weekly rents, standard cleaning fees, pet fees, internet charges, late check-out fees, extra person fees, and resort fees.  

In addition to TOT taxes, all STR permit operators must pay a daily business license tax of $2.59 for every room for which a transient has paid rent. This business license tax shall be paid in four installments, due no later than January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year.

Note: STR hosts are required to submit quarterly TOT reports even if there was no rental activity within the prior quarter. 

Higher Penalties for Violators

First offenses for violating the City's STR regulations are subject to a $1,500 fine; second offenses within a 12-month period are $3,000; and any subsequent offenses within a 12-month period are $5,000 per occurrence.

STR Renewals

When it is time to renew your STR operating permit, the City may request an audit of TOT payments as part of your application. Audits will be initiated through Host Compliance and applicants will be provided a secure URL to upload the following documents, at a minimum:

• Advertisement listing URLs
• Evidence of Revenue (i.e. platform screenshots, transaction history, bank statements)
• Digital Signature

Report a Violation

Use the City's Code Enforcement form to submit a code enforcement complaint related to short term rentals.

Contact Us

If you have any questions on the City's STR regulations, please contact the Community Development Department online. To sign up for email notifications of STR regulation news, visit the City's subscription list portal! 

Brisbane’s STR Quick Facts

• Hosting STRs without a STR permit from the City is prohibited!

• STRs must be in a single-family home and hosts can’t rent more than two rooms. STRs are not allowed in apartment buildings or accessory dwelling units. STRs are also prohibited on properties occupied by single-family dwellings with legal accessory dwelling units established on or after April 1, 2017.

• STRs must be “hosted,” where the host is on the property during the rental. “Unhosted” or “entire home” rentals, where the host isn’t on the property during the rental, are prohibited.

• Homeowners may host STRs if the home is their permanent residence; STRs can’t be hosted by long-term renters.

• STRs are subject to the City's Transient Occupancy Tax (currently 14%), paid quarterly to the City based on taxable receipts collected during the quarter.

• Violators of the STR Ordinance will be subject to administrative citations for the following amounts:

  • $1,500 for the first offense

  • $3,000 fine for a second offense within a 12-month period

  • $5,000 for a third and any subsequent offense within a 12-month period