Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Rules in Berkeley, CA (2026)

Whether Berkeley, CA permits short-term rentals (Airbnb/VRBO) has not been confirmed from an official source. Contact the local planning department through their official website to verify current STR rules — including whether hosting is permitted at all, registration requirements, and any local restrictions — before listing your property on Airbnb, VRBO, or a similar platform.

Statewide Preemption

Registration Requirements

Whether short-term rental registration is required in Berkeley has not been confirmed from official sources. Contact the local planning department or local building department to verify current registration requirements before hosting on Airbnb, VRBO, or similar platforms.

Operational Rules

No specific operational rules listed for short-term rentals in Berkeley beyond standard property codes.

• •Berkeley STR registration required for all rentals of fewer than 30 consecutive days
• •Primary residence requirement: host must use property as primary home (lived there 6+ months/year)
• •Whole-home STR limited to 90 nights per calendar year when host not present
• •Hosted rentals (host physically present) have no night cap
• •Berkeley Rent Stabilization units: STR of rent-controlled apartments requires Rent Board review
• •Registration number must be displayed on all platform listings
• •Platform must collect and remit Berkeley Transient Occupancy Tax (12%)
• •Maximum occupancy per bedroom rule applies

Penalties for Violations

Specific penalty amounts for STR violations in Berkeley are not listed. Contact the local planning department for enforcement information.

• ⚠$500 per day for STR without valid registration
• ⚠$250 per violation for occupancy or rule violations
• ⚠Rent Board penalties for unlawful STR of rent-controlled units

Frequently Asked Questions