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

Whether San Francisco, 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco beyond standard property codes.

• •Host must use registered unit as primary residence — must live there at least 275 days per year
• •Primary residence: host must be registered San Francisco voter or have driver's license at address
• •Maximum 90 nights per year for unhosted (whole-home) rentals
• •Hosted rentals (host present during guest stay) have no night cap
• •Registration certificate required before listing on any platform
• •Listing must display OSTR registration number
• •Host must carry $500,000 liability insurance or use platform's host guarantee
• •Rent-controlled units may be rented short-term only by the primary tenant
• •ADUs may be rented short-term only if host resides in primary dwelling on same lot

Penalties for Violations

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

• ⚠$484 per day for operating without valid registration certificate
• ⚠$484 per day for exceeding 90-night annual cap on unhosted rentals
• ⚠Certificate revocation for repeat violations
• ⚠Platforms can be fined for listing unregistered units
• ⚠City may pursue injunctive relief for ongoing violations

Frequently Asked Questions