What counts as a short-term rental in Redwood City?

Lodging for fewer than 30 consecutive days in a residential dwelling is generally a short-term rental. A stay of 30 or more consecutive nights by the same visitor falls outside the City STR program and transient occupancy tax rules.

Must a Redwood City short-term rental be a primary residence?

Yes. The City program limits short-term rental use to the host’s primary residence, meaning the one home where the host is physically present and regards as home.

How many unhosted nights may I rent each year?

A qualifying primary residence may be rented unhosted for no more than 120 days per calendar year.

Are hosted stays capped in Redwood City?

The City states there is no annual day limit for hosted stays when the host is present during the stay.

Can a Redwood City ADU be used as a short-term rental?

Generally no. An accessory dwelling unit is eligible only if it was registered with the City before January 1, 2020. Verify the City record for the exact unit.

What must accompany a Redwood City STR registration?

The City requires a signed affidavit with the registration. Applicants must also complete transient occupancy tax registration and follow the current Administrative Guidelines.

Does Redwood City require a local contact?

Yes for unhosted stays. The host must identify a local contact who is available during the stay and can respond to complaints.

What operating restrictions apply to Redwood City STRs?

Existing on-site parking must be available to renters, and special events such as weddings and corporate retreats are prohibited. Other safety, conduct, and property rules still apply.

What transient occupancy tax applies in Redwood City?

Redwood City imposes a 12% transient occupancy tax on taxable rent. Confirm taxable charges, platform collection, filing frequency, and return requirements with the City tax program.

Who should answer property-specific Redwood City STR questions?

Contact the Planning Division at shorttermrentals@redwoodcity.org for program and eligibility questions and use the City tax office for transient occupancy tax registration and filing guidance.

Redwood City, CA Airbnb Guide

Decision

Redwood City Short-Term Rental Investment Decision

Treat eligibility as a property-specific compliance question, not a market-wide assumption.

Confirm that the address is inside Redwood City limits; nearby unincorporated areas and other cities follow different rules.
Underwrite only a dwelling that qualifies as the host’s primary residence under the City program.
Decide whether the operating plan is hosted or unhosted because the annual day limit differs.
Review title, lease, HOA, insurance, lender, and other private restrictions before assuming City registration is enough.
Base the purchase decision on documented property costs and lawful availability rather than citywide revenue forecasts.

Eligibility

Eligible Redwood City Properties and Hosts

The City permits limited STR use incidental to a qualifying primary residence.

A primary residence is the one dwelling the host regards as home and where the host is physically present.
One person may have only one primary residence at a time for the City program.
Tenants should obtain property-owner permission and confirm lease terms before operating.
Accessory dwelling units are not eligible unless the unit was registered with the City before January 1, 2020.
Rentals lasting 30 or more consecutive nights by the same visitor are outside the short-term rental rules and lodging tax.
Listings outside City limits require review under the actual jurisdiction governing that parcel.

Registration

Redwood City Registration and Renewal Sequence

Complete City registration and tax setup before advertising or hosting a qualifying stay.

Review the current Administrative Guidelines and zoning ordinance before preparing an application.
Gather primary-residence evidence and the property facts requested by the City.
Sign and submit the City affidavit with the registration application.
Register for transient occupancy tax and follow the City’s filing instructions.
Pay the current registration charge shown by the application system or City fee schedule; verify the amount at filing.
Renew or update the registration as required and report material changes to the City.

Operations

Hosted and Unhosted Operating Rules

The host’s presence controls the annual operating limit and contact obligations.

Unhosted stays are capped at 120 days per calendar year.
Hosted stays have no annual day cap when the host is present during the stay.
Identify a local contact who is available throughout every unhosted stay and can respond to complaints.
Make existing on-site parking spaces available to short-term renters.
Do not use the property for prohibited special events such as weddings or corporate retreats.
Keep calendars, booking records, and hosted-status evidence sufficient to document compliance.

Guest Management

Guest Safety, Conduct, and Parking Controls

Translate City operating standards into written guest and vendor procedures.

Give guests the local contact’s current information and clear instructions for urgent problems.
Set occupancy and sleeping limits from lawful dwelling capacity, fire safety, and the approved registration.
Publish quiet-hours, trash, smoking, parking, and neighborhood-conduct rules before booking.
Keep required exits, alarms, utilities, and life-safety equipment serviceable.
Use a response plan that lets the host or local contact address complaints promptly.

Taxes

Redwood City Transient Occupancy Tax Duties

Registration and payment of Redwood City transient occupancy tax are mandatory for STR stays.

Redwood City’s transient occupancy tax rate is 12% of taxable rent.
Complete the City tax registration process even when a platform may collect or remit some tax.
Confirm which charges form taxable rent and how platform-collected amounts appear on returns.
File returns on the City’s required schedule, including any required zero-activity returns.
Reconcile booking records, exemptions, platform statements, tax collected, and payments before each filing.

Enforcement

Redwood City Compliance and Enforcement Risk

Registration does not replace continuing compliance with City standards or private agreements.

The City may investigate complaints, advertising, tax records, and operation inconsistent with registration.
Operating a non-primary residence or exceeding the unhosted limit can expose the host to enforcement.
An invalid ADU listing, prohibited event, or unavailable parking can create separate compliance issues.
Private lease, HOA, insurance, and lender restrictions may be stricter than City rules.
Preserve registration, affidavit, stay, hosted-status, complaint-response, and tax records for any review.

Property Review

Property-Level Redwood City Underwriting

Complete parcel, dwelling, and operating-plan diligence before relying on prior listings.

Confirm jurisdiction and zoning directly with Redwood City for the exact address.
Check permit history and whether every sleeping area and accessory structure is lawful.
For an ADU, obtain proof of City registration before January 1, 2020 rather than relying on seller statements.
Inspect parking, entrances, exits, alarms, electrical systems, and other life-safety conditions.
Review flood, seismic, insurance, title, lease, HOA, lender, and neighbor constraints.
Budget registration, tax administration, utilities, cleaning, maintenance, insurance, reserves, and compliance downtime.

Contacts

Redwood City Offices and Escalation Paths

Use the office responsible for each issue and keep written confirmations.

Email the Planning Division at shorttermrentals@redwoodcity.org for program and eligibility questions.
Use the City transient occupancy tax page and RedwoodCityTOT@HdLgov.com for tax registration and filing support.
Ask Planning to confirm zoning, primary-residence, and ADU eligibility for the specific address.
Use Code Enforcement for neighborhood or unauthorized-operation complaints.
Call 911 for immediate danger; use the host or local contact for non-emergency stay issues.

Sources

Redwood City Official Primary Sources

Recheck these official materials before applying, renewing, purchasing, or changing operations.

Redwood City, California Airbnb Rules & Investment Guide (2026)

Redwood City, California Airbnb Investment Overview