Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Dana Point?

**Yes**, you need a Short-Term Rental Permit to legally operate in Dana Point. You need to obtain this annual permit, which costs $535, regardless of which zone your property resides in. There is a hard cap of 115 non-primary permits available in the Coastal Zone.

What is the TOT tax rate in Dana Point?

**10%** is the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) rate that applies to all short-term rentals in Dana Point. You need to collect this tax from your guests and remit it to the city quarterly, regardless of the zone where your rental is located. Check with the city for payment options.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Dana Point?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Dana Point, but with certain restrictions. A hard cap of only 115 non-primary permits are available in the Coastal Zone. You must obtain an annual permit and adhere to all local regulations, including remitting the 10% TOT tax quarterly.

How much does an STR permit cost in Dana Point?

**$535** is the annual fee for the Short-Term Rental Permit in Dana Point. You need to obtain this permit before operating a short-term rental, regardless of the zone. This permit, along with a business license, is required to legally rent your property to guests for stays under 30 days.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Dana Point?

**No**, tenants are not allowed to host on Airbnb or other short-term rental platforms in Dana Point. Only property owners are eligible to apply for and obtain the required Short-Term Rental Permit. Renting out a property you do not own is considered an illegal operation and is subject to penalties.

Dana Point, CA Short-Term Rental Laws & Permits

Gold Standard Verification

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Forensically verified with 3+ official sources

Verified: Jan 30, 2026

3 Official Sources

Summary

Dana Point regulates short-term rentals under a cap-based system, with a hard limit of 115 non-primary permits in the Coastal Zone. All hosts must obtain an annual permit, a business license, and remit 10% TOT quarterly regardless of zone.

Restriction Level

⛔

Strict

Score: 48 (moderate)

Why this classification:

•High permit fee: $535
•Limited to 1 property per owner
•Tenants cannot host
•Permit required
•Reporting required
•No night cap
•No primary residence requirement

In Plain English

In Dana Point, you can rent out your property for short periods (2-30 days), but you'll need a permit from the city. There are a limited number of permits available, especially in the Coastal Zone. Make sure to follow the city's rules about occupancy, parking, and noise, and collect and pay the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT).

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Not Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

$535

Processing Time

Varies; Coastal Zone permits may involve waiting lists due to caps

Regulation Details

Eligibility(12)

•Dana Point prohibits STRs in the following property types: ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) built after 2020, Affordable housing units, Recreational vehicles.
•Dana Point limits hosts to a maximum of 1 STR properties per owner.
•Dana Point does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.

Requirements(20)

•Dana Point: Your permit number must be clearly displayed in the first line of your listing description.
•Dana Point: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
•Dana Point STR warning: Platforms like Airbnb do NOT collect or remit TOT for Dana Point; you must file yourself.

Application Process(11)

•Dana Point STR permit - Step 4: Inspection. Schedule a fire safety and nuisance prevention inspection with city staff. Time: 1 week.
•Dana Point STR permit - Step 1: Zoning Check. Determine if your property is in the Coastal Zone, Town Center, or a Residential zone via the City's online map. Time: 1 day.

Fees & Costs(1)

•Dana Point charges a registration fee of $535 (annual).

Taxes(2)

•Dana Point: Platforms like Airbnb do NOT collect or remit TOT for Dana Point; you must file yourself.
•Dana Point charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 10%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Hosts are responsible for collecting and remitting this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO do not currently remit for Dana Point; hosts must file quarterly.

Limits & Restrictions(11)

•Dana Point, CA: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
•Dana Point occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional, not to exceed 10 total. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
•Dana Point limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional, not to exceed 10 total

Safety Requirements(1)

•Dana Point requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Interior notice of rules and local contact info, Visible address from the street.

Penalties(3)

•Dana Point enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500. Second offense: $1,000. Third offense: $1,500 and revocation. Daily fine: Cumulative per day of violation. Maximum fine: Uncapped based on daily accrual. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions(3)

•Dana Point exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).
•Dana Point: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
•Dana Point, CA: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Other California Markets

Los Angeles

California

Strict

The City of Los Angeles requires all short-term rental hosts to register for a Home-Sharing permit and only permits the rental of one's primary residence. Stays are capped at 120 days per year unless an Extended Home-Sharing permit is obtained, and rentals in RSO-regulated buildings or newer ADUs are strictly prohibited.

Permit requiredNight limitsPrimary residence

0.1% total tax

Anaheim

California

Prohibited

Short-term rentals in Anaheim are strictly limited to approximately 277 'pre-moratorium' operators who were grandfathered in 2019. The city currently prohibits the issuance of any new STR permits. Allowed operators must follow rigid 'Good Neighbor' policies, enforce a 3-night minimum stay, and pay a 15% Transient Occupancy Tax.

Permit required

15.0% total tax

Mammoth Lakes

California

Moderate

Short-term rentals are heavily regulated in Mammoth Lakes and generally restricted to multi-family and resort zones (RMF-2, Resort, etc.). Hosts must obtain an STR Certificate and a Business Tax Certificate, and pay a total TOT rate of 13%. Stays of 31 days or longer are exempt from these regulations.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Big Bear Lake

California

Strict

The City of Big Bear Lake regulates short-term rentals under Chapter 5.44, requiring an annual license, rigorous safety inspections, and a strict guest limit of 2 per bedroom plus 2. Owners are limited to 2 licenses total and must remit a 9% combined TOT and TBID tax quarterly.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Dana Point

Gold Standard Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

Regulation Details

Eligibility(12)

Requirements(20)

Application Process(11)

Fees & Costs(1)

Taxes(2)

Limits & Restrictions(11)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(3)

Exemptions(3)

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Anaheim

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Dana Point

Gold Standard Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Dana Point?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Dana Point?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Dana Point?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Dana Point?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Dana Point?

Related Content

Other California Markets

Los Angeles

Anaheim

Mammoth Lakes

Big Bear Lake