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  1. Home
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  5. California
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  7. Thousand Oaks

Thousand Oaks

Prohibited
California · City of Thousand OaksUpdated Mar 26, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 2, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Thousand Oaks allows owner-occupied home-sharing with a land use permit while prohibiting unhosted whole-home short-term rentals in residential districts.

Restriction level

Severity 100
Classification
Prohibited
100
Severity

Why this classification

  • Residential STRs prohibited
  • Primary residence required
  • Owner-occupied required
  • Host presence required (hosted-only)
  • High permit fee: $2057
  • Limited to 1 property per owner
  • Tenants cannot host
  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • No night cap

In plain English

What this means for you

Residents may only rent out a room in their house if they remain on-site throughout the stay (home-sharing). Renting out an entire home to guests is prohibited in residential areas, and obtaining a legal permit involves a high application fee and a business license.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredNo
Night limitNone
Primary residenceRequired
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$2,057
Max fine$5,000

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Extremely high Land Use Permit fee (~$2,057) for residential home-sharing
  2. 2Unhosted/Whole-home vacation rentals are strictly prohibited in residential zones
  3. 3ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) and SB 9 split-lot units cannot be used as STRs
  4. 4Permit number must be included in all online listings and advertisements

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility8 rules
  • Thousand Oaks: Unhosted/Whole-home vacation rentals are strictly prohibited in residential zones
  • Thousand Oaks: ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) and SB 9 split-lot units cannot be used as STRs
  • Thousand Oaks prohibits STRs in the following property types: ADU, SB 9 Units, Guest houses with kitchens.
  • Thousand Oaks limits hosts to a maximum of 1 STR properties per owner.
Requirements8 rules
  • Thousand Oaks STR warning: ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) and SB 9 split-lot units cannot be used as STRs
  • Thousand Oaks does not require STR registration.
  • Thousand Oaks: Hosts must report their rental activity periodically to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.
  • Thousand Oaks STR warning: Permit number must be included in all online listings and advertisements
Application process6 rules
  • Thousand Oaks STR permit - Step 2: Apply for City Business License. Register for a business tax certificate through the Thousand Oaks Finance Department. Required documents: Business License Application, Estimated gross receipts. Time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: 60.
Fees & costs2 rules
  • Thousand Oaks: Extremely high Land Use Permit fee (~$2,057) for residential home-sharing
  • Thousand Oaks charges a registration fee of $2057.
Taxes2 rules
  • Ventura charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.08%.
  • Thousand Oaks charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.1%.
Limits & restrictions2 rules
  • Thousand Oaks: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
  • Thousand Oaks limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Thousand Oaks requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.
Penalties1 rule
  • Thousand Oaks enforces the following penalties for STR violations: Maximum fine: 5000.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Thousand Oaks

0/4
steps completed
Step 1

Verify Eligibility and Zoning

Ensure the property is your primary residence and you will be present during stays. Verify that unhosted rentals are not attempted in residential zones.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • Proof of primary residence
  • Utility bills
  • Driver's License
Official resource
Step 2

Apply for City Business License

Register for a business tax certificate through the Thousand Oaks Finance Department.

1-2 weeks$60
Documents needed
  • Business License Application
  • Estimated gross receipts
Official resource
Step 3

Apply for Land Use Permit (LUP)

Submit a formal Land Use Permit application to the Planning Division. This is the primary permit for home-sharing and involves a significant fee.

4-8 weeks$2,057
Documents needed
  • LUP Application form
  • Site plan
  • Parking plan
  • Code of Conduct
Official resource
Step 4

Register for Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)

Submit a TOT registration certificate application to the City to facilitate tax collection and monthly/quarterly reporting.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • TOT Registration Form
Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes 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.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

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