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

**Yes**, Truckee requires a Short-Term Rental Certificate for all rentals. You need to apply for this annual certificate, which currently costs $440. There is also a cap on the total number of permits allowed, and a 365-day waiting period after property purchase before applying. Operating without a permit is prohibited.

What is the TOT tax rate in Truckee?

**12% TOT** plus a 2% TTBID assessment is required for all short-term rentals in Truckee. Hosts are responsible for collecting this 14% total tax from guests and remitting it to the Town of Truckee. Ensure that you register to collect and remit these taxes as required by local law.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Truckee?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Truckee, but are strictly regulated. There is a town-wide cap on the total number of permits issued (1,255). Additionally, ADUs built after 2020 are strictly prohibited from use as short-term rentals. Always verify zoning and compliance.

How much does an STR permit cost in Truckee?

**$440** is the current annual fee for a Short-Term Rental Certificate in Truckee. This fee must be paid annually to maintain a valid permit. Be aware that there is also a town-wide cap on the total number of permits, and a 365-day waiting period after property purchase.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Truckee?

**No**, tenants are not permitted to host short-term rentals in Truckee. The short-term rental certificate is only available to property owners. Renting a property for the express purpose of subletting it on platforms such as Airbnb is prohibited under Truckee's short-term rental regulations.

Truckee, CA Short-Term Rental Laws... | Learn STR by GoStudioM

Baseline Verification

80%

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Verified: Jan 30, 2026

5 Official Sources

Summary

The Town of Truckee strictly regulates short-term rentals with a cap on the total number of permits allowed (1,255) and a required 365-day waiting period for new property owners before they can apply. All hosts must obtain an annual certificate, pay 12% TOT plus a 2% TTBID assessment, and strictly adhere to occupancy and noise limits.

Restriction Level

⛔

Strict

Score: 41 (moderate)

Why this classification:

•Moderate permit fee: $440
•Limited to 1 property per owner
•Tenants cannot host
•Permit required
•Reporting required
•No night cap
•No primary residence requirement

In Plain English

To host an Airbnb in Truckee, you must first navigate a town-wide cap on permits, which usually involves joining a waitlist. Even if a permit is available, you cannot apply until you have owned the property for at least one full year. Once you have a permit, you must collect a total of 14% in taxes from guests and ensure you have a 'bear box' for trash and a passing fire safety inspection. Renting out an ADU (granny flat) built after 2020 is strictly prohibited.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Not Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

$440

Processing Time

2-4 weeks

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.Verify if you are in the Town of Truckee or unincorporated County; boundaries are irregular near Northstar and Tahoe Donner.
2.The 365-day ownership rule: You cannot apply for a permit until you have owned the home for 12 months.
3.Waitlist: There is a cap of 1,255 permits town-wide; if the cap is reached, you cannot get a permit regardless of ownership length.
4.ADU Ban: Short-term renting is prohibited in any Accessory Dwelling Unit created after January 1, 2020.
5.2% TTBID Tax: Many platforms only collect the 12% TOT; hosts are often responsible for manually remitting the extra 2% Tourism Business Improvement District assessment.
6.Bear Boxes: Specialized animal-resistant trash enclosures are mandatory for all STR properties.
7.Registration limit: An individual may only hold one STR permit in the Town of Truckee.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(8)

•Truckee does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
•Truckee: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
•Truckee allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings, Condominiums (if registered prior to moratorium/cap).

Requirements(15)

•Truckee: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
•Truckee: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs/granny flats) are completely banned from being used as STRs.
•Truckee STR warning: Fines are extremely high, starting at $1,500 per day for the first violation.

Application Process(9)

•How to set up an STR in Truckee: To host an Airbnb in Truckee, you must first wait one year after buying your home before you can even apply. Because there is a town-wide limit of 1,255 permits, you will likely need to join a waitlist and pay a $100 deposit to hold your spot. Once you get a permit, you must follow strict rules regarding noise curfews (10 PM), parking, and trash—specifically, you are required to install a 'bear box' for garbage. You'll also need to pay a total tax of 13.25% on all bookings.

Fees & Costs(1)

•Truckee charges a registration fee of $481 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $100 (Waitlist application fee (non-refundable deposit)).

Taxes(1)

•Truckee charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 12%. This applies to stays under 31 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the 12% TOT; however, hosts must still file quarterly returns including the 1.25% TTBID if not collected by the platform.

Limits & Restrictions(7)

•Truckee limits STRs to a maximum of 12 guests. Formula: 2 people per bedroom plus 2 additional people (excluding children under 13), up to 12 total
•Truckee: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
•Truckee: Maximum occupancy is strictly enforced: 2 per bedroom plus 2, capped at 12 people.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Truckee requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Defensible space inspection required, Bear box trash enclosure installation required, Two-can trash service subscription required.

Penalties(3)

•Truckee enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $1,500 per day. Second offense: $3,000 per day. Third offense: $5,000 per day. Daily fine: $1,500. Maximum fine: $5,000. Permit may be revoked for violations.
•Truckee: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions(5)

•Truckee: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
•Truckee: If you are present during the guest's stay (hosted rental), night caps may not apply to you.
•Truckee: Hosted rentals (renting a single room while living there) are exempt from the 1,255 cap but still require registration.

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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

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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

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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

Truckee

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

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Regulation Details

Eligibility(8)

Requirements(15)

Application Process(9)

Fees & Costs(1)

Taxes(1)

Limits & Restrictions(7)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(3)

Exemptions(5)

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Step-by-Step Application Guide

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Other California Markets

Los Angeles

Anaheim

Mammoth Lakes

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Truckee

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently Asked Questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Truckee?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Truckee?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Truckee?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Truckee?

Related Content

Other California Markets

Los Angeles

Anaheim

Mammoth Lakes

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