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  1. Home
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  5. California
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  7. Turlock

Turlock

Moderate
California · City of TurlockUpdated Feb 10, 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

Short-term rentals in Turlock are permitted but require registration with the Planning Department, a city business license, and a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate.

Restriction level

Severity 11
Classification
Moderate
11
Severity

Why this classification

  • Standard permit fee: $214
  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To legally operate an STR in Turlock, hosts must obtain a permit from the Planning Department and a city business license. The city prohibits short-term stays in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and owners must collect and pay a 9% lodging tax. Safety requirements include installing fire extinguishers and smoke detectors and submitting a floor plan.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredNo
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$214

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1ADUs and JADUs are strictly prohibited from short-term rentals (stays under 30 days).
  2. 2A 9% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) must be collected from guests and remitted to the city.
  3. 3A November 2024 ballot measure (Measure C) to increase the TOT to 14% was defeated, so the rate remains 9%.
  4. 4A business license is required regardless of how often you rent the property.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility4 rules
  • Turlock: ADUs and JADUs are strictly prohibited from short-term rentals (stays under 30 days).
  • Turlock allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse.
  • Turlock prohibits STRs in the following property types: ADU, JADU.
  • Turlock does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Requirements8 rules
  • Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Turlock: 1. ADUs and JADUs are strictly prohibited from short-term rentals (stays under 30 days). 2. A 9% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) must be collected from guests and remitted to the city. 3. A November 2024 ballot measure (Measure C) to increase the TOT to 14% was defeated, so the rate remains 9%. 4. A business license is required regardless of how often you rent the property.
Application process6 rules
  • Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Turlock: Step 1: Verify Property Eligibility - Ensure the property is not an ADU or JADU, as these are prohibited from short-term rental use under TMC 9-2-110. Estimated time: 1 day. More info: https://www.cityofturlock.org/planning/ Step 2: Submit Uniform Application for Permit - Submit a completed Uniform Application to the Planning Division for a rental permit. This includes providing a floor plan and safety details. Documents needed: Uniform Application, Floor Plan, Proof of Ownership. Estimated time: 2-4 weeks. More info: https://www.cityofturlock.org/planning/developmentactivity/applicationforms.asp Step 3: Obtain City Business License - Apply for a city business license. The fee for a Home Occupation is approximately $214 plus a $4 state fee. Documents needed: Business License Application. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: 218. More info: https://www.cityofturlock.org/businessservices/businesslicenses/ Step 4: Register for Transient Occupancy Tax - Register for a TOT certificate with the Department of Finance to collect and remit the 9% lodging tax. Documents needed: TOT Registration Form. Estimated time: 1 week. More info: https://www.cityofturlock.org/financeservices/
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Turlock charges a registration fee of $214.
Taxes4 rules
  • Turlock: A November 2024 ballot measure (Measure C) to increase the TOT to 14% was defeated, so the rate remains 9%.
  • Turlock: A 9% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) must be collected from guests and remitted to the city.
  • Turlock charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.09%.
  • Stanislaus charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.08%.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Turlock requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Turlock

0/4
steps completed
Step 1

Verify Property Eligibility

Ensure the property is not an ADU or JADU, as these are prohibited from short-term rental use under TMC 9-2-110.

1 dayFree
Official resource
Step 2

Submit Uniform Application for Permit

Submit a completed Uniform Application to the Planning Division for a rental permit. This includes providing a floor plan and safety details.

2-4 weeksFree
Documents needed
  • Uniform Application
  • Floor Plan
  • Proof of Ownership
Official resource
Step 3

Obtain City Business License

Apply for a city business license. The fee for a Home Occupation is approximately $214 plus a $4 state fee.

1-2 weeks$218
Documents needed
  • Business License Application
Official resource
Step 4

Register for Transient Occupancy Tax

Register for a TOT certificate with the Department of Finance to collect and remit the 9% lodging tax.

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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