Burlingame, California Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Short-Term Rental (STR) Investment Guide for Burlingame, CA

Short-term rentals (STRs) are allowed in Burlingame, CA, but under strict regulations. The city has implemented a registration program to allow limited STR uses while preventing the loss of housing stock and mitigating impacts on neighborhoods. The key differentiator is between "hosted" and "un-hosted" rentals.

Overview: STR Allowance in Burlingame

Yes, STRs are allowed. Burlingame explicitly permits the rental of existing residential units for stays of thirty consecutive days or less.
Crucial Distinction: The regulations are highly dependent on whether the host is present ("hosted") or absent ("un-hosted") during the rental period.
- "Un-hosted" Rentals: Entire home or apartment rentals where the owner or primary resident is not onsite. These are strictly limited to 120 days per calendar year.
- "Hosted" Rentals: Rentals where the owner or primary resident is onsite (e.g., renting a spare room). There is no annual day limit for hosted rentals.
Prohibition: Full-time STRs without a homeowner or long-term renter on-site are not permitted. Only primary residences can be registered.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Burlingame

Starting an STR in Burlingame involves a clear, multi-step process:

Verify Eligibility: Confirm you meet the primary residency requirement and understand the 120-day limit for un-hosted rentals.
Register with the City: Complete the mandatory short-term rental registration through the city's designated portal: burlingame-ca-str.deckard.com.
Pay Registration Fees: Submit the fixed registration fees ($200 for initial registration, $100 for annual renewal).
Obtain a Business License: After your STR application is approved, you must obtain and maintain a valid business license. The application fee is based on your projected annual gross receipts, as per Municipal Code Section 6.08.020, plus a $4 state fee (AB1379).
Set Up for Compliance: Prepare to comply with all operational requirements, including designating a local contact agent and setting up Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) collection and remittance.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Investors must be prepared to manage the following requirements:

Short-Term Rental Registration:
- Purpose: Mandatory for operating any STR.
- Cost: $200 (initial), $100 (annual renewal) - fixed, non-refundable.
- Key Requirement: Proof of primary residence. This demonstrates that the homeowner or long-term renter lives at the residence a majority of the year.
- Portal: Burlingame STR Registration Website.
Business License:
- Purpose: Required by the Municipal Code for any person engaging in a business in Burlingame.
- Requirement: Must be obtained after STR registration is approved.
- Cost: Based on annual gross receipts. See Code Section 6.08.020 for fee details, plus a $4 state fee.
Operational Guidelines & Standards: Compliance is not optional. Violations can lead to penalties or revocation of registration.
- Authorized Agent (Local Contact): You must provide an agent available 24/7. They must respond to contact within 30 minutes and be on-site within one hour of a complaint.
- On-Site Parking: Any available parking (garage, driveway) must be provided to guests.
- Noise and Refuse: Full compliance with the city's Noise Ordinance and refuse/recycling standards is required.
- Special Events: Prohibited. This includes weddings, parties, and commercial functions.
- Concurrent Listings: Only one listing and one group of guests for the same primary residence are allowed per day. This prevents renting out multiple rooms separately at the same time.
- Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT): You must collect and remit TOT. The city provides an online portal for TOT payments: Burlingame TOT Remittance Portal.

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

City (Burlingame): The primary governing authority is the city's Short-Term Rental Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 6.56). This sets the 120-day limit for un-hosted rentals, primary residency requirement, and operational standards.
County (San Mateo): The provided sources do not indicate any additional county-level regulations specific to STRs. Burlingame's city ordinance appears to be the primary regulatory layer.
State (California): State law, particularly AB 881, SB 13, and AB 68, prohibits municipalities from allowing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to be rented for less than 30 days as STRs. This is a significant state-level restriction that applies to all California cities, including Burlingame.

Contact Information

For questions, registration, or to report issues, contact the following local authorities:

Planning Division (Eligibility & Registration Questions):
- Phone: 650-558-7250
- Email: planningdept@burlingame.org
24-Hour STR Complaint Hotline:
- Phone: 844-234-7371
- Online Complaint Form: Available at the same portal used for registration.
General City Information:
- Address: 501 Primrose Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
- Phone: 650-558-7200
- Website: www.burlingame.org

Links to Source Pages

The information in this guide is derived from the following sources, which are the official repositories for the regulations:

Short-Term Rental Program: https://www.burlingame.org/436/Short-Term-Rental-Program
Municipal Code Chapter 6.56 - Short-Term Rentals: https://ecode360.com/44509434#44509434
Noise Ordinance: http://qcode.us/codes/burlingame/view.php?topic=10-10_40-10_40_035&frames=off
Business License Requirements: https://ecode360.com/44508254#44508254
Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Payment Portal: https://burlingame-ca-str.deckard.com/pay-tot/find-license/license_number
Background Article (San Mateo Daily Journal): https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/burlingame-eyes-rules-for-short-term-rentals/article_22bf3726-c4b0-11ea-a7e3-239b93b2de43.html

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Investors are strongly advised to consult the official Municipal Code and contact the Planning Division directly for the most current and authoritative information before proceeding with any investment.

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Burlingame is a city in San Mateo County, California, situated on the western shore of the San Francisco Bay between San Francisco and San Jose. With a population of approximately 31,000 residents, it carries a polished, small-town atmosphere that has long made it one of the Peninsula's most desirable addresses. Tree-lined residential streets, a walkable downtown, and a strong independent dining scene have given the city a refined, family-friendly character, and its adjacency to San Francisco International Airport has made it a familiar first stop for travelers arriving in the Bay Area. The city lies roughly 15 miles south of downtown San Francisco, generally a 20- to 30-minute drive depending on traffic.

Just a few minutes north along the bay, Coyote Point Recreation Area offers nearly 700 acres of waterfront parkland in neighboring San Mateo. The park includes a small beach, a marina, and a science and wildlife center, and its promenade draws strollers, picnickers, and casual visitors watching sailboats and shorebirds on the bay. It is roughly a 10-minute drive from central Burlingame.

Burlingame's downtown core centers on Burlingame Avenue, a stretch of boutiques, bakeries, and restaurants often considered the city's living room. The street has a distinctly European feel, with outdoor cafés, a Sunday farmers' market, and a long tradition of independent shops rather than national chains. It sits within walking distance of most of the city's lodging and residential neighborhoods, and it is the heart of Burlingame's everyday social life.

A short drive south of town, Sawyer Camp Trail follows a wooded corridor along the San Andreas and Crystal Springs reservoirs in the hills of the Peninsula. The flat, paved path is one of the most popular running and cycling routes in the Bay Area, with views across the water toward wooded slopes and the occasional heron or deer. It is roughly a 10- to 15-minute drive from the center of Burlingame and is open to walkers, joggers, and cyclists year-round.

Further into the hills, about a 25- to 30-minute drive south, the Filoli estate in nearby Woodside offers a different kind of excursion. The early-twentieth-century country house is surrounded by formal gardens, a woodland trail, and an active farming program, and the property is preserved as a historic site open to the public throughout the year.

Beyond its immediate neighborhood, Burlingame is a natural base for the rest of the Bay Area. San Francisco sits about 20 minutes to the north, while the coastal town of Half Moon Bay, with its beaches and bluffs, is roughly 30 minutes to the west over the Santa Cruz Mountains. The combination of small-town calm, a major international airport, and quick connections to two of California's largest cities and the Pacific coast gives Burlingame a range of appeal that's hard to match. For short-term rental guests, that translates to easy arrivals, walkable everyday comforts, and a long list of day-trip options, while owners benefit from a steady mix of business travelers, families, and Bay Area visitors that keeps demand relatively even through the year.