Red Bluff, California Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Executive Summary: STR Status in Red Bluff, CA

Yes, short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Red Bluff, California. As of June 20, 2024, Tehama County requires all operators in unincorporated areas to obtain a Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit. This includes the Red Bluff area, which is governed by Tehama County for most unincorporated land. The city operates under the county's transient occupancy tax (TOT) framework, with a hotel tax rate of 8% levied on the privilege of occupying lodging for 30 days or less.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Red Bluff?

Red Bluff hosts earn a median $18,094/year with $122 ADR and 54% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $27,232+ per year.

See the full Red Bluff market breakdown

Starting a Short-Term Rental Business in Red Bluff

Step-by-Step Process

Register for STR Permit
- Register through the official Tehama County STR portal: portal.deckard.com/ca-tehama-str-portal/
- Registration is mandatory for all unincorporated areas of Tehama County, including Red Bluff vicinity
Tax Registration and Compliance
- Register for Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) collection at 8% rate
- Submit quarterly TOT returns online through the county platform
- Collect tax from guests, not from the operator
Compliance Verification
- Confirm all tax remittances and reporting requirements are met
- Maintain consistent record-keeping practices
- Respond to any county inquiries promptly
Property Setup
- Ensure property meets all safety and health standards
- Consider local design review requirements if in the historic district
- Verify zoning compliance for residential short-term rentals

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Essential Documentation

STR Permit Application (required since June 20, 2024)
Property Ownership Verification or rental authorization documentation
Proof of Insurance (recommended for liability protection)
Property Safety Inspection (if required by county)
Business Registration with Tehama County (if applicable)

Reporting Requirements

Quarterly TOT Returns (mandatory regardless of platform agreements)
Platform Transaction Reports (for AirBNB and VRBO)
Check-in/Check-out Date Documentation (tax reporting is based on actual stay dates, not payment dates)

Insurance and Safety Guidelines

Maintain adequate liability insurance for guests and property
Ensure property meets all safety codes and health standards
Post emergency contact information for guests
Follow all local building codes and zoning requirements

Specific Regulations: Short-Term Rentals in Red Bluff

Tax Collection and Remittance

Tax Rate: 8% TOT on all stays of 30 days or less

Applied to all unincorporated areas of Tehama County, including Red Bluff vicinity
Collected from guests by the operator
Quarterly remittance required through county platform

Platform Agreements (VCAs)

VRBO (Voluntary Collection Agreement Active)

VRBO collects and remits TOT directly to Tehama County on behalf of operators
Registration still required for compliance verification
Quarterly filing of returns still mandatory through county platform

AirBNB (No Voluntary Collection Agreement)

AirBNB does not currently have a VCA with Tehama County
Operators must collect TOT from guests directly
Remit taxes quarterly to the county
Actively pursuing partnership (future changes possible)

Reporting Requirements

VRBO Reporting Protocol

Generate "Payout Summary Report" in VRBO Owner Account:
- Reservation Manager → Financial Reporting
- Select "Payout Summary Report"
- Date range selection: stays within range (not payouts)
- Download and save in .XLS, .PDF, or .CSV format
- Print landscape and scale to fit one page
Generate "Stay Tax Report":
- Reservation Manager → Financial Reporting
- Select "Stay Tax Report"
- Email completed report to tax@tehama.gov

AirBNB Reporting Protocol

Access Gross Earnings Report in AirBNB Host Account:
- Host → Hosting Dashboard
- Profile photo → Transaction History
- Gross Earnings tab → select date range
- Download to CSV format
- Use "Column O - Gross Earnings" for total (not Column K - Amount)
- Email report to tax@tehama.gov

Critical Filing Reminder: All TOT reports must be based on actual stay dates (check-in dates), not payment receipt dates.

Contact Information for Local Authority

Tehama County Treasurer-Tax Collector

Phone: Contact through main county line
Email: tax@tehama.gov
Website: www.tehama.gov/government/departments/treasurer-tax-collector/transient-occupancy-tax-tot/
STR Portal: portal.deckard.com/ca-tehama-str-portal/
Address: 727 Oak Street, Red Bluff, CA 96080

Community Development Department (Red Bluff)

Phone: (530) 527-2605
Website: www.cityofredbluff.org/departments/community_development/
Purpose: Design review, zoning compliance, building permits

Board of Supervisors (Tehama County)

Meeting Schedule: Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m.
Meeting Location: Tehama County Administrative Office, 727 Oak Street, Red Bluff, CA
Email: tcbos@tehama.gov

Source References

Tehama County Transient Occupancy Tax Information: www.tehama.gov/government/departments/treasurer-tax-collector/transient-occupancy-tax-tot/
STR Permit Registration Portal: portal.deckard.com/ca-tehama-str-portal/
Red Bluff Community Development Regulations: www.cityofredbluff.org/departments/community_development/regulations.php
Tehama County Code of Ordinances: library.municode.com/ca/tehama_county/codes/code_of_ordinances
VRBO TOT Instructions: www.tehama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/TOT-VRBO-Instructions-24.08.21.pdf
AirBNB TOT Instructions: www.tehama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/TOT-AirBnB-Instructions-24.08.21.pdf

Important Notes for Investors

Grandfathered Properties: Existing STR operations before June 20, 2024, still require permits and compliance
Historic District Considerations: Properties in Red Bluff's Historic Commercial or Historic Residential districts may require design review compliance
Platform Compliance: Even with VCA agreements, operators must maintain quarterly reporting requirements
Documentation Retention: Keep detailed records of all transactions, stays, and tax remittances for at least four years
Regulatory Updates: Monitor county communications for potential changes in STR regulations or tax rates

This guide represents the current regulatory environment as of the most recent information available. STR investors should verify current requirements directly with county officials before making investment decisions or beginning operations.

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Ask the AI Advisor about Red Bluff

Red Bluff serves as the county seat of Tehama County in northern California, situated along Interstate 5 in the Sacramento Valley where the Sacramento River winds through the landscape. With a population of approximately 14,000, the city carries the laid-back character of a working agricultural community, anchored by olive groves, cattle ranches, and a tree-lined historic downtown. It functions as a convenient waypoint for travelers journeying between the Bay Area, Sacramento, and the Pacific Northwest, and it is best known as the southern gateway to the volcanic landscapes of far northern California. Red Bluff lies roughly 30 miles south of Redding and about 130 miles north of Sacramento, placing it within easy reach of both urban amenities and the wild country beyond.

Just east of Red Bluff, roughly fifty miles through the foothills, Lassen Volcanic National Park showcases a landscape shaped by geothermal forces, including steaming fumaroles, boiling mud pots, and the popular trail to Bumpass Hell. The park also encompasses alpine lakes, conifer forests, and the slopes of Lassen Peak, drawing hikers, campers, and winter visitors who come for snowshoeing and backcountry skiing. As the nearest national park to Red Bluff, it provides the most dramatic single draw for visitors to the area.

Within the city itself, the William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park preserves the homestead of William B. Ide, a key figure in California's Bear Flag Revolt of 1846. The park features a reconstructed adobe home, a blacksmith shop, and period gardens that offer a glimpse of pioneer life along the Sacramento River. It serves as a quiet cultural counterpoint to the surrounding outdoor attractions and is a popular stop for history-minded travelers.

The Sacramento River itself remains one of Red Bluff's most enduring attractions, with the annual return of salmon drawing anglers to its banks and the calm stretches upstream inviting kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders. Just north of town, the river curves into the Sacramento River Bend Area, a Bureau of Land Management zone that protects wetlands and offers wildlife viewing for herons, eagles, and migratory waterfowl. The city is also well known for the Red Bluff Round-Up, a long-running rodeo that fills downtown with visitors each spring.

Red Bluff makes a compelling base for short-term rentals because it combines small-town affordability and authenticity with proximity to some of northern California's most striking natural features. Visitors who stay here can spend a morning wandering the historic downtown, an afternoon fishing the Sacramento River, and still find themselves at the trailheads of Lassen Volcanic within a relatively short drive, all while enjoying the slower rhythm of a community that sits comfortably at the crossroads of valley farmland and mountain wilderness.