Richmond, California Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Richmond, CA?

Yes. Short-term rentals are allowed in the City of Richmond, California. To operate, you must obtain the applicable business license, meet zoning/home-occupation requirements, and collect and remit the City’s Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). Business licenses are issued per rental property location (parcel). City code classifies short‑term rentals under the “Hotel/Motel” class for tax purposes. Rental periods of thirty (30) consecutive calendar days or less are subject to the 10% TOT and related registration/recordkeeping obligations.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Richmond, CA

Confirm Zoning and Home Occupation Compliance

Apply for a Home Occupation Authorization under Richmond Municipal Code (RMC) Chapter 15.04.810 through the Planning Division.
If needed, obtain any required building inspections prior to license issuance (additional fees apply).
Note: Licensing staff will route you to Planning for these items; approvals must be in place before the City will issue a business license.

Obtain Your Business License (Business Tax Certificate)

Pay the annual business tax. Richmond Measure U (adopted November 2020) changed the tax methodology from employee‑based to gross receipts on a tiered structure. Short‑term rentals are classified as Class E: Hotel/Motel.
Submit application via eTrakit or in person at City Hall. A separate license is required for each rental property (parcel).
City Hall, 450 Civic Center Plaza, 2nd Floor, Richmond, CA 94804; open Mon–Fri, 8:45 am–4:00 pm (Planning Division: Mon–Thu 8:30 am–4:00 pm; Fri 9:00 am–12:30 pm).

Set Up Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)

Register to collect and remit TOT at 10% of the rent for stays of 30 consecutive days or less.
Display your TOT registration certificate and provide guests with compliant receipts.
File returns and remit taxes to the City per RMC Chapter 7.88 requirements.

Ongoing Compliance and Advertising

Include your business license/TOT registration number in listings and advertising.
Keep guest records and TOT records as required.
Monitor municipal code updates and City guidance.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Business License (Business Tax Certificate) per property location
- Apply via eTrakit or at City Hall
- Requires Business Tax payment under Measure U; classification: Class E (Hotel/Motel)
Home Occupation Authorization (RMC 15.04.810)
- Issued by Planning Division; may require building inspection prior to license issuance
Transient Occupancy Tax Registration (RMC Chapter 7.88)
- Registration certificate; posting requirements
- Receipts, records, returns, and remittance procedures per Chapter 7.88
Zoning/Building Determinations (as applicable)
- Planning Division review and any required inspections before license issuance

Specific Regulations (City and State)

City of Richmond

Business License and Measure U
- Annual business license required for each parcel; short‑term rentals taxed under Hotel/Motel class.
Transient Occupancy Tax (RMC Chapter 7.88)
- 10% TOT on rent for stays of 30 consecutive days or less.
- Tax is a debt of the transient; operator collects and remits; City sets detailed collection, receipt, registration, posting, returns, and remittance requirements.
- “Hotel” broadly defined; short‑term rentals for 30 days or less are subject to TOT.
Home Occupation (RMC 15.04.810)
- Authorization required as part of the business license process; additional fees/inspections may apply.
Advertising and Licensing
- Include license/registration number in online and printed listings.

State of California

Local Authority
- Cities and counties retain authority to regulate short‑term rentals. Richmond’s rules (above) govern local operation.
TOT/Occupancy Taxes
- California law authorizes local transient occupancy taxes; Richmond’s 10% TOT applies as a local tax.
Posting/Recording Obligations
- Operators must post and maintain TOT registrations, maintain records, and remit taxes on schedule under local ordinance (RMC 7.88).
Administrative and Enforcement Framework
- Cities may require business licenses, registrations, and enforce compliance through citation/adjudication processes; Richmond’s Revenue Division oversees TOT, and the City investigates compliance as needed.

Note: There is no statewide prohibition on short‑term rentals in California. Local jurisdictions set their own rules; Richmond’s framework permits STRs subject to licensing, zoning/home occupation approval, and TOT.

Enforcement

The City investigates complaints and proactively reviews STR operations and online advertising for compliance.
Fines for violations can range from minimum penalties up to $50,000 depending on the bylaw and severity of the violation.
Report concerns by email or phone to the City’s Bylaw Complaint line.

Contact Information (City of Richmond)

Business Licensing/In‑Person Applications
- City Hall, 450 Civic Center Plaza, 2nd Floor, Richmond, CA 94804
- Phone: 510‑621‑1240 (Business License Issuing)
- Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:45 am–4:00 pm
Planning Division (Home Occupation Authorization/Zoning)
- Located at City Hall, 2nd Floor
- Hours: Mon–Thu, 8:30 am–4:00 pm; Fri, 9:00 am–12:30 pm
Transient Occupancy Tax (Revenue Division)
- Phone: 510‑620‑5555
Bylaw Complaints
- Email: bylawrequest@richmond.ca
- Phone: 604‑276‑4345

Links to Source Pages

City of Richmond – Short‑Term Rentals (Business License, TOT, Home Occupation, Measure U)
- www.ci.richmond.ca.us/3219/Short-Term-Rentals
City of Richmond – Business Licenses (general program)
- www.ci.richmond.ca.us/3735/Business-Licenses
City of Richmond – Business License Search & Payments
- ims.ci.richmond.ca.us/
City of Richmond – Transient Occupancy Tax (Municode Chapter 7.88)
- www.municode.com/library/ca/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=ARTVIIBU_CH7.88UNTROCTA
City of Richmond – Measure U (Gross Receipts Ballot Measure)
- www.ci.richmond.ca.us/2913/Measure-U---Gross-Receipts-Ballot-Measure
City of Richmond – Business License Issuing Division (contact information and hours)
- www.ci.richmond.ca.us/185/Business-License-Issuing

Richmond, BC Short-Term Rentals (Contextual Reference Only)

For investors reviewing Richmond, British Columbia’s framework (distinct jurisdiction), the City permits hosted short‑term rentals through two annual business license categories:

Bed & Breakfast (B&B)
- Principal residence requirement; single detached houses only; up to 3 rooms and 6 guests (2 per room); 500‑metre separation from other B&Bs; neighbor notification required.
Boarding and Lodging
- Principal residence requirement; single detached, duplex, apartment, or townhome; max 2 guests at a time; no separate cooking facilities; not permitted in secondary suites/coach houses/granny flats; strata permission required if applicable.
Richmond, BC does not allow entire home/unit STRs under 90 days under any circumstance. Richmond, CA rules are different.

Source:

Richmond, BC – Short‑Term Residential Rentals page
- www.richmond.ca/business-development/resources/business-licences/short-term.htm
Richmond, BC – Short‑term Residential Rentals Guide (PDF)
- richmond.ca/__shared/assets/rental69267.pdf

Important: Always consult the current City of Richmond, CA Municipal Code and City guidance for the most up‑to‑date requirements.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Richmond?

Richmond hosts earn a median $29,380/year with $134 ADR and 69% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $37,078+ per year.

See the full Richmond market breakdown

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Ask the AI Advisor about Richmond

Richmond is a city of roughly 116,000 residents on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in western Contra Costa County, California. Part of the Bay Area's East Bay region, it sits about 15 miles northeast of San Francisco and just north of Berkeley, with the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge carrying traffic across the bay into Marin County. The city has a working-class, industrial heritage tied to shipping, oil refining, and the World War II shipyards, and is now increasingly known for its diverse neighborhoods, waterfront redevelopment, and a growing arts and food scene. It functions as a convenient base for travelers who want Bay Area access without San Francisco prices, and as a gateway to both the urban East Bay and the open landscapes of Marin, Point Reyes, and the Carquinez Strait.

One of the most distinctive landmarks in the city is the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, which preserves the stories of the wartime home front and the millions of American workers — especially women — who kept the nation's industrial base running during the war. Richmond's Kaiser shipyards were among the most productive in the country, and the visitor center, located on the former Ford Assembly Plant grounds, is a short drive from anywhere in the city. The park's exhibits, oral histories, and preserved sites make it a meaningful stop for visitors interested in 20th-century history.

Just a few minutes north of downtown, Point Pinole Regional Shoreline offers more than 2,000 acres of bayfront parkland with flat, paved trails along the water, eucalyptus groves, picnic areas, and sweeping views of San Pablo Bay and Mount Tamalpais. It's roughly a 10-minute drive from central Richmond and is popular with cyclists, walkers, and families looking for an easy outdoor escape.

For travelers without a car, or anyone who wants to skip Bay Area traffic, the Richmond Ferry runs from a terminal in the city's Marina Bay neighborhood directly to the San Francisco Ferry Building, with a crossing of roughly 35 minutes. The same waterfront area is home to the Craneway Pavilion, a streamlined former Ford assembly building now used for events, and the historic SS Red Oak Victory, a WWII cargo ship open for tours on select weekends.

Richmond makes a compelling base for a short-term rental because it combines genuinely affordable Bay Area lodging with quick access to San Francisco, Berkeley, Marin, and the wine country beyond. Visitors can spend the morning hiking a shoreline trail, the afternoon exploring Rosie the Riveter's museums, and the evening dining at one of the city's taquerias, Ethiopian restaurants, or seafood spots before catching the ferry back from a day in the city. The mix of urban energy, deep history, and outdoor space is unusual for a rental market this close to a major American metro.