The beachside town of Oceanside is a vacation destination for travelers from all over the country – and even the world! Visitors often choose to stay in an Airbnb or VRBO when visiting. Given that vacation rentals make up nearly 60% of Oceanside’s overnight accommodations, offering your home as a short-term rental can be an excellent source of income!
To qualify as a short-term rental (STR),
the property must be located within the
In Oceanside, owners are required to obtain a short-term rental permit from the City of Oceanside.
3 Easy Steps :
- Apply for a Certificate of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT).
- Apply for a short-term rental permit from the City of Oceanside.
- Have an initial property inspection by the City of Oceanside.
How much does permitting cost?
- The short-term rental permit fee is $250 and must be renewed annually.
- The City of Oceanside initial property inspection is a one-time fee of $207.
Note: STR Permits are non-transferable. If you purchase a STR property, you will need to complete the “3 Easy Steps” to obtain a permit under your name as the new owner.
Crash Course: What is a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)?
A Transient Occupancy Tax or “TOT” is the tax that the City collects from all hotels, resorts, and short-term rentals. Fun fact: Oceanside collects over $8 million in transient occupancy taxes. If you are utilizing Airbnb or VRBO as the means to rent our your STR, they take care of figuring out how much the TOT is for each city, charge the guest for this amount, and then send the taxes directly to the city. You don’t have to do a single thing! If you are making reservations through another platform or directly with a guest, you will need to track these amounts and calculate the amount of TOT that you owe the city and pay on time.
The Fine Print
Restrictions:
- STRs are allowed throughout the City’s Coastal Zone with the exception of mobile home parks and non-conforming panhandle lots.
- Properties with an ADU or JADU that was permitted on or after September 9, 2017, neither the ADU, JADU, nor the primary residence can be used as a STR.
Exceptions:
A STR permit is required for all STR properties unless:
- The unit is hosted (property owner or tenant remains onsite and offers a portion of the property for rent); or
- The unit is part of a gated HOA that contains at least 50 units, meets applicable parking requirements and has 24-hour security or on-site management.
- Hosted properties must submit a signed Affidavit.
Are you interested in purchasing a short-term rental in Oceanside? Give me a call (858) 531-5390 so I can show you how to create a successful STR!
