Before Online Application

Prior to submitting your short-term vacation rental license application online, please ensure you have all required supplemental documentation ready for upload. The following documents must be submitted through the online application portal after completing the application form:

• Most recent Property Tax (showing property owners name)
• Public Notice Form (Hosts must use the City-provided form to notify neighbors of the license application. Only the delivery address list is required to be submitted on the application. Be sure to attach the Nuisance Response Plan to your public notice form.)
• Surety Bond ($1,500) (GMC 5.08.100 - To ensure that the rental property is operated in accordance with GMC, including zoning, safety, and health regulations. Surety bond covers issues related to taxes and fees associated with short-term rental. It also ensures that the STVR owners and tenants are held liable for their actions, and, therefore, must compensate for any damages or violations during the stay.)

Questions About the Application Process?

If you have specific questions regarding the short-term vacation rental license application process, we encourage you to submit them in writing. This ensures that staff can provide you with accurate and well-documented responses. Requests for written advice can be emailed to businesslicense@cityofgoleta.gov

How to Report Short-term Vacation Rental Nuisances 

The primary purpose for this permit is to minimize public nuisance conditions often associated with short-term vacation rentals.  A Nuisance Response Plan provided by the vacation rental owner(s) that provides a contact name and number should short-term renters impact the neighborhood with nuisance activities, such as loud afterhours parties or noise, disruptive behavior, illegal parking, excessive and/or overflowing trash, or any activity that disrupts the neighborhood peace.  Continued unacceptable behavior should be reported to the City and is subject to citation and fines.

Report a Nuisance Violation Here

Check if address falls within the geographic boundaries of the City of Goleta Here

How to apply: 

Step one: Log in to the City of Goleta Business License Portal
- If you do not have an account, please register before proceeding. (save this information as it will be needed for renewal)

Step two: Submit application and make payment online.

Step three: Once online application is submitted, stay logged in.

Upload Required Documentation

• Stay logged into the portal.
• On the upper right-hand corner, click "My Account."
• Under "Business License", locate your renewal application.
• Upload the following documents:

• Most recent Property Tax (showing property owners name)
• Public Notice Form (forms are to be used by host only and the City only needs a list to each address it was delivered.)
• Surety Bond ($1,500) (GMC 5.08.100 - To ensure that the rental property is operated in accordance with GMC, including zoning, safety, and health regulations. Surety bond covers issues related to taxes and fees associated with short-term rental. It also ensures that the STVR owners and tenants are held liable for their actions, and, therefore, must compensate for any damages or violations during the stay.)

Final step: Application cannot be reviewed without the required documentation. Application review can take up to 4-8 business weeks (if and when application is paid and submitted completely).

Yearly Business License renewals

It is the responsibility of the business to update the City of all business changes. A late penalty of 50% for annual licenses will be assessed for payments made past the 30 day grace period. To receive your renewal authentication code, please contact businesslicense@cityofgoleta.gov. 

How to Annually Renew: 

Step one: Log in to the City of Goleta Business License Portal
- If you do not have an account, please register before proceeding. (save this information as it will be needed for renewal)

Step two: Submit application and make payment online.

Step three: Once renewal online application is submitted, stay logged in.

Upload Required Documentation

• Stay logged into the portal.
• On the upper right-hand corner, click "My Account."
• Under "Business License", locate your renewal application.
• Upload the following documents:

• Most recent Property Tax (showing property owners name)
• Public Notice Form (forms are to be used by host only and the City only needs a list to each address it was delivered.)
• Surety Bond ($1,500) (GMC 5.08.100 - To ensure that the rental property is operated in accordance with GMC, including zoning, safety, and health regulations. Surety bond covers issues related to taxes and fees associated with short-term rental. It also ensures that the STVR owners and tenants are held liable for their actions, and, therefore, must compensate for any damages or violations during the stay.)

Final step: Application cannot be reviewed without the required documentation. Application review can take up to 4-8 business weeks (if and when application is paid and submitted completely).

• TOT & TBID Payments: All short-term rental operators are required to submit monthly TOT and TBID remittances.
• Airbnb Collections: Airbnb collects and remits TOT on behalf of owners; however, they do not remit the 2% TBID. That portion must be remitted directly by the operator.
• Airbnb Reporting: Please note that Airbnb does not provide the City with property-level reports. Instead, they remit a lump-sum payment covering all listings. For this reason, it’s important that you review the reports uploaded to your Airbnb owner portal.
• Documentation: If possible, please attach a copy of your Airbnb report when you remit your TBID payment. This will assist us in reconciling your account.

 Please visit our Transient Occupancy Tax and Tourism Business District Assessment here.

• Short-Term Vacation Rental Ordinance
• Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Ordinance
• Hosting Platform Responsibilities 

Short-Term Vacation Rental are NOT permitted on ADU per GMC 17.41.030. 

All operators are required to remit TOT and TBID Assessment (Click here for more information)

To report a potential violation to this Municipal Code, please submit a request through the City Assist. 

• FAQs TOT & TBID Tax

Goleta’s Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Ordinance requires that all properties be subject to the STVR Ordinance if rented 31 days or less.

Q: How much is the yearly Short Term License?
A: License fee please see user fee schedule for the latest fee updates.

Q: Is a short-term vacation rental subject to Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and Tourism
Business Improvement District Assessment (TBID)? 
A: Yes. Short-term vacation rentals are subject to a 12% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) as well as a 2% Santa Barbara South Coast Tourism Business Improvement District assessment(TBID).

Q: How long does it take to get a permit?
A: Short Term Rental license and TOT certificate can usually be issued up to 4-8 business weeks of receiving the completed application.

Q: Surety Bond Compliance?
A: To stay in compliance with your Short-Term Vacation Rental permit, you must obtain and maintain a surety bond. Applicant is responsible to notify the City if the surety bond has been canceled and or changed. 

Q: How do I apply for a surety bond?
A: Most applicants have accessed a website by searching surety bonds or you may contact your Insurance Broker.

Q: Do I have to renew Short Tern Rental License and TOT Certificate?
A: Yes. Host must annually submit an online renewal application. The purpose of this annual renewal is to obtain confirmation that all owners are complying with all elements of the performance standards and the nuisance response is current and accurate.

Q: Where will the city email/mail permits and notices?
A: The City will update the online portal for each case. Applicant is responsible for renewals, there will be an authentication code needed prior to renewing. Please email businesslicense@cityofgoleta.gov with business license number, requesting the authentication code. 

Q: Can I change information contained in the nuisance response plan already filed with the city?
A: Yes. At any time, the host of a short-term vacation rental may change the
content of the nuisance response plan by logging on to the application portal. 

Q: Is there a fee that applies to nuisance response plan amendments?
A: No. The city currently does not require a fee