San Mateo County, California Short-Term Rental Rules 2026
LawfulStay tracks short-term rental rules for 3 places in San Mateo County, California. Each city and town sets its own rules, so select a place below for its permit, tax and other rules, or see all of California.
San Mateo County at a glance
- Places tracked
- 3 places: 3 restricted
- License or registration
- Required in all 3 local places
- Tax on stays
- Applies in all 3 local places
- County law
- No county record yet; each place below has its own page.
San Mateo County short-term rental questions
Are short-term rentals legal in San Mateo County?
In all 3 places we track in San Mateo County, short-term rentals are allowed, all with permit conditions or limits.
Do I need a license for a short-term rental in San Mateo County?
All 3 local places we track in San Mateo County require a license, permit or registration. Check your city's page for its rules.
Which places in San Mateo County have the strictest rules?
On our records: Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, San Mateo.
San Mateo County Airbnb & Vacation Rental Regulation Overview
The short-term rental regulatory landscape in San Mateo County encompasses 3 tracked jurisdictions: 3 with restrictions. Hosts operating on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com should verify local requirements before listing, as rules vary significantly between cities and regions.
All 3 tracked jurisdictions in San Mateo County require some form of permit, license, or registration for short-term rental operations. Requirements range from simple online registration to comprehensive permit applications with inspections.
Tax obligations apply in 3 of 3 jurisdictions. Common taxes include occupancy taxes, tourist levies, and sales taxes. Many jurisdictions require hosts to register for tax collection, and some platforms like Airbnb collect and remit taxes automatically in select locations.
Cities with significant restrictions on vacation rentals include Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, San Mateo. These jurisdictions typically impose permit caps, zoning limitations, or primary residence requirements.
LawfulStay monitors San Mateo County STR regulations daily and updates this page as rules change. Each city page includes detailed permit requirements, fee schedules, tax rates, zoning rules, and penalty information sourced from official government websites.