Beginning April 1, 2026, both AirBNB and VRBO will automatically collect and remit TOT and TBID for bookings of Pasadena properties. Hosts will still need to submit a quarterly report noting the booking activity for the respective quarter, but no tax remittance will be due if VRBO or AirBNB are the only booking platforms used.
Hosts that utilize other booking platforms must continue to complete the report and remit any due taxes or assessments on a quarterly basis.
For more information, view the FAQs on this page under "Quarterly Reports & TOT/TBID Remittance".
Beginning on July 1, 2023, in addition to remitting Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), short term rental hosts will also be responsible for remitting a Pasadena Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment at a rate of 3.89% of gross receipts. Developed by Pasadena lodging businesses and the Pasadena Center Operating Company, the TBID is an assessment district that provides specific benefits to payors by funding marketing and sales promotion efforts to attract overnight visitors to Pasadena. The TBID was renewed by the City Council for a ten-year period beginning July 1, 2023 and applies to all lodging businesses, including short-term rentals. Minutes of the March 27, 2023, Pasadena City Council meeting where the renewal of the TBID took place can be viewed at the City of Pasadena website .
TBID Rate
The TBID rate is 3.89% in year one beginning July 1, 2023 and 4.89% in years two through ten (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2033). The TBID applies to taxable receipts, which include but is not limited to, nightly rents, weekly rents, standard cleaning fees, pet fees, internet charges, late check-out fees, extra person fees, resort fees, etc.
TBID Collection & Reporting
The TBID will not be collected or remitted on your behalf by AirBNB or any other platform. Hosts are responsible for collecting and remitting the TBID for all bookings, regardless of the booking platform used. TBID shall be reported and remitted on a quarterly basis at the City of Pasadena Short-term Rental Registration and Tax Payment Form website.
Questions
Questions related to the Pasadena TBID can be directed to Kristin McGrath at kmcgrath@visitpasadena.com (Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau/Visit Pasadena). Questions about remittance of the TBID can be directed to Mrs. Guille Nunez at gnunez@cityofpasadena.net.
What is a Short-Term Rental?
A short-term rental is a dwelling unit which is shared, in whole or in part, for transient occupancy for periods of up to 30 consecutive days as a way of generating rental income. Ordinance No. 7317 allows hosted and un-hosted short-term rentals, subject to limitations. A Short-Term Rental permit and remittance TOT and TBID assessments on a quarterly basis are required. Vacation rentals and properties where the property owner does not reside for a minimum of nine (9) months out of the year are not permitted to be used for the purpose of short-term renting.
Short-Term Rental Permit
The Short-Term Rental Permit application consists of an online application and the submittal of several supplemental forms. You must complete the supplemental forms prior to initiating the online application.
Step 1
Download the Supplemental Application forms. You must complete all forms prior to initiating your online application.
Supplemental Forms for STRStep 2
Complete the supplemental forms. This includes obtaining the notary acknowledgement on the application affidavit, taking photographs of your short-term rental, providing a copy of the Neighborhood Notice to your neighbors, etc.
Step 3
Apply online for your Short-Term Rental Permit via the link below. A $123 permit fee applies*. It is recommended to use Chrome as your internet browser when completing the online application. You will be provided with a Short-Term Rental Permit number via email upon approval of your online application (1-3 weeks). If you do not receive an email, please check your ‘Junk’ or ‘Spam’ folder and search for an email from ‘Pasadena CA STR’. Also, please add 'no-support+pasadena@deckard.com' to your contacts to ensure that you receive notification emails in the future.
Step 4
Include your Short-Term Rental Permit number on all listings and remember to remit your TOT, TBID and booking records to the City on a quarterly basis.
* A 3% records management fee and payment processing fees also apply.
Contact
Questions on Short-Term Rental Operating Standards
For questions on Short-Term Rental regulations or the permit application process,
email STRPermits@CityofPasadena.net
Questions on remittance of TOT or TBID?
For questions on TOT OR TBID remittance,
call (626) 744-4538
Concerns Regarding a Short-Term Rental Property
Concerns regarding noise, parking, trash and other nuisances pertaining to specific short term rental properties can be reported by calling (626) 744-8633. Depending on the nature of the concern and availability of resources, you can expect a response within 1-3 business days. In case of an emergency, please call 9-1-1.
The regulations for short-term rentals is included in this application packet. For the full regulations, please refer to Ordinance 7317 or Section 17.50.296 of the Pasadena Municipal Code. You can also view our informative brochure here.
A Type 1 permit refers to ‘hosted’ short-term rentals where the host remains on-site throughout the guest’s stay (except during daytime and/or work hours). A common example of this is where a host short-term rents a bedroom(s) in their home. The host must be a permanent resident of the property.
A Type 2 permit refers to ‘unhosted’ short-term rentals where one the host is off-site during a guest’s stay. A common example is where the host short-term rents their residence while they are out of town.
There is no requirement for a business license. Hosts are required to obtain an annual Short-Term Rental permit from the Planning & Community Development Department and to remit TOT on a quarterly basis.
Vacation rentals are not permitted anywhere within the City. A short-term rental permit is issued only to the primary resident(s) of the property if they reside at the property for a minimum of nine months per calendar year. Proof of primary residency is required.
Quarterly Reports & TOT/TBID Remittance
TOT/TBID Remittance and Quarterly Reports submission deadlines are:
First Quarter - April 20th
Second Quarter - July 20th
Third Quarter - October 20th
Fourth Quarter - January 20th
As of April 1, 2026, both VRBO and AirBNB have the capability of collecting both TOT and TBID.
Hosts are responsible for collecting and remitting TOT and/or TBID via the City’s Short-Term Rental Tax portal if the platform that they use does not do so on their behalf.
TOT and TBID Collection prior to April 1, 2026:
- April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026
- VRBO collected and remitted both TOT and TBID
- AirBNB collected and remitted TOT only. Hosts responsible for collecting and remitting TBID via the City’s Tax Portal
- Prior to April 1, 2025
- AirBNB collected and remitted TOT only (not TBID)
- No other platforms collected or remitted TOT or TBID
Yes, all hosts must still submit a quarterly report, even those who list on VRBO or AirBNB exclusively. All hosts are required to submit the quarterly reports as a condition for the permit. Hosts that do not submit reports on a quarterly basis will not have their permits renewed.
TOT and TBID remittance and quarterly reports can be submitted ONLINE only via this link:
The current TOT rate is 12.11%. The TBID rate is 3.89% in year one beginning July 1, 2023 and 4.89% in years two through ten (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2033).
TOT is applicable to all bookings beginning on March 12, 2018. The TBID assessment is applicable to all booking beginning on July 1, 2023. TOT and TBID apply to all ‘taxable receipts’.
Taxable receipts INCLUDES, but is not limited to, nightly rents, weekly rents, standard cleaning fees, pet fees, internet charges, late check-out fees, extra person fees, and resort fees. Taxable receipts EXCLUDES refundable deposits and any additional items included in a special package rate, such as ski passes, or other recreational activity or additional service subject to CA sales tax.
The quarterly report requires you to report the following:
- The number of nights short-term rented during the reporting quarter.
- The total amount of taxable receipts for short-term rentals during the reporting quarter. See the previous question for a definition of ‘taxable receipts’.
TOT / TBID remittance and quarterly reports will be submitted ONLINE only via the Customer Portal. You will need to have already registered and obtained a Short-Term Rental permit to access the system. You will also need to have your Short-Term Rental permit number ready.
The deadlines for quarterly reports and TOT / TBID remittance are
| Reporting Period | Quarterly Report & TOT/TBID Due By: | |
| 1st Quarter | January 1st – March 31st | April 20th* |
| 2nd Quarter | April 1st – June 30th | July 20th |
| 3rd Quarter | July 1st – September 30th | October 20th |
| 4th Quarter | October 1st – December 31st | January 20th |
No, TOT and TBID remittance can only be made online via the Customer Portal
Yes, all host must submit a quarterly report every quarter regardless of whether they had any short-term rental activity.
Penalties and interest begin to accrue beginning the 21st day after the quarter end. For example, penalties will begin to accrue beginning October 21st if you failed to remit TOT / TBID for the 3rd quarter by October 20th.