New Tax and Registration Law Takes Effect: Orinda

LAMORINDA, CA — A new law that should increase tax revenues in Orinda has gone into effect.

The ordinance requires operators of short-term rental properties to register with the city and pay transit occupancy taxes like hotels.

Orinda Municipal Code Section 17.3.12 creates a registration system requiring a form signed by the property owner to be submitted with contact information and other key details about the rental. It establishes a maximum occupancy of two people per bedroom and three additional guests.

Additionally, only one short-term rental per property can be registered at a time, and short-term rentals are ineligible for special event permits, according to the city.

Short-term rental operators will also be required to obtain a transit occupancy registration certificate.

The city's finance department has partnered with hosting platform AirBNB, which will collect the tax and pay it to the city, so short-term rental operators aren't forced to handle that themselves.

It costs $100 to register a short-term rental with the city. Short-term rental operators are required to renew that registration each year at a cost of $50, city officials said.

Those who are currently operating short-term rentals in Orinda have been given a two-month "grace period," but the deadline is Dec. 5.

The city's planning department is open for short-term rental registration from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Registration can also be done by mail. The forms you need are available online at the City of Orinda.

— Bay City News contributed to this report; Image via Pixabay

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