Short-Term Rental Permits & Tax Payments

Beginning in November 2025, the City of South San Francisco will be reaching out to property owners who may be leasing, renting, or advertising property as short-term rentals. 

The City will be sending out letters to property owners about the requirements for acquiring a City business license and a Short-Term Rental Permit, and paying Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and Conference Center Tax (CCT). 

Coming Soon to Your Mailbox! Be on the lookout for an official letter from the City of South San Francisco Tax Support Center—mailed from a Fresno, CA address. ✅ It’s legitimate and from the City of South San Francisco.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the City sending out this letter?

Per South San Francisco Municipal Code Chapter 4.20: Transient Occupancy Tax, short-term rental operators must pay a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and a Conference Center Tax (CCT). For information on how to pay this tax, see the City's "Tax Information" webpage by clicking here.    

I can't find my letter. May I see a copy of the letter?

Yes! You can find a generic version of the letter below - The letter will be coming soon. We have also translated the letter into Spanish, Tagalog, and Traditional Chinese. 

  • Notice of noncompliance (English)
  • Notice of noncompliance letter (Spanish)
  • Notice of noncompliance letter (Tagalog)
  • Notice of noncompliance letter (Traditional Chinese)

What is a "short-term rental"? And how can I apply for this permit?

A short-term rental is a residential dwelling (house) that is rented to a visitor (or "transient occupant") for fewer than 30 consecutive days. A short-term rental can include an entire house, or only a portion of the structure, like a room. These are sometimes called "short-term vacation rentals."

To operate a short-term rental in the City of South San Francisco, you must:

  • Obtain a City business license from the Finance Department
  • Obtain a Short-Term Rental Permit from the Planning Division
  • Pay Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) and Conference Center Taxes (CCT) to the City

For more information about these requirements, click here. 

Is my property eligible to be a short-term rental?

Perhaps! To see the requirements, visit the City's Short-Term Rentals webpage here. Under the FAQs, click the box that says, "Is my property eligible to be a short-term rental?"

Why is this letter coming from Fresno?

The City has teamed up with HdL Companies who has experience in streamlining the payment process. Certain HdL operations, including the administration of the TOT and CCT, are located in Fresno, which is why the letters will have a Fresno return address. 

Have questions?

If you have questions about paying your TOT or CCT taxes, reach out to HdL Companies at SouthSanFranciscoTOT@HdLgov.com or by phone at 650-204-3304. The HdL team is available Monday through Friday from 8:00AM - 5:00PM.

If you have questions about applying for a City business license, visit the City's "Business License Information" webpage.

If you have questions about applying for a Short-Term Rental Permit, visit the City's "Short-Term Rentals" webpage. You can also contact the City's Planning Division at planning@ssfca.gov or 650-877-8535.

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