The Application for Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate is the City of San Diego Office of the City Treasurer form used to obtain a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate. Anyone who rents a property in the city for less than one month per guest stay needs that certificate, and a host who applies for a short-term residential occupancy (STRO) license must already hold an active one. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form and the registration process belong to the City Treasurer.
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What is Application for Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate – San Diego, CA?
The Application for Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate is the form the City of San Diego Office of the City Treasurer uses to register a person for a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate, which is required to rent property in the city for less than one month per guest stay.
The City Treasurer's page on Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) explains why the certificate matters. If your property is in the City of San Diego and is rented for less than one month per guest stay, you must obtain a TOT Certificate and collect and remit Transient Occupancy Tax. This applies to houses, condos, rooms or spaces, whether they are rented directly by the owner or operator, by a property management company or through internet travel services. The page states that renting for less than a month without a TOT Certificate is not in compliance with the San Diego Municipal Code, with no exceptions.
The certificate is also the first prerequisite of the STRO license: the host must have an active TOT Certificate before an STRO license application is submitted. The page says there is no cost to obtain a TOT Certificate.
This form is not the STRO license application, and it is separate from the Rental Unit Business Tax and the Business Tax Certificate, which the City Treasurer describes as other requirements with their own accounts and contacts.
Who needs to file Application for Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate – San Diego, CA?
Anyone who rents property in the City of San Diego for less than one month per guest stay needs a TOT Certificate and therefore this application. The City Treasurer says this covers houses, condos, rooms and spaces rented directly by the owner or operator, by property management companies or through internet travel services.
- Hosts applying for an STRO license. An active TOT Certificate is the first item a host must have before submitting an STRO license application. The host must also be in current compliance with the City's TOT requirements, meaning no back taxes owed for unpaid TOT.
- Operators who already hold a certificate. If there is an active TOT Certificate, you do not need a new one: the City points to the OpenData Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Information to find the certificate number.
A host and an operator may be the same person but are not required to be. Dwelling units outside the City of San Diego are outside this requirement. For questions, contact TOT Administration at 619-615-1530 or [email protected].
When to file Application for Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate – San Diego, CA
Apply before you begin renting property in the City of San Diego for less than one month per guest stay, because operating without a TOT Certificate is not in compliance with the San Diego Municipal Code. If you plan to apply for an STRO license, the certificate must already be active when you submit that license application. An STRO license has been required to operate an STRO in the city since May 1, 2023. The form itself prints no separate deadline, and the City Treasurer's page gives no processing time for the certificate. If a certificate is already active, check the OpenData TOT Information for its number instead of applying again.
How to fill out Application for Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate – San Diego, CA
Confirm you need a TOT Certificate
You need one if you rent property in the City of San Diego for less than one month per guest stay. Houses, condos, rooms and spaces all count.
Check for an existing certificate
Look in the OpenData Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Information. If a certificate is already active for the property, you do not need to apply again.
Gather your operator and property details
Have the information the form asks for ready, such as your own contact details and the address of the rental. Contact TOT Administration at 619-615-1530 if you are unsure what applies.
Complete each field of the form
Fill out the fields of the Application for Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate in the order the PDF presents them. Answer every field that applies to you.
Review your answers
Check names, addresses and contact details for accuracy. A host who later applies for an STRO license must certify under penalty of perjury that the STRO application is accurate.
Download the completed PDF
Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, then send it to the Office of the City Treasurer by one of the channels described under How to submit.
How to submit Application for Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate – San Diego, CA
The City Treasurer accepts the TOT Certificate application through two channels: online and by email.
- Online: submit the application through the Transient Occupancy Registration System.
- By email: send the completed Application for Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate to the Office of the City Treasurer at [email protected].
For other questions, contact TOT Administration at 619-615-1530 or [email protected]. The City Treasurer's page states that there is no cost to obtain a TOT Certificate. If you are registering because you plan to apply for an STRO license, the STRO application is a separate process with its own online portal. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the City Treasurer's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Renting a property in San Diego for less than one month per guest stay without a TOT Certificate; the City Treasurer says there are no exceptions.
- Applying for an STRO license before the TOT Certificate is active; an active certificate is required before the STRO application is submitted.
- Applying for a new certificate when one is already active; the OpenData TOT Information lists the existing certificate number.
- Owing back TOT while applying for an STRO license; hosts must be in current compliance with the City's TOT requirements.
- Assuming the TOT Certificate covers the Rental Unit Business Tax or a Business Tax Certificate, which are separate requirements with separate contacts.
- Treating the certificate as a license to operate; the STRO license is a separate application, and operating without it can bring a Notice of Violation and penalties.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Application for Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate?
It is the City of San Diego Office of the City Treasurer form used to get a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate. The certificate is required to rent property in the city for less than one month per guest stay, and an active one is needed before applying for an STRO license.
Do I need a TOT Certificate to rent my home short-term in San Diego?
Yes. If your property is in the City of San Diego and is rented for less than one month per guest stay, you must obtain a TOT Certificate and collect and remit TOT. The City Treasurer says there are no exceptions, whether you rent directly, through a property manager or through an internet travel service.
Is there a fee for a TOT Certificate?
No. The City Treasurer's STRO page says there is no cost to obtain a TOT Certificate. Other items, such as the STRO license, carry their own fees; check the City Treasurer for those.
How do I submit the TOT Certificate application?
Submit it online through the Transient Occupancy Registration System, or email the completed Application for Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate to the Office of the City Treasurer at [email protected]. TOT Administration answers questions at 619-615-1530.
Do I need a TOT Certificate before applying for an STRO license?
Yes. An active TOT Certificate is the first thing a host must have before submitting an STRO license application. The host must also be in current compliance with the City's TOT requirements, with no back taxes owed for unpaid TOT.
How can I find out if my property already has a TOT Certificate?
Use the OpenData Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Information published by the City of San Diego to find the certificate number for an active certificate. For other questions, contact TOT Administration at 619-615-1530 or [email protected].
Is the TOT Certificate the same as the Rental Unit Business Tax?
No. They are separate requirements. Property owners who rent all or part of a property for more than 6 days in a calendar year must also remit Rental Unit Business Tax, and a host who is not the owner needs a Business Tax Certificate.
Can I fill out this form online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, is not affiliated with the City of San Diego and does not submit the application; you send it through the City Treasurer's channels.
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