Santa Cruz Tax Information

Wondering why you're looking at an extra 10% charge on top of your rental fee? It's because

A Great Place To Stay.Net is required by the County to collect a "TOT," also known as the

Transient Occupancy Tax or Hospitality Tax, from all guests.

This is a countywide measure, pursuant to the County of Santa Cruz Code Chapter 4.24, that requires us, as property managers, to charge each of our guests an extra 10% tax on their rental fee. This tax applies to all payments for lodging for periods of under thirty-one consecutive days. Not only vacation rentals, but hotels, motels and B&Bs are required to collect this tax, and there is nowhere to stay in Santa Cruz County to legally avoid this charge.

Many counties in California and around the country levy this tax to offset the toll taken on infrastructure and services by seasonal influxes of visitors. Santa Cruz's current 10% rate falls around the middle of the range (the lowest California TOT is Trinity County at 5%, and the highest is a credit card-cracking 17.3% in Merced (Source: Dean Runyan Associates).

Find out more by reviewing Santa Cruz's County Code

(it's a sure cure for insomnia).