San Mateo, California Short Term Rental Regulations
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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave
Last updated August 23, 2023
San Mateo Short-Term Rental Regulations
Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.
City Code of Ordinances
On February 1, 2021, the City of San Mateo adopted short-term rental regulations (Chapter 5.66) to regulate short-term rentals and limit their negative effects on surrounding neighborhoods. Short-Term Rentals are only permitted in legal dwelling units, such as single-family houses, parts of single-family homes, multi-family units, and condos. ADUs are not permitted to be utilized for short-term rentals and are not eligible for a short-term rental permit. Properties cannot be rented for more than 120 days a year when hosts are not present on-site. Occupancy is limited to two people per bedroom or ten people per property, whichever is less. For more information, see the Short-Term Rental Requirements page.Business License Requirements
Hosts must obtain a City business license. Submit a Short-Term Rental permit application by using the online portal. If applicable, apply for all State and County licenses.Building and Housing Standards
San Mateo has rules and regulations that specify minimum building, design, maintenance standards, habitability, health, and safety requirements. Some rules and regulations that apply to residential and non-residential properties may apply to your listing. Consult the City of San Mateo for more information.Tourist and Local Taxes
The city’s Transient Occupancy Tax rate is 14%. Renters collect the tax from their guests and remit it to the city monthly.Other Rules
It is also essential to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo boards, co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable. Visit the San Mateo website for more information. Related Pages:Is something not quite right? Registered users can suggest changes to this guide.
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Short Term City Rating5.0
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Competition
6.6 -
Real Estate Cost
2.2 -
STR Regulations
4.0 -
Seasonality
6.6 -
Rental Rates
5.7
San Mateo, California Quick Stats
Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.
- Population
- 105,661
- STR License Required
- Yes
- Tourist Season
- June to August
- County
- San Mateo
- Airports
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Oakland International Airport (OAK)
Want to learn more about San Mateo?
Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.
Check out our San Mateo rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the San Mateo rental market.
Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in San Mateo.
The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.
Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.
What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits San Mateo guests.
Interested in other California cities?
Check out the California short term rental regulations directory
What makes San Mateo a great place to invest?
- San Mateo, California is home to a variety of beautiful parks and open spaces, including the scenic Hillsborough Park and San Mateo Central Park, both of which offer scenic trails, picnic areas, and recreational facilities for visitors to enjoy.
- The city is also home to a variety of exciting cultural attractions, including the San Mateo History Museum, which showcases the history of the city and the surrounding Bay Area. The museum features a variety of exhibits, artifacts, and interactive displays that highlight the region's rich cultural heritage.
- San Mateo is also a great place for sports fans, with a variety of professional sports teams, including the San Francisco Giants and the San Francisco 49ers, both of which play at nearby Levi's Stadium.
- And for those seeking a bit of adventure, San Mateo is just a short drive from a variety of exciting attractions, including amusement parks, beaches, and natural wonders like the Pacific Ocean and the Half Moon Bay State Beach.
- Additionally, San Mateo is a hub for tech innovation, with numerous headquarters of some of the biggest technology companies like Oracle and Electronic Arts located in the city. This makes it a great place for tech enthusiasts to visit and learn about the latest advancements in the industry. So, San Mateo, California is a great place to visit for its combination of outdoor recreation, cultural attractions, and modern innovation.
San Mateo Nearby Cities
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4 miles away
- Rating: 5.3
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5 miles away
- Rating: 5.5
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Local Real Estate
How expensive is the real estate in San Mateo?
The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in San Mateo has decreased -10% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $1,013, which is higher than the national average.
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Median Sale Price
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$1,715,580
-10% YoY
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Median per Square Foot
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$1,013
-11% YoY
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Average Monthly Rent
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$3,386
1% YoY
The most common terms hosts include in their listings for San Mateo, California
Common terms for San Mateo short term rental listings.
When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.
Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:
- Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
- Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
- Informative: The average listing in San Mateo has a description approximately 1,594 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.
After reviewing more than 1,148 listings in San Mateo, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are San Francisco, San Mateo, Kasa, Easy, Desk, Call, Car, Place, Come, and SFO.
What are the most popular tourist activities in San Mateo?
Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in San Mateo involve going to the City Centre, Swimming, Adventure Activities, Museums, and the Zoo. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.
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City Centre
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Swimming
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Adventure Activities
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Museums
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Zoo
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Hiking
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Outlet Shopping
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Mountain Biking
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Health Spa
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Cycling
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Marina
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Boating
Local Attractions
What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?
There are quite a few popular attractions in San Mateo, including San Francisco Bay, Stanford Shopping Center, San Mateo County Event Center, Facebook Campus, and Half Moon Bay State Beach. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.
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Well Known Attraction
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San Francisco Bay
Included on 78% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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San Mateo County Event Center
Included on 69% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Half Moon Bay State Beach
Included on 49% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Filoli
Included on 48% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center
Included on 47% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Hillsdale Shopping Center
Included on 47% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Facebook Campus
Included on 46% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Menlo College
Included on 46% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Fox Theatre
Included on 45% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Hiller Aviation Museum
Included on 45% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford
Included on 44% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Stanford Shopping Center
Included on 44% of listings
What’s the weather like in San Mateo, California?
The weather is generally milder than the national average, with an average high temperature of around 66°, while the average low is about 51°. It has normal rainfall, averaging about 18 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall is scarce, with an average year having no snowfall. The humidity levels in San Mateo are generally lower than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.
Winter
December through February
46° Low 58° High
Spring
March through May
50° Low 65° High
Summer
June through August
56° Low 72° High
Fall
September through November
53° Low 69° High
Cities Near San Mateo
San Mateo, California, is located in San Mateo County. Some cities that are located nearby include:
