New State Law Helps Cities Get Short-Term Rental Information from Airbnb, VRBO and Other Online Platforms

When Senate Bill 346 took effect on January 1, 2026, California cities won a significant victory in their efforts to enforce local transient-occupancy tax (TOT) and short term rental (STR) regulations. A city is now able to invoke the new law to compel Airbnb, VRBO, and other “short-term rental facilitators” to share information about STRs operating within the city.

The new state law is not self-executing. A city must proactively invoke the new law (Chapter 4.6, of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Government Code) by adopting an ordinance.

Once the city does invoke the chapter by ordinance, state law imposes a number of obligations on “short-term rental facilitators” like Airbnb and VRBO, including the following:

• Physical Address. Upon request by the local agency, facilitators must report the physical address of each STR that used the facilitator’s platform during the reporting period.
• Other Details. The city can also require the APN, URL of the listing and unit-specific information if there is more than one unit at the address.
• At Least Quarterly. The city can require reporting as often as once a quarter, generally, but if TOT is remitted more often, the city can require reporting on the same basis.
• Audits. The city may audit facilitators, at the local agency’s expense, to ensure compliance. 
• High Fines. The city may impose extra high administrative fines for violations consistent with Government Code Section 53069.4.

Note, nothing in the new law limits a local agency’s options for regulation or enforcement of STRs.

A city ordinance invoking the new information-disclosure law may establish city requirements (e.g., information required, frequency of reporting, penalties for noncompliance). The ordinance can be targeted and short — but it can yield significant benefits when it comes to TOT enforcement and collection, as well as STR accountability.  

Contact your BBK attorney or the authors of this alert for more information, or for help drafting an ordinance take advantage of SB 346’s new tools.

Disclaimer: BBK Legal Alerts are not intended as legal advice. Additional facts, facts specific to your situation, or future developments may affect subjects contained herein. Seek the advice of an attorney before acting or relying upon any information herein.