The city of Santa Barbara collected $4 million in Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) for August 2025, the second month in the city’s fiscal year.
 
Year to date, the city has collected $8.2 million in overall TOT, of which some $7.2 million came from hotels and $1 million from short-term rentals. Year to date, total TOT revenues are coming in 2.0% above budget.
 
The TOT is a tax on “transient” guests staying in any hotel, inn, motel, or other commercial lodging establishment for a period of less than 30 days.
 
The city’s adopted TOT budget for all funds is $35.5 million, of which $29.5 million is budgeted in the General Fund.

View the Transient Occupancy Tax Table here.

The city’s TOT tax rate is 12.0%, of which 10.0% goes to the city’s General Fund and the remaining 2.0% goes to the Creeks/Clean Water Fund.
 
For additional current and historical financial data, visit the city’s Budget & Reporting webpage.

For more, call Lyndsay Maas, assistant finance director, 805-564-5340, or email LMaas@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.