The city of Santa Barbara collected $3.3 million in Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) for September 2025, the third month in the city’s fiscal year.
 
Year to date, the city has collected $11.6 million in overall TOT, of which about $10.1 million came from hotels and $1.5 million from short-term rentals. Year to date, total TOT revenues are coming in 0.8% above budget.
 
The Transient Occupancy Tax 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.m
 
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. 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.