Tax Results for the City of Santa Barbara

Transient Occupancy Tax Results for the City of Santa Barbara – November 30, 2025

The City of Santa Barbara collected $2.7 Million in Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) for November 2025, the fifth month in the City’s fiscal year.

Year to date, the City has collected $17.7 Million in overall TOT, of which approximately $15.3 Million came from hotels and $2.4 from short-term rentals. Year to date, total TOT revenues are coming in 3.2% above budget.

The Transient Occupancy Tax (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. 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.