Tax Results for the City of Santa Barbara

Transient Occupancy Tax Results for the City of Santa Barbara – March 2024

The City of Santa Barbara collected $2.3 Million in Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) for March 2024, the ninth month in the City’s fiscal year. 

Year to date, the City has collected $23.3 Million in overall TOT, of which approximately $21.4 Million came from hotels and $1.9 Million from short-term rentals. Year to date, total TOT revenues are coming in 4.2% below 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 $33.0 Million, of which $27.5 Million is budgeted in the General Fund.

The Transient Occupancy Tax table can be viewed on the attachment. 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.