City of Santa Barbara Hotel Tax Slightly Above Budget as of March

The City of Santa Barbara collected $2.3 Million in Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) for March 2025, the ninth month in the City’s fiscal year.

Year to date, the City has collected $25.7 Million in overall TOT, of which approximately $22.8 Million came from hotels and $2.9 Million from short-term rentals. Year to date, total TOT revenues are coming in 1.3% 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 $34.5 Million, of which $28.7 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.