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Is short-term rental allowed in Fresno?
Yes, with a city permit. In the City of Fresno, a home or rooms can be rented short-term (30 consecutive days or less) once you have zone clearance and a Short Term Rental (STR) permit. You need the permit before you rent or advertise, and the permit holder must be the property owner.
This page covers the City of Fresno only. Clovis and unincorporated Fresno County have their own rules.
The rules at a glance
| Short-term rental means | A dwelling unit rented in whole or in part for transient use of 30 consecutive days or less |
|---|---|
| Permit | STR permit required before the home or rooms are rented or advertised |
| Who holds it | The property owner |
| First step | Apply for zone clearance |
| Permit term | Expires each year on the anniversary of issuance |
| Business tax | The page says the STR permit holder is not required to pay business tax on the revenue earned |
| Nuisance | The permit holder is responsible for preventing nuisance activity such as noise and parties |
Fees
- Short Term Rental permit application: $25.
- Short Term Rental permit: $25. That makes $50 in the first year, per the Master Fee Schedule (fees effective July 1, 2026).
- Renewal: no separate renewal line appears in the fee schedule. Confirm the renewal fee with the city.
Lodging tax and tourism assessment
When a guest stays 30 consecutive days or less, the operator collects a 12% transient occupancy tax (TOT) and a 2% Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment and remits them to the city. The STR permit holder is responsible for collecting and paying the TOT to the City of Fresno. The Fresno/Clovis Tourism Business Improvement District (FCTBID) covers all lodging businesses, including all short-term rentals. Its Management District Plan (December 18, 2025) sets a 10-year term beginning January 1, 2026, or as soon as possible after. The assessment is 2% of gross short-term room rental revenue in years 1 and 2, 2.5% in years 3 to 6, and 3% in years 7 to 10.
What this means for your numbers
In Fresno the short-term option is open to owners who get the permit, so the question is whether it beats a long-term lease once you count cleaning, furnishing, platform fees, lodging tax and the permit. Our Rental Strategy Comparison shows a long-term lease and a short-term rental side by side for your address, with the city's lodging tax and rental rules looked up for each order. In a city with a minimum stay, the short-term column is based on that minimum.
Compare long-term and short-term for your home, $39
Official sources
- City of Fresno Finance: business license, tax certificate and STR permit
- City of Fresno Master Fee Schedule (fees effective July 1, 2026)
- Fresno/Clovis TBID Management District Plan (December 18, 2025)
Last checked: October 17, 2026. Rules and fees change. Confirm with the City of Fresno, and with any HOA or lease, before you list. General information, not legal advice.