Dana Point

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Short-Term Rental?

A Short-Term Rental (STR), also known as a vacation rental, is the rental of a legally permitted dwelling unit for periods of less than 30 consecutive days per occurrence. The City of Dana Point Municipal Code defines an STR as the rental of any structure or any portion of any structure for occupancy, dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes for at least two (2) consecutive nights, but no more than thirty (30), consecutive calendar days in duration in a zoning district where residential uses are allowed, including, but not limited to, detached single-family dwellings, condominiums, duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and multiple-family dwellings. "Short-term rental" historically and continues to be included in the definition of "hotel" for purposes of collecting transient occupancy tax pursuant to Chapter 3.25 of this Code.

Who needs to apply for a Short-Term Rental Permit? 

Any owner renting a property for a period of 30 consecutive days or less is required to apply for a Short-Term Rental Permit. It is the owner(s)' responsibility to know and comply with all ordinances, resolutions, and regulations that apply to short-term rentals within the City of Dana Point.

What is the Transient Occupancy Tax? 

This is a 10% tax on your gross short-term rents not already remitted by an intermediary. Hotels also pay this tax. The owner must maintain a valid transient occupancy tax registration certificate issued by the City for the short-term rental; the owner must collect and remit transient occupancy tax as required by Chapter 3.25 of the Municipal Code.

Each operator shall collect the tax imposed by Chapter 3.25 to the same extent and at the same time as the rent is collected from every transient. The amount of tax shall be separately stated from the amount of the rent charged, and each transient shall receive a receipt for payment from the operator.

When is the Transient Occupancy Tax due? 

Each operator shall, not later than twenty (20) days after the last day of each quarter, file a return with the Tax Administrator, on forms provided by the Tax Administrator, of the total rents charged and received and the amount of tax collected for transient occupancies during the preceding month. At the time the return is filed, the full amount of the tax collected shall be remitted to the Tax Administrator. Any return and/or tax not received by the Tax Administrator by the twentieth day after the last day of the month to which such return relates, or during which such tax was collected, shall be deemed delinquent pursuant to Section 3.25.080 of the Municipal Code. The Tax Administrator may establish shorter reporting periods for any certificate holder if it is deemed necessary to ensure collection of the tax and may require further information in the return. Returns and payments are due immediately upon cessation of business for any reason. All taxes collected by operators pursuant to this Chapter are held in trust for the account of the City until payment thereof is made to the Tax Administrator.

How is penalty and interest calculated on late payments?

(a)    Original Delinquency. Any operator who fails to remit any tax imposed by Chapter 3.25 of the Municipal Code within the time required shall pay a penalty of ten (10%) percent of the amount of the tax in addition to the amount of the tax.

Do I also need to obtain a separate business license? 

No. The STR Permit and the transient occupancy tax registration certificate is all you need to begin advertising your rental and remitting taxes.

What is the cost of an STR Permit?

There is an annual fee of $150.

Does my Short-Term Rental Permit apply to multiple properties? 

No. You are only allowed to short-term rent one dwelling unit per permit in the City of Dana Point.

Do I have to display my Short-Term Rental Permit?

Yes. The STR permit, an unsigned copy of the City's Good Neighbor Acknowledgment and a copy of the City's short-term rental regulations including, but not limited to, Chapter 5.38, must all be always posted in a conspicuous place within the short-term rental unit. Your STR Permit PDF can be found in the Business Center by clicking your account name under "Manage Your Account(s)".

Is the City working with Airbnb? 

No. Airbnb does not collect or remit lodgers' tax to the City of Dana Point on behalf of property owners and/or authorized agents.

Is the City working with Vrbo? 

No. Vrbo does not collect or remit lodgers' tax to the City of Dana Point on behalf of property owners and/or authorized agents.

Can I pay by credit card?

Yes! We accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. The City of Dana Point does not assess a convenience fee, but your credit card company might impose a fee.

Can I pay by e-check ?

No. The City of Dana Point is currently working towards adding this as a payment option, but it is not yet available.

I need to close my account. What do I do?

Please email the city of Dana Point at mochoa@danapoint.org. Please include the closure date and the reason you are closing the account.

How do I amend a return?

Please email mochoa@danapoint.org letting us know you need to file an amended return. In the email please include:

1) What city the amendment is for along with your six digit license/account number, and owner name

2) Period you need to amend (i.e. Q1 2021 form due April 30th)

3) If you overpaid or underpaid your original form

4) Brief explanation as to why the form needs to be amended

Once we receive this email we will review your account and send you further instructions.

What types of assistance can GovOS provide to me?

GovOS can assist you with all your system and questions. Whether you have a question about your business center or technical questions about how to do something in GovOS, please reach out to our support team. 

Where are my tax forms? My Action Center is empty. 

Your tax forms will be available on the 1st day of the month following the last day of the tax period. For example, the Quarter 1 (January-March) tax forms will be available in your Action Center on April 1. If you do not see the forms you expected, simply contact GovOS support for assistance.

Can I manage multiple properties with one login?

Yes - to do so, click Add accounts from your user login under Manage Your Account(s). You will need your 6 digit Account Number and the GovOS Activation Code to connect to an existing property record.

Can a property have more than one user?

Yes, each property can have an unlimited number of users. Each user is required to provide the 6 digit Account Number and the GovOS Activation code to be authorized to connect to an existing property record. 

I did not receive or I misplaced the letter with my activation code. What do I do?

You can reach out to support for assistance, in doing so you will need to confirm account details to be verified for the account. To protect the security on property accounts, you will need written (e-mail) permission from a registered owner or officer of the property for us to provide you with a new activation code. 

Can I file a Zero File tax return through GovOS?

To file a zero file tax form, select your tax form from your Action Center. Then, complete the required information on the remittance, including Gross Rents and any deductions. You will be prompted to confirm your desire to complete the return as a Zero File return.

Can I schedule a payment in GovOS?

For your security, GovOS does not store any payment information in the system. You will need to enter your desired payment information each time you check out. 

How do I change the User on a Property?

All users need to register, just as you did, by going to the home page for that jurisdiction (i.e. https://danapoint.munirevs.com). They will click on the "Go" button under "New Users". They will also need the 6 digit account number and Activation Code for the property.

I forgot my password. What do I do? 

From the Log In page, click the "Forgot your password" link and follow the instructions that will be e-mailed to the User's registered e-mail address.

Do I have to login to GovOS to see my alerts and reminders?

No. All alerts are e-mailed to your authenticated e-mail address. When you login to the system, you will also see any open alerts that need to be addressed in your Action Center. 

For Assistance, Contact
 GovOS Support

blt.str.support@govos.com

(888) 751-1911

 When contacting support, be sure to include the jurisdiction (City of Dana Point) and your account number in all emails or voicemails. This will help us assist you as promptly as possible. Thank You!