Carpinteria Municipal Code Ch. 3.20 Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax

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For statutory provisions authorizing a local tax on transient occupancies, see Rev. and Tax. Code §§ 7280 and 7281.

This chapter shall be known as the "uniform transient occupancy tax code of the city of Carpinteria."

(Prior code § 8200)

Except where the context otherwise requires, the following definitions govern the construction of this chapter:

A. "Hotel" means any structure, or any portion of any structure which is occupied or intended or designed for occupancy by transients for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes and includes any hotel, inn, tourist home or house, motel, studio hotel, bachelor hotel, lodginghouse, rooming house, apartment house, dormitory, public or private club, mobile home or house trailer at a fixed location (except when located within a mobile home park or when its tenant is the owner or operator of a mobile home park) or other similar structure or portion thereof.

B. "Occupancy" means the use or possession, or the right to the use or possession, of any room or rooms or portion thereof in any hotel for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes.

C. "Operator" means the person who is the proprietor of the hotel, whether in the capacity of owner, lessee, sublessee, mortgagee in possession, licensee, or any other capacity. Where the operator performs his functions through a managing agent of any type of character other than an employee, the managing agent shall also be deemed an operator for the purposes of this chapter and shall have the same duties and liabilities as his principal. Compliance with the provisions of this chapter by either the principal or the managing agent shall, however, be considered to be compliance by both.

D. "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, social club, fraternal organization, joint stock company, corporation, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, trustee, syndicate, or any other group or combination acting as a unit.

E. "Rent" means the consideration charged, whether or not received, for the occupancy of space in a hotel, valued in money, whether to be received in money, goods, labor or otherwise, including all receipts, cash, credits and property and services of any kind or nature, without any deduction therefrom whatsoever.

F. "Transient" means any person who exercises occupancy or is entitled to occupancy by reason of concession, permit, right-to-access, license or other agreement for a period of thirty consecutive calendar days or less, counting portions of calendar days as full days. Any such person so occupying space in a hotel shall be deemed to be a transient until the period of thirty days has expired unless there is an agreement in writing between the operator and the occupant providing for a longer period of occupancy. In determining whether a person is a transient, uninterrupted periods of time extending both prior and subsequent to the effective date of this chapter may be considered.

(Ord. 247 § 16, 1978; prior code § 8201)

For privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of fifteen percent of the rent charged by the operator. Such tax constitutes a debt owed by the transient to the city which is extinguished only by payment to the operator or the city.

(Ord. 468 § 1, 1991: Ord. 255 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 251 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 8202 (part))

(Ord. No. 656, § 2, 11-6-2012; Ord. No. 780, § 2, 11-5-2024)

The transient shall pay the tax to the operator of the hotel at the time the rent is paid. If the rent is paid in installments, a proportionate share of the tax shall be paid with each installment. The unpaid tax shall be due upon the transient's ceasing to occupy space in the hotel. If for any reason the tax due is not paid to the operator of the hotel, the city clerk may require that such tax shall be paid directly to the city clerk.

(Ord. 255 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 251 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 8202 (part))

A. No tax shall be imposed upon:

1. Any person as to whom, or any occupancy as to which it is beyond the power of the city to impose the tax provided in this chapter;

2. Any federal or state of California officer or employee when on official business;

3. Any officer or employee of a foreign government who is exempt by reason of express provision of federal law or international treaty.

B. No exemption shall be granted except upon a claim therefor made at the time rent is collected and under penalty of perjury upon a form prescribed by the city clerk.

(Prior code § 8203)

Each operator shall collect the tax imposed by this chapter 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. No operator of a hotel shall advertise or state in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, that the tax or any part thereof will be assumed or absorbed by the operator, or that it will not be added to the rent, or that, if added, any part will be refunded except in the manner provided in this chapter.

(Prior code § 8204)

By July 1, 1966 or within thirty days after commencing business, whichever is later, each operator of any hotel renting occupancy to transients shall register such hotel with the city clerk and obtain from him a "transient occupancy registration certificate" to be at all times posted in a conspicuous place on the premises. Such certificate shall, among other things, state the following:

A. The name of the operator;

B. The address of the hotel;

C. The date upon which the certificate was issued;

D. "This Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate signifies that the person named on the face hereof has fulfilled the requirements of the Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax Code by registering with the city clerk for the purpose of collecting from transients the Transient Occupancy Tax and remitting said tax to the city clerk. This certificate does not authorize any person to conduct any unlawful business or to conduct any lawful business in an unlawful manner, nor to operate a hotel without strictly complying with all local applicable laws including but not limited to those requiring a permit from any board, commission, department or office of this city. This certificate does not constitute a permit."

(Prior code § 8205)

Each operator shall, on or before the last day of the month following the close of each calendar quarter, or at the close of any shorter reporting period which may be established by the city clerk, make a return to the city clerk, on forms provided by him, of the total rents charged and received and the amount of tax collected for transient occupancies. At the time the return is filed, the full amount of the tax collected shall be remitted to the city clerk. The city clerk may establish shorter reporting periods for any certificate holder if he deems it necessary in order to insure collection of the tax and he 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 shall be held in trust for the account of the city until payment thereof is made to the city clerk.

(Prior code § 8206)

It shall be the duty of every operator liable for the collection and payment to the city of any tax imposed by this chapter to keep and preserve, for a period of three years, all records as may be necessary to determine the amount of such tax as he may have been liable for the collection of any payment to the city which records the city clerk shall have the right to inspect at all reasonable times.

(Prior code § 8210)

Any tax required to be paid by any transient under the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed a debt owed by the transient to the city. Any such tax collected by an operator which has not been paid to the city shall be deemed a debt owed by the operator to the city. Any person owing money to the city under the provisions of this chapter shall be liable to an action brought in the name of the city for the recovery of such amount.

(Prior code § 8212)

A. Original Delinquency. Any operator who fails to remit any tax imposed by this chapter within the time required shall pay a penalty of ten percent of the amount of the tax in addition to the amount of the tax.

B. Continued Delinquency. Any operator who fails to remit any delinquent remittance on or before a period of thirty days following the date on which the remittance first became delinquent shall pay a second delinquency penalty of ten percent of the amount of the tax in addition to the amount of the tax and the ten percent penalty first imposed.

C. Fraud. If the city clerk determines that the nonpayment of any remittance due under this chapter is due to fraud, a penalty of twenty-five percent of the amount of the tax shall be added thereto in addition to the penalties stated in subsections A and B.

D. Interest. In addition to the penalties imposed, any operator who fails to remit any tax imposed by this chapter shall pay interest at the rate of one-half of one percent per month or fraction thereof on the amount of the tax, exclusive of penalties, from the date on which the remittance first became delinquent until paid.

E. Penalties Merged with Tax. Every penalty imposed, and such interest as accrues under the provisions of this section, shall become a part of the tax required by this chapter to be paid.

(Prior code § 8207)

If any operator fails or refuses to collect such tax and to make, within the time provided in this chapter, any report and remittance of such tax or any portion thereof required by this chapter, the city clerk shall proceed in such manner as he may deem best to obtain facts and information on which to base his estimate of the tax due. As soon as the city clerk shall procure such facts and information as he is able to obtain, upon which to base the assessment of any tax imposed by this chapter and payable by any operator who has failed or refused to collect the same and to make such report and remittance, he shall proceed to determine and assess against such operator the tax, interest and penalties provided for by this chapter.

(Prior code § 8208 (part))

In case such determination pursuant to Section 3.20.120 is made, the city clerk shall give a notice of the amount so assessed by serving it personally or by depositing it in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the operator so assessed at his last known place of address. Such operator may within ten days after the serving or mailing of such notice make application in writing to the city clerk for a hearing on the amount assessed. If application by the operator for a hearing is not made within the time prescribed, the tax, interest and penalties, if any, determined by the city clerk shall become final and conclusive and immediately due and payable. If such application is made, the city clerk shall give not less than five days written notice, in the manner prescribed in this section to the operator to show cause at a time and place fixed in such notice why such amount specified therein should not be fixed for such tax, interest and penalties. At such hearing, the operator may appear and offer evidence why such specified tax, interest and penalties should not be so fixed. After such hearing the city clerk shall determine the proper tax to be remitted and shall thereafter give written notice to the person, in the manner prescribed in this section, of such determination and the amount of such tax, interest and penalties. The amount determined to be due shall be payable after fifteen days unless an appeal is taken as provided in Section 3.20.140.

(Prior code § 8208 (part))

Any operator aggrieved by any decision of the city clerk with respect to the amount of such tax, interest and penalties, if any, may appeal to the city council by filing a notice of appeal with the city clerk within fifteen days of the serving or mailing of the determination of tax due. The city council shall fix a time and place for hearing such appeal, and the city clerk shall give notice in writing to such operator at his last known place of address. The findings of the city council shall be final and conclusive and shall be served upon the appellant in the manner prescribed above for service of notice of hearing. Any amount found to be due shall be immediately due and payable upon the service of notice.

(Prior code § 8209)

A. Whenever the amount of any tax, interest or penalty has been overpaid or paid more than once or has been erroneously or illegally collected or received by the city clerk under this chapter it may be refunded as provided in Sections 3.20.150 and 3.20.160, provided a claim in writing therefor, stating under penalty of perjury the specific grounds upon which the claim is founded is filed with the city clerk within three years of the date of payment. The claim shall be on forms furnished by the city clerk.

B. An operator may claim a refund or take a credit against taxes collected and remitted the amount overpaid, paid more than once or erroneously or illegally collected or received when it is established in a manner prescribed by the city clerk that the person from whom the tax has been collected was not a transient; provided, however, that neither a refund nor a credit shall be allowed unless the amount of the tax so collected has either been refunded to the transient or credited to rent subsequently payable by the transient to the operator.

(Prior code § 8211(a) and (b))

A transient may obtain a refund of taxes overpaid or paid more than once or erroneously or illegally collected or received by the city by filing a claim in the manner provided in Section 3.20.150A, but only when the tax was paid by the transient directly to the city clerk or when the transient having paid the tax to the operator establishes to the satisfaction of the city clerk that the transient has been unable to obtain a refund from the operator who collected the tax.

(Prior code § 8211(c))

No refund shall be paid under the provisions of Sections 3.20.150 through 3.20.160, unless the claimant establishes his right thereto by written records showing entitlement thereto.

(Prior code § 8211(d))

A. It is unlawful for any operator or other person to fail or refuse to register as required in this chapter, or to fail to furnish any return required to be made, or to fail or refuse to furnish a supplemental return or other data required by the city clerk, or to render a false or fraudulent return or claim.

B. It is unlawful for any person required to make, render, sign or verify any report or claim to make any false or fraudulent report or claim with intent to defeat or evade the determination of any amount due required by this chapter to be made.

(Ord. 378 § 3, 1985: prior code § 8213)

Payment of all taxes, assessments, and interest shall be required as a condition precedent to seeking judicial review of the validity or application of any such taxes, assessments, or interest imposed by the city pursuant to this Chapter 3.20.

(Ord. No. 709, § 1, 2-22-2016)