Mountain View Will Vote on Hotel Tax Increase

Voters will decide in November 2026 whether to raise the city's transient occupancy tax from 10% to 15%.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Hospitality

Mountain View Will Vote on Hotel Tax Increase

Live Poll

Would you support increasing the hotel tax in your area to fund public services?

Mountain View has placed Measure F on the November 2026 ballot to increase the transient occupancy tax for hotel, motel, and short-term rental stays. If approved by a simple majority, the measure could generate an additional $5.2 million in annual revenue for the city's general fund.

Why it matters

The city seeks to bolster public services and revenue, choosing to pursue the hotel tax after polling showed low support for a previously planned bond measure. This move follows a successful effort in 2024 to increase the property transfer tax.

Mountain View currently supports 19 hotels with approximately 1,780 rooms that would be subject to the new rate. The city estimates the increase could generate $5.2 million annually, a significant shift from the current tax structure that has remained unchanged since 1991.

The players

Mountain View City Government

The local authority manages municipal services and is the primary entity proposing the hotel tax adjustment.

The details

Lodging operators would be responsible for collecting the tax as part of the room bill and remitting it to the city. The city government plans to implement annual independent audits to ensure transparency and proper accounting of the new revenue.

1967: The Mountain View transient occupancy tax was established.
1991: Voters last increased the hotel tax from 8% to 10%.
2024: Voters approved raising the city property transfer tax.
November 2026: Voters will cast their ballots on Measure F.

Market Landscape

The city's pursuit of Measure F follows the pattern set by the 2024 Mountain View property transfer tax increase, which successfully generated $5.1 million in revenue. This represents an ongoing effort to diversify municipal income streams through voter-approved tax adjustments.

Visitors to Mountain View may see higher total bills for hotel, motel, and short-term rental stays if the measure passes. Residents who host short-term rentals will also be responsible for collecting and remitting the increased tax rate to the city.

The takeaway

Voters now have the opportunity to directly influence city funding by weighing the impact of tourism-related taxes on the local budget. Residents should review the ballot information as the date approaches to understand how the revenue will be allocated within the general fund.