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Los Angeles Short-Term Rental Regulations: A Homeowner's Guide
The Rules, City by City, in Plain Language
Los Angeles short-term rental regulations differ by city, and Los Angeles County has 88 of them. The City of Los Angeles has one set of rules. Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Culver City, Malibu, the South Bay cities, Long Beach, and Inglewood each have their own.
We have hosted here since 2012 and manage homes in most of these jurisdictions. This page gives you the short version for each and links to the detail.
Open Air Homes is the only Los Angeles based company in AirDNA’s 2026 ranking of the top 100 property managers in the US, ranked #25 nationally with a 4.91 average guest rating. See how the ranking works.
As of September 2026, Open Air Homes manages 70 homes across Los Angeles and more than 100 homes overall.
By The Numbers: 2025 In Review
How We Outperform the Market
Updated every January. We publish the full prior year for our portfolio against the market, month by month, including the weak months. The 2025 figures below will be replaced with 2026 results in January 2027.
Our Los Angeles portfolio booked 70.1% of available nights in 2025, compared to 44% among similar listings within Airbnb. In the most competitive short-term rental market in California, this performance reflects disciplined pricing, review velocity, and consistent operational execution.
Dynamic pricing, pet-friendly positioning, and a focus on longer stays help us extract more value from each calendar while protecting peak-season rates and guest quality.
Our listings averaged 120% more page views than comparable homes during Jan ’25 → Jan ’26, according to data collected through Airbnb.
High-impact photography, A/B-tested headlines, and dynamic pricing tools keep us locked above the fold, reaching travelers before they even start filtering.
Our listings appeared on page one 56.5% of the time in 2025, compared to 26% for similar listings on Airbnb.
This consistent placement reflects pricing discipline, photography quality, and review velocity across our portfolio.
Our listings converted at 0.30% in 2025, compared to 0.16% for similar listings on Airbnb. That gap represents an 88% conversion advantage, up from 60% in 2024.
Higher conversion means more bookings from the same traffic, translating directly into higher occupancy and net revenue.
Our guests stayed an average of 10.9 days in 2025, compared to 5.5 days for similar listings on Airbnb.
This nearly 2x advantage reflects intentional design, pricing strategy, and a belief that longer stays are the future of short-term rentals.
Monthly Rentals vs. Short-Term Rentals: Flexible Solutions for LA Homeowners
Understanding Your Options
Los Angeles short-term rental regulations do not end your options. If your home is not eligible for short-term stays, monthly stays of 30 nights or more work almost everywhere.
- Monthly stays need no short-term permit in any city in the county.
- In California a stay of 30 days or more is a tenancy, which is why monthly stays work inside HOAs too.
- Every monthly stay we manage runs on a CAR lease from a licensed brokerage.
Read more about monthly furnished rentals in Los Angeles.
City of Los Angeles: Home-Sharing Permits
Two Permit Types, Both for Your Primary Residence
The City of Los Angeles Home-Sharing Ordinance limits stays under 30 nights to your primary residence, the home you live in at least six months of the year.
- Home-Sharing permit: up to 120 nights per year. Application fee $441. Transient occupancy tax of 14% applies to stays under 30 nights.
- Extended Home-Sharing permit: no annual cap, available after six months of compliant hosting with no complaints. Application fee $883.
- Your permit number must appear on every listing and advertisement.
This covers Venice, Mar Vista, Playa Vista, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Westwood, Bel Air, Hollywood, the Hollywood Hills, Mid-City, Downtown, the Eastside, and the San Fernando Valley. See our Los Angeles Airbnb management page for the neighborhood list.
Applying for a City of Los Angeles Permit
Most Denials Are Paperwork, Not Eligibility
The application is online, and most denials come from documentation errors rather than eligibility. In short:
- Prove primary residence with a photo ID plus one or two supporting documents from the City’s approved list.
- Complete the City’s online registration and pay the fee.
- Display the permit number on every listing before the first booking.
Applying for a permit? Read our step by step Los Angeles Home-Sharing permit application guide. It covers eligibility, the documents the City accepts, and the seven errors that cause denials.
Rules Outside the City of Los Angeles
Separate Cities, Separate Ordinances
Each of these cities writes its own ordinance. Here is our read as of September 2026, with the page that goes deeper.
- Santa Monica: unhosted short-term stays are not permitted, and we do not manage rent controlled units there. Monthly is the path. Santa Monica page
- West Hollywood: stays under 30 nights are not permitted in unhosted homes, and the rules on longer furnished stays are being debated and challenged. West Hollywood page
- Culver City: short-term stays are tightly limited and monthly is the compliant path. Culver City page
- Malibu: the city issues its own short-term rental permits, and its hosted-only ordinance has been under Coastal Commission review. Confirm current status before listing. Malibu page
- Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach: short-term stays are restricted in most residential zones. Monthly works, including inside HOAs. Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach
- Rancho Palos Verdes: stays under 30 nights are prohibited. Monthly only. RPV page
- Long Beach: city registration required. Primary residences may host unhosted stays up to 90 nights a year. Non primary residences have no cap but compete for 800 citywide registrations. 13% transient occupancy tax. Long Beach page
- Inglewood: permits only for owners who have lived in the home for the prior year. Hosted stays uncapped, unhosted stays capped at 90 nights. Inglewood page
- Topanga and unincorporated LA County: County short-term rental registration and 12% transient occupancy tax, not the City’s Home-Sharing permit. Topanga page
Rules change. We confirm the current ordinance for your address before we list, and we tell you plainly if short-term does not work for your home.
Responsible Hosting: Protecting Your Property and Neighborhood
Ensuring Long-Term Success Through Positive Community Relations
Disruptive parties are what trigger stricter rules. We keep them out of our homes and away from your neighbors:
- Direct communication with every guest before a booking is confirmed.
- A Good Neighbor commitment signed by every guest.
- Quiet hours, occupancy limits, and a line that reaches a person any hour.
That protects your permit, your reviews, and the street you live on.
The Police Permit Question (2025 to 2026)
Where It Stands as of September 2026
In 2025 the City of Los Angeles moved toward requiring a separate police permit for home-sharing hosts. As of September 2026 we have not seen consistent enforcement, and the requirement remains in flux.
- We monitor City Council and Police Commission agendas.
- If it becomes enforceable, you hear from us first, with a plan.
Ready to Maximize Your Los Angeles Rental?
We Tell You What Your Address Allows
Whether you are exploring short-term stays, monthly stays, or a blend, we will tell you plainly what your address allows and what it can earn.
- A rental strategy matched to your city’s rules and your own use of the home.
- Permit and registration handling where short-term is allowed.
- CAR leases and a licensed brokerage behind every monthly stay.
Every guest request, maintenance issue, and homeowner question is tracked in our operations hub with an owner, a status, and a deadline. Our team uses AI, including Anthropic’s Claude, to draft and organize. A person on our team reviews and sends every message, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Los Angeles STR Regulation: FAQ
What are the primary short-term rental regulations in Los Angeles?
In the City of Los Angeles you may rent your primary residence for up to 120 nights a year with a Home-Sharing permit, or without an annual cap with an Extended Home-Sharing permit after six months of compliant hosting. Separate cities such as Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and Long Beach have their own rules, summarized above.
How do I apply for a short-term rental permit in Los Angeles?
The City of Los Angeles application is online. You prove primary residence with a photo ID and supporting documents, pay the fee, and display the permit number on every listing. Our step by step permit guide covers the documents the City accepts and the seven errors that cause denials.
What if my property is not eligible for short-term rentals under LA regulations?
Properties that don’t qualify for short-term rentals, can still legally and profitably operate as monthly rentals. Open Air Homes, a licensed brokerage, ensures compliance with monthly rental laws.
Can Open Air Homes assist with managing short-term rental compliance?
Yes. We have hosted in Los Angeles since 2012 and manage homes in the City of Los Angeles and in Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Culver City, Malibu, the South Bay, Inglewood, and Topanga. In 2026, AirDNA ranked Open Air Homes #25 among US property managers, the only Los Angeles based company in its national top 100.
What are the consequences for non-compliance with LA’s short-term rental regulations?
Non-compliance can result in significant fines, permit revocation, or even restrictions from future rental activities. Working with professionals like Open Air Homes helps homeowners avoid these risks. We are compliant with the law, and by focusing on 5-star ratings, design and guest services, we are able to succeed year-round, even with changing regulations.
How does Open Air Homes promote responsible hosting to comply with local regulations?
We implement thorough guest vetting, direct guest communications, and immediate responsiveness to issues. Guests also agree to our Good Neighbor Commitment to ensure respectful stays and community harmony.
Is there a recent update regarding a police permit for short-term rentals in Los Angeles?
In 2025 the City of Los Angeles moved toward requiring a separate police permit for home-sharing hosts. As of September 2026 enforcement has not been consistent and the requirement remains in flux. We monitor it and will tell you first if it changes.
Can I rent my Los Angeles property monthly without a short-term rental permit?
Absolutely. Monthly rentals don’t require a short-term rental permit, making it an ideal solution for many homeowners, especially those with secondary residences or RSO-zoned properties.