Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Los Angeles?

**Yes**, Los Angeles requires a Home-Sharing Registration permit for all short-term rentals. You need to register your primary residence with the city and pay a fee of $192. Operating without this Home-Sharing permit can result in fines. You must adhere to all city regulations.

What is the TOT tax rate in Los Angeles?

**14% TOT** is the current transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals in Los Angeles. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the city. Airbnb and VRBO may automatically collect a portion of this tax in certain jurisdictions. Be sure to confirm.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Los Angeles?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Los Angeles, but with restrictions. You must rent out your primary residence, and stays are capped at 120 days per year unless you obtain an Extended Home-Sharing permit. Rentals in RSO-regulated buildings or newer ADUs are strictly prohibited, ensuring compliance.

Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Los Angeles?

**Yes**, you must live in the property you are renting out on Airbnb in Los Angeles. The city requires that the short-term rental be your primary residence, meaning you reside there for more than half the year. Renting out second homes or investment properties is not allowed.

How many nights per year can I rent my property in Los Angeles?

**120 nights** per year is the standard limit for short-term rentals in Los Angeles. However, you can apply for an Extended Home-Sharing permit to exceed this limit under certain conditions. Ensure you comply with all other regulations, including primary residence requirements and tax obligations.

Los Angeles, CA STR Laws & Regulations

Baseline Verification

80%

Basic verification complete

Verified: Jan 30, 2026

5 Official Sources

Summary

The City of Los Angeles requires all short-term rental hosts to register for a Home-Sharing permit and only permits the rental of one's primary residence. Stays are capped at 120 days per year unless an Extended Home-Sharing permit is obtained, and rentals in RSO-regulated buildings or newer ADUs are strictly prohibited.

Restriction Level

⛔

Strict

Score: 73 (lenient)

Why this classification:

•Primary residence required
•Moderate night cap: 120 nights/year
•Limited to 1 property per owner
•Permit required
•Reporting required
•Tenants can host

In Plain English

To host an Airbnb in the City of Los Angeles, you must live in the home you are renting for more than half the year. You cannot rent out a second home or an investment property for stays under 30 days. You are limited to 120 nights of hosting per year unless you apply for a special 'Extended' permit. Finally, if your apartment is rent-controlled (RSO), you cannot list it on any short-term rental platform.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

120/year

Primary Residence

Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

$89

Processing Time

Instant (Standard) to 45 days (Extended)

6 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.Verify your jurisdiction: City of Los Angeles rules do NOT apply to Unincorporated LA County areas like Marina Del Rey or East LA.
2.RSO units are 100% prohibited: Even if you live there, you cannot STR a rent-stabilized unit.
3.Primary Residence Only: You cannot register more than one STR property in the city.
4.The 120-Day Cap: This is a 'hard' limit for standard permits; the system tracks your platform activity automatically.
5.ADU Restrictions: Most ADUs built after 2017 are ineligible for home-sharing.
6.Landlord Consent: Renters MUST have a notarized affidavit from their landlord to get a permit.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(11)

•Los Angeles rent control/RSO note: RSO units (typically multi-family built before Oct 1978) are strictly prohibited from home-sharing.
•Los Angeles allows tenants to host STRs. Requirements: Requires notarized landlord affidavit.
•Los Angeles allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings, Multi-family dwellings (non-RSO), Guest rooms.

Requirements(18)

•Los Angeles requires STR registration. The permit is called "Home-Sharing Registration Number (HSRN) & Police Commission Permit". Apply through Department of City Planning & LAPD Police Commission. Processing time: Varies; online registration can be immediate for pending status.. Renewal is required.

Application Process(9)

•Los Angeles STR permit - Step 2: Register for Business Tax Registration Certificate (BTRC). Obtain a BTRC from the Office of Finance. This is a prerequisite for the Home-Sharing registration. Required documents: SSN or EIN, Business start date. Time: 2-5 days.
•Los Angeles: If you are a tenant, you must have a notarized affidavit from your landlord to register.

Fees & Costs(1)

•Los Angeles charges a registration fee of $192 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $1066 (Extended Home-Sharing fee is $1,066; additional discretionary review fees may apply ($5,726). A separate $15 LAPD Compliance Registration fee is also currently required.).

Taxes(1)

•Los Angeles charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 14%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and some other major platforms collect and remit TOT for City of LA.

Limits & Restrictions(7)

•Los Angeles: The 120-day annual cap applies to all bookings; you must pay over $1,000 for the 'Extended' permit to go beyond this.
•Los Angeles: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
•Los Angeles occupancy calculation: 2 guests per bedroom + 2 additional guests, max 12 total.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Los Angeles requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Trash collection instructions, Evacuation map.

Penalties(4)

•Los Angeles enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Daily fine up to $2,000 for unregistered listings. Second offense: Double the nightly rate or $2,000 (whichever is higher). Third offense: Permit revocation and legal action. Daily fine: $605.73 to $2,422.89 (inflation-adjusted). Maximum fine: No stated maximum. Permit may be revoked for violations. Criminal penalties may apply.

Exemptions(2)

•Los Angeles exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), Bed and Breakfast establishments (with CUP), Transient Occupancy Residential Structures (TORS).
•Los Angeles: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

0.1% total tax

Los Angeles

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

6 Things Hosts Often Miss

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Regulation Details

Eligibility(11)

Requirements(18)

Application Process(9)

Fees & Costs(1)

Taxes(1)

Limits & Restrictions(7)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(4)

Exemptions(2)

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Los Angeles

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

6 Things Hosts Often Miss

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently Asked Questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Los Angeles?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Los Angeles?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Los Angeles?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Los Angeles?

5How many nights per year can I rent my property in Los Angeles?

Related Content

Other California Markets

Big Bear Lake

Mammoth Lakes

Anaheim

Encinitas