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

**Yes**, you need a Short-Term Rental Registration to operate legally. The permit ensures compliance with local regulations and helps the county monitor STR activity. You must register your property and obtain a permit prior to listing on platforms like Airbnb or VRBO.

What is the TOT tax rate in Los Angeles County?

**12% TOT** is the current transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals. You are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the county. Failure to collect and remit TOT can result in penalties and legal action. Check with the county treasurer for more details.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Los Angeles County?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed but with restrictions. The ordinance restricts STRs to primary residences only. You are also limited to 90 unhosted nights per year. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or rent-stabilized units cannot be used for short-term rentals. Make sure to comply with all regulations.

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

**Yes**, you must live in your property to rent it on Airbnb. The short-term rental ordinance requires that the property be your primary residence. This is to preserve housing stock and prevent commercialization of residential neighborhoods. This is a hard requirement to be eligible to host.

How much does an STR permit cost in Los Angeles County?

**$914** is the fee for the Short-Term Rental Registration. This fee covers the administrative costs associated with processing your application and ensuring compliance. You must renew your permit annually and pay the associated renewal fee. Check the county's website for any updates to the fee schedule.

Los Angeles County

Prohibited

CaliforniaUpdated Mar 31, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Unincorporated Los Angeles County adopted a comprehensive Short-Term Rental ordinance in March 2024, restricting STRs to primary residences only. Hosts are limited to 90 unhosted nights per year, and the use of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or rent-stabilized units for STRs is strictly prohibited.

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Explicitly prohibited citywide
Primary residence required
Limited to 1 property per owner
No night cap
Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

If you're renting out your primary home in unincorporated LA County for less than 30 days at a time, you need to register with the county. You can only rent it unhosted (without you staying there) for a maximum of 90 nights a year. Note that these rules do not apply to properties in coastal zones.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit90/year

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$914

Processing timePending new system implementation

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility8 rules

Los Angeles County prohibits STRs in the following property types: ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), Income-restricted housing, Rent-stabilized units (RSO), Guesthouses, Commercial properties.
Los Angeles County: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements5 rules

Los Angeles County requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Rental Registration". Apply through Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning.
Los Angeles County requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: $500,000. Policy must specifically cover short-term rentals.

Application process1 rule

STR regulations overview for Los Angeles County: Unincorporated Los Angeles County adopted a comprehensive Short-Term Rental ordinance in March 2024, restricting STRs to primary residences only. Hosts are limited to 90 unhosted nights per year, and the use of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or rent-stabilized units for STRs is strictly prohibited.

Fees & costs1 rule

Los Angeles County charges a registration fee of $914 (annual).

Taxes1 rule

Los Angeles County charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.12%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.

Limits & restrictions2 rules

Los Angeles County limits STRs to 90 nights per year.
Los Angeles County: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.

Safety requirements1 rule

Los Angeles County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.

Penalties2 rules

Los Angeles County enforces penalties: First offense: $500 per day. Maximum fine: Unlimited cumulative.
Los Angeles County: Operating an STR in a rent-controlled unit can result in permit denial and fines. STRs are strictly prohibited in rent-stabilized units and all affordable housing.

Exemptions2 rules

Los Angeles County exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals 30+ days (county).
Los Angeles County: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Los Angeles County

Prohibited

CaliforniaUpdated Mar 31, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Explicitly prohibited citywide
Primary residence required
Limited to 1 property per owner
No night cap
Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit90/year

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$914

Processing timePending new system implementation

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility8 rules

Los Angeles County prohibits STRs in the following property types: ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), Income-restricted housing, Rent-stabilized units (RSO), Guesthouses, Commercial properties.
Los Angeles County: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements5 rules

Los Angeles County requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Rental Registration". Apply through Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning.
Los Angeles County requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: $500,000. Policy must specifically cover short-term rentals.

Application process1 rule

STR regulations overview for Los Angeles County: Unincorporated Los Angeles County adopted a comprehensive Short-Term Rental ordinance in March 2024, restricting STRs to primary residences only. Hosts are limited to 90 unhosted nights per year, and the use of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or rent-stabilized units for STRs is strictly prohibited.

Fees & costs1 rule

Los Angeles County charges a registration fee of $914 (annual).

Taxes1 rule

Los Angeles County charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.12%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.

Limits & restrictions2 rules

Los Angeles County limits STRs to 90 nights per year.
Los Angeles County: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.

Safety requirements1 rule

Los Angeles County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.

Penalties2 rules

Los Angeles County enforces penalties: First offense: $500 per day. Maximum fine: Unlimited cumulative.
Los Angeles County: Operating an STR in a rent-controlled unit can result in permit denial and fines. STRs are strictly prohibited in rent-stabilized units and all affordable housing.

Exemptions2 rules

Los Angeles County exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals 30+ days (county).
Los Angeles County: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Los Angeles County?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Los Angeles County?

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

5How much does an STR permit cost in Los Angeles County?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Los Angeles County?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Los Angeles County?

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

5How much does an STR permit cost in Los Angeles County?

Disclaimer