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

**Yes**, Malibu requires a Short-Term Rental Permit to operate legally. You need to apply for this permit annually, and the current fee is $294. This permit ensures compliance with local regulations and allows the city to track and manage short-term rental activity.

What is the TOT tax rate in Malibu?

**15% TOT** is the Transient Occupancy Tax rate for short-term rentals in Malibu. You are responsible for collecting this tax from your guests and remitting it to the city. This tax revenue supports local services and infrastructure benefiting both residents and visitors.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Malibu?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Malibu, but with significant restrictions. You must rent out your primary residence only, meaning you live there at least nine months of the year. Renting out accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or multi-family units as short-term rentals is strictly prohibited.

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

**Yes**, Malibu requires that you live in the property to rent it on Airbnb. The city mandates that the rental property be your primary residence. This means you must reside in the home for at least nine months out of the year to qualify for a short-term rental permit.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Malibu?

**No**, renters cannot host on Airbnb in Malibu. The city's regulations stipulate that only property owners who occupy the residence as their primary home can operate a short-term rental. Tenants are not permitted to sublease or rent out the property on platforms like Airbnb.

Malibu, CA Short-Term Rental Laws &...

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Verified: Jan 30, 2026

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Summary

Short-term rentals in the City of Malibu require an annual permit and are strictly limited to the owner's primary residence. The city charges a 15% Transient Occupancy Tax and prohibits STRs in ADUs and multi-family units.

Restriction Level

⛔

Strict

Score: 91 (lenient)

Why this classification:

•Primary residence required
•Owner-occupied required
•Standard permit fee: $294
•Limited to 1 property per owner
•Tenants cannot host
•Permit required
•Reporting required
•No night cap

In Plain English

To host an Airbnb in Malibu, you must live in the home you are renting for at least nine months of the year. You need to apply for an annual permit that costs about $294 and register to pay a 15% lodging tax. Be aware that you cannot rent out guest houses (ADUs) or apartments as short-term rentals. You must also include your permit number in your listing description or the city may fine you up to $1,000 per day.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

$294

Processing Time

2-4 weeks

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.Primary Residence Rule: You must live in the property 275+ days/year; 'investment properties' are effectively banned.
2.ADU Prohibition: You cannot rent out a guest house or 'granny flat' for stays under 30 days.
3.TOT Rate: Malibu has one of the highest tax rates in CA at 15%.
4.Septic Limits: Occupancy may be further limited by the capacity of your onsite wastewater (septic) system.
5.Coastal Commission Friction: Regulations are currently active but subject to ongoing legal disputes regarding access to the coast.
6.Quarterly Filing: You must file TOT returns every quarter even if the platform collects the tax for you.
7.No Events: STR permits do not allow for weddings, parties, or large commercial events.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(7)

•Malibu allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings, Condominiums.
•Malibu limits hosts to a maximum of 1 STR properties per owner.
•Malibu: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
•Malibu: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements(15)

•Malibu STR warning: Primary residency requirements are approved by the city but currently awaiting Coastal Commission approval before they take effect.
•Malibu STR warning: Stays must be for 30 consecutive days or less to be considered an STR.
•Malibu STR warning: Fines for unpermitted hosting start at $1,000 per day.
•Malibu: Stays must be for 30 consecutive days or less to be considered an STR.

Application Process(10)

•Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Malibu: Step 1: Verify OWTS Compliance - Ensure your Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (septic) has a valid operating permit per MMC Chapter 15.44. Documents needed: OWTS Operating Permit. Estimated time: Varies. More info: https://www.malibucity.org/211/Onsite-Wastewater-Treatment-Systems-OWTS Step 2: Gather Ownership Documentation - Obtain a copy of your Grant Deed. If the owner is an LLC or Trust, provide the Operating Agreement or Trust documents. Documents needed: Grant Deed, Operating Agreement. Estimated time: 1 day. Step 3: Complete Online Application - Fill out the application via the City's STR consultant portal (Host Compliance). Documents needed: Ad links, Occupancy count. Estimated time: 30 minutes. Cost: 439. More info: https://malibustr.hosted-compliance.com/ Step 4: Mail Signed Attestation - Print, sign, and mail the original wet-signature attestation page to City Hall. Documents needed: Wet-signed attestation. Estimated time: 3-5 days. More info: https://www.malibucity.org/DocumentCenter/View/27533/STR-Permit-App-Revised-6102025 Step 5: Post Permit Number - Once issued, the permit number must be displayed in the first line of all listing descriptions. Estimated time: Immediate.

Fees & Costs(1)

•Malibu charges a registration fee of $439 (annual).

Taxes(2)

•Malibu: The 15% TOT rate is one of the highest in the region; ensure your platform is collecting it correctly.
•Malibu charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 15%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO generally collect/remit the 15% TOT, but hosts must verify individual platform agreements.

Limits & Restrictions(4)

•Malibu occupancy calculation: Occupancy limits are typically based on the number of bedrooms as declared in the permit application.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
•Malibu: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
•Malibu enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM per MMC 8.24.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Malibu requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Compliance with MMC 8.24 Noise limitations, OWTS (septic) must be in compliance and permit provided.

Penalties(3)

•Malibu enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $1,000 per day or twice the daily rental rate, whichever is higher. Second offense: Increased fines and permit revocation. Daily fine: $1,000. Maximum fine: Unlimited (per day calculation). Permit may be revoked for violations.
•Malibu: Fines for unpermitted hosting start at $1,000 per day.

Exemptions(2)

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

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Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched 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.

Other California Markets

Los Angeles

California

Strict

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.

Permit requiredNight limitsPrimary residence

0.1% total tax

Anaheim

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Prohibited

Short-term rentals in Anaheim are strictly limited to approximately 277 'pre-moratorium' operators who were grandfathered in 2019. The city currently prohibits the issuance of any new STR permits. Allowed operators must follow rigid 'Good Neighbor' policies, enforce a 3-night minimum stay, and pay a 15% Transient Occupancy Tax.

Permit required

15.0% total tax

Mammoth Lakes

California

Moderate

Short-term rentals are heavily regulated in Mammoth Lakes and generally restricted to multi-family and resort zones (RMF-2, Resort, etc.). Hosts must obtain an STR Certificate and a Business Tax Certificate, and pay a total TOT rate of 13%. Stays of 31 days or longer are exempt from these regulations.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Big Bear Lake

California

Strict

The City of Big Bear Lake regulates short-term rentals under Chapter 5.44, requiring an annual license, rigorous safety inspections, and a strict guest limit of 2 per bedroom plus 2. Owners are limited to 2 licenses total and must remit a 9% combined TOT and TBID tax quarterly.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Malibu

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Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

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Regulation Details

Eligibility(7)

Requirements(15)

Application Process(10)

Fees & Costs(1)

Taxes(2)

Limits & Restrictions(4)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(3)

Exemptions(2)

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Step-by-Step Application Guide

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Malibu

Gold Standard Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

7 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 Malibu?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Malibu?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Malibu?

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

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Malibu?

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Los Angeles

Anaheim

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