Are short-term rentals allowed in Manhattan Beach?

**No**, short-term rentals are strictly prohibited in all residential zones within Manhattan Beach, CA. This includes both hosted and unhosted rentals. The city's ban on short-term rentals has been upheld by the California Supreme Court, so you cannot operate an STR. Check local zoning laws.

What is the TOT tax rate in Manhattan Beach?

**12% TOT** is the transient occupancy tax rate for rentals in Manhattan Beach, CA. Even though short-term rentals are prohibited, this tax applies to any rentals that are 30 consecutive days or longer. You must collect and remit this tax to the city's finance department.

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

**No**, there is currently no local STR-specific license required in Manhattan Beach, because they are prohibited. However, you must comply with all other applicable city and state regulations if you have a rental that is longer than 30 days. Operating an illegal STR can result in fines.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Manhattan Beach?

**No**, renters are not permitted to host on Airbnb or other short-term rental platforms in Manhattan Beach. The city's ban on short-term rentals applies to all residential properties, regardless of whether the host is the property owner or a tenant. Check your lease agreement first.

What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Manhattan Beach?

**Enforcement varies**, but operating an illegal short-term rental in Manhattan Beach can result in significant fines and legal action. Because STRs are prohibited, the city actively monitors and enforces these regulations. Contact the city's code enforcement department for clarification regarding the specific penalties.

Manhattan Beach

Prohibited

CaliforniaUpdated Apr 19, 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

Short-term rentals (stays of less than 30 consecutive days) are strictly prohibited in all residential zones within the City of Manhattan Beach. This ban was upheld by the California Supreme Court and applies to both hosted and unhosted rentals.

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Residential STRs prohibited
All residential property types prohibited
Severe night cap: 0 nights/year
Long minimum stay: 30 nights
Tenants cannot host
No STR-specific permit required
No primary residence requirement
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Manhattan Beach, you must ensure all guest stays are at least 30 consecutive days or longer. The city has a total ban on short-term rentals in residential areas, and there is no permit you can apply for to bypass this. Renting out your home for less than 30 days can result in significant fines starting at $1,000 per violation. While you may see listings online, the city actively enforces this ban and uses monitoring services to identify and penalize hosts.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limitYes

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1STRs are 100% prohibited in residential zones (stays under 30 days).
2Fines start at $1,000 per violation and can escalate to $5,000 plus criminal penalties.
3The 30-day minimum stay rule applies regardless of whether the owner is present (no home-sharing exemption).
4Neighbor reporting is the primary enforcement trigger for the Code Enforcement department.
5Even if you pay Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), it does not make the illegal rental legal.
6Property owners near city boundaries (El Segundo or Hermosa Beach) should verify they are not in Manhattan Beach jurisdiction.
7The city uses software to monitor platforms like Airbnb and VRBO for listings with 1-29 day availability.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility5 rules

Manhattan Beach does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Manhattan Beach prohibits STRs in the following property types: All residential zones, Apartments, Condos, Single-family homes.
Manhattan Beach: STRs are 100% prohibited in residential zones (stays under 30 days).

Requirements14 rules

Manhattan Beach STR warning: Neighbor reporting is the primary enforcement trigger for the Code Enforcement department.
Manhattan Beach STR warning: STRs are 100% prohibited in residential zones (stays under 30 days).
Manhattan Beach STR warning: The 30-day minimum stay rule applies regardless of whether the owner is present (no home-sharing exemption).

Application process4 rules

STR regulations overview for Manhattan Beach: Short-term rentals (stays of less than 30 consecutive days) are strictly prohibited in all residential zones within the City of Manhattan Beach. This ban was upheld by the California Supreme Court and applies to both hosted and unhosted rentals.

Taxes2 rules

Manhattan Beach charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 12%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Note: Since STRs are illegal, there is no official VDA for Airbnb/VRBO to collect tax for illegal residential rentals.
Manhattan Beach: Even if you pay Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), it does not make the illegal rental legal.

Limits & restrictions2 rules

Manhattan Beach requires a minimum stay of 30 nights.
Manhattan Beach enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM.

Penalties4 rules

Manhattan Beach, CA: Serious or repeated STR violations can result in criminal charges, not just fines.

Exemptions4 rules

Manhattan Beach exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
Manhattan Beach: 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

Manhattan Beach

Prohibited

CaliforniaUpdated Apr 19, 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

Residential STRs prohibited
All residential property types prohibited
Severe night cap: 0 nights/year
Long minimum stay: 30 nights
Tenants cannot host
No STR-specific permit required
No primary residence requirement
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limitYes

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1STRs are 100% prohibited in residential zones (stays under 30 days).
2Fines start at $1,000 per violation and can escalate to $5,000 plus criminal penalties.
3The 30-day minimum stay rule applies regardless of whether the owner is present (no home-sharing exemption).
4Neighbor reporting is the primary enforcement trigger for the Code Enforcement department.
5Even if you pay Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), it does not make the illegal rental legal.
6Property owners near city boundaries (El Segundo or Hermosa Beach) should verify they are not in Manhattan Beach jurisdiction.
7The city uses software to monitor platforms like Airbnb and VRBO for listings with 1-29 day availability.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility5 rules

Manhattan Beach does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Manhattan Beach prohibits STRs in the following property types: All residential zones, Apartments, Condos, Single-family homes.
Manhattan Beach: STRs are 100% prohibited in residential zones (stays under 30 days).

Requirements14 rules

Manhattan Beach STR warning: Neighbor reporting is the primary enforcement trigger for the Code Enforcement department.
Manhattan Beach STR warning: STRs are 100% prohibited in residential zones (stays under 30 days).
Manhattan Beach STR warning: The 30-day minimum stay rule applies regardless of whether the owner is present (no home-sharing exemption).

Application process4 rules

STR regulations overview for Manhattan Beach: Short-term rentals (stays of less than 30 consecutive days) are strictly prohibited in all residential zones within the City of Manhattan Beach. This ban was upheld by the California Supreme Court and applies to both hosted and unhosted rentals.

Taxes2 rules

Manhattan Beach charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 12%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Note: Since STRs are illegal, there is no official VDA for Airbnb/VRBO to collect tax for illegal residential rentals.
Manhattan Beach: Even if you pay Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), it does not make the illegal rental legal.

Limits & restrictions2 rules

Manhattan Beach requires a minimum stay of 30 nights.
Manhattan Beach enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM.

Penalties4 rules

Manhattan Beach, CA: Serious or repeated STR violations can result in criminal charges, not just fines.

Exemptions4 rules

Manhattan Beach exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
Manhattan Beach: 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

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Are short-term rentals allowed in Manhattan Beach?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Manhattan Beach?

3Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Manhattan Beach?

4Can renters host on Airbnb in Manhattan Beach?

5What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Manhattan Beach?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Are short-term rentals allowed in Manhattan Beach?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Manhattan Beach?

3Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Manhattan Beach?

4Can renters host on Airbnb in Manhattan Beach?

5What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Manhattan Beach?

Disclaimer