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

**No**, there is currently no local STR-specific license required in Monrovia, though state and county regulations may still apply. You will need to obtain a general business license from the city to operate legally. Always check with the city's planning department for the most up-to-date requirements before listing your property.

What is the TOT tax rate in Monrovia?

**12% TOT** is the current transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals in Monrovia. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests for stays under 30 days and remitting it to the City of Monrovia on a quarterly basis. Check with the city finance department for specific filing deadlines and procedures.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Monrovia?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are generally allowed in Monrovia, but they are subject to certain regulations. Most importantly, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) cannot be used for short-term rental purposes and are restricted to long-term rentals of 30 days or more. Always verify zoning regulations with the city planning department.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Monrovia?

**Potentially**, renters can host on Airbnb in Monrovia, but it depends on the terms of their lease agreement. Subleasing or short-term renting without the landlord's permission may violate the lease. Check with your landlord to confirm you are allowed to operate a short-term rental before listing.

What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Monrovia?

**Penalties** for operating an illegal STR in Monrovia can vary. Since there are no dedicated STR ordinances, violations may fall under general business license or zoning regulations. Failure to collect and remit the 12% TOT, or operating without a business license could result in fines. Always verify compliance.

Monrovia

Permissive

CaliforniaUpdated Feb 10, 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

Monrovia does not have a dedicated ordinance regulating short-term rentals, meaning they operate under general business license and tax rules. Hosts are required to remit a 12% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on all stays under 30 days and must maintain a valid city business license. It is critical to note that Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are strictly prohibited from being used as short-term rentals.

Restriction level

Severity 3

Classification

Permissive

Severity

Why this classification

Reporting required
No STR-specific permit required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Monrovia, you don't need a specific 'Short-Term Rental Permit' because the city hasn't passed a law for them yet. However, you are still considered a business, so you must get a Monrovia Business License and register to pay the 12% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) to the city every quarter. The biggest rule to remember is that you cannot use an ADU (like a guest house or 'granny flat') for short-term stays; those can only be rented for 30 days or longer. Always double-check if your home is in the official City of Monrovia or in an 'unincorporated' area of LA County, as the rules will be completely different.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) are explicitly prohibited from short-term rental use per MMC 17.15.080.
2The TOT rate is 12%, increased from 10% following the passage of Measure TT in 2018.
3No specific STR ordinance means there are no 'nights per year' caps, but general zoning must be followed.
4The city uses 'permissive zoning,' so use caution as STRs are not explicitly listed as a permitted residential use.
5Taxes must be remitted quarterly even if the platform (like Airbnb) does not automatically collect them.
6Ensure you are within the City of Monrovia incorporated limits; parts of the area are unincorporated LA County.
7A standard city business license is required for all commercial lodging activities.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility5 rules

Monrovia rent control/RSO note: Monrovia does not have a city-wide rent control ordinance, but state-level protections (AB 1482) may apply.
Monrovia: ADU BAN: You cannot legally rent out an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) or 'granny flat' for less than 30 days in Monrovia (§ 17.44.005).
Monrovia: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements11 rules

Monrovia does not require STR registration.
Monrovia STR warning: TAX RATE: The Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) rate is 12%, increased from 10% in 2018 via Measure TT.
Monrovia STR warning: QUARTERLY FILING: Taxes must be filed quarterly even if you had zero bookings during that period.

Application process5 rules

How to set up an STR in Monrovia: To host an Airbnb in Monrovia, you must first get a standard business license and a 'Home Occupation' permit from the city. While there aren't specific 'Airbnb rules' like night limits yet, you cannot rent out an ADU (backyard cottage or granny flat) for less than 30 days. You are also required to collect a 12% hotel tax from your guests and send it to the city every three months using their paper or PDF form.

Taxes2 rules

Monrovia: TAX RATE: The Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) rate is 12%, increased from 10% in 2018 via Measure TT.
Monrovia charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 12%. This applies to stays under 31 days. Note: Airbnb and VRBO may collect TOT for Monrovia, but hosts are legally responsible for ensuring remittance via the city's quarterly form.

Limits & restrictions2 rules

Monrovia limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Monrovia enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM (Standard Noise Ordinance).

Safety requirements1 rule

Monrovia requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors.

Penalties2 rules

Monrovia: BUSINESS LICENSE: All hosts are required to have a city business license; failing to have one for a 'home business' can lead to fines.
Monrovia: Serious or repeated STR violations can result in criminal charges, not just fines.

Exemptions2 rules

Monrovia: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Monrovia exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, State or federal employees on official business.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Monrovia

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning and ADU Status

Ensure your property is not an ADU or JADU, as these are prohibited from short-term rentals under Monrovia's zoning code.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Register for a Business License

All persons engaging in business in the city must obtain a business license from the Administrative Services Department.

2-4 weeks

Documents needed

Business License Application

Official resource

Step 3

File TOT Registration Form

Same as business licenseFree

Documents needed

TOT Registration Form

Official resource

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

Monrovia

Permissive

CaliforniaUpdated Feb 10, 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 3

Classification

Permissive

Severity

Why this classification

Reporting required
No STR-specific permit required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) are explicitly prohibited from short-term rental use per MMC 17.15.080.
2The TOT rate is 12%, increased from 10% following the passage of Measure TT in 2018.
3No specific STR ordinance means there are no 'nights per year' caps, but general zoning must be followed.
4The city uses 'permissive zoning,' so use caution as STRs are not explicitly listed as a permitted residential use.
5Taxes must be remitted quarterly even if the platform (like Airbnb) does not automatically collect them.
6Ensure you are within the City of Monrovia incorporated limits; parts of the area are unincorporated LA County.
7A standard city business license is required for all commercial lodging activities.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility5 rules

Monrovia rent control/RSO note: Monrovia does not have a city-wide rent control ordinance, but state-level protections (AB 1482) may apply.
Monrovia: ADU BAN: You cannot legally rent out an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) or 'granny flat' for less than 30 days in Monrovia (§ 17.44.005).
Monrovia: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements11 rules

Monrovia does not require STR registration.
Monrovia STR warning: TAX RATE: The Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) rate is 12%, increased from 10% in 2018 via Measure TT.
Monrovia STR warning: QUARTERLY FILING: Taxes must be filed quarterly even if you had zero bookings during that period.

Application process5 rules

How to set up an STR in Monrovia: To host an Airbnb in Monrovia, you must first get a standard business license and a 'Home Occupation' permit from the city. While there aren't specific 'Airbnb rules' like night limits yet, you cannot rent out an ADU (backyard cottage or granny flat) for less than 30 days. You are also required to collect a 12% hotel tax from your guests and send it to the city every three months using their paper or PDF form.

Taxes2 rules

Monrovia: TAX RATE: The Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) rate is 12%, increased from 10% in 2018 via Measure TT.
Monrovia charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 12%. This applies to stays under 31 days. Note: Airbnb and VRBO may collect TOT for Monrovia, but hosts are legally responsible for ensuring remittance via the city's quarterly form.

Limits & restrictions2 rules

Monrovia limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Monrovia enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM (Standard Noise Ordinance).

Safety requirements1 rule

Monrovia requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors.

Penalties2 rules

Monrovia: BUSINESS LICENSE: All hosts are required to have a city business license; failing to have one for a 'home business' can lead to fines.
Monrovia: Serious or repeated STR violations can result in criminal charges, not just fines.

Exemptions2 rules

Monrovia: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Monrovia exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, State or federal employees on official business.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Monrovia

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning and ADU Status

Ensure your property is not an ADU or JADU, as these are prohibited from short-term rentals under Monrovia's zoning code.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Register for a Business License

All persons engaging in business in the city must obtain a business license from the Administrative Services Department.

2-4 weeks

Documents needed

Business License Application

Official resource

Step 3

File TOT Registration Form

Same as business licenseFree

Documents needed

TOT Registration Form

Official resource

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

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning and ADU Status

Register for a Business License

File TOT Registration Form

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Monrovia?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Monrovia?

4Can renters host on Airbnb in Monrovia?

5What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Monrovia?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning and ADU Status

Register for a Business License

File TOT Registration Form

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Monrovia?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Monrovia?

4Can renters host on Airbnb in Monrovia?

5What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Monrovia?

Disclaimer