Are short-term rentals allowed in Santa Monica?

**No**, vacation rentals of entire homes are strictly prohibited in Santa Monica. Only home-sharing, where the host stays on-site in the same unit as the guest during the rental period, is permitted for stays less than 31 days. Be sure to comply with all rules. (53 words)

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

**Yes**, Santa Monica requires a Home-Sharing Permit for rentals less than 31 days where the host remains on-site. You need to apply for this permit through the city, which requires that the property be your primary residence. Operating without a valid permit will result in penalties. (52 words)

How much does an STR permit cost in Santa Monica?

**$100** is the fee for the Home-Sharing Permit in Santa Monica. This permit is required for any short-term rental where the host is present on-site. Ensure you factor this cost into your rental pricing and budget accordingly when planning to host in the city. (51 words)

What is the TOT tax rate in Santa Monica?

**14% TOT** is the current transient occupancy tax rate applicable to home-sharing rentals in Santa Monica. You are responsible for collecting this tax from your guests and remitting it to the city. Check with the Santa Monica finance department for specific instructions on how to remain compliant. (52 words)

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

**Yes**, Santa Monica requires that the rental property be your primary residence to operate a legal home-sharing business. This means you must live in the property for more than six months of the year. Vacation rentals of entire homes are prohibited. Make sure to comply. (51 words)

Santa Monica

Prohibited

CaliforniaUpdated Feb 13, 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 of an entire home (Vacation Rentals) are strictly PROHIBITED in Santa Monica. Only 'Home-Sharing'—where the host stays on-site in the same unit as the guest—is permitted for stays under 31 days.

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Host presence required (hosted-only)
Limited to 1 property per owner
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

In Santa Monica, you can only rent out a room (or rooms) in your home if it's your primary residence, and you are living there during the guest's stay. These rentals can't be longer than 30 days. You can't rent out your entire home if you're not living there; that's against the rules.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$100

Processing time2-4 weeks

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility15 rules

Santa Monica prohibits STRs in the following property types: ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) built after 2017, Rent-controlled units (highly restricted), Affordable housing units.
Santa Monica, CA: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements21 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Santa Monica: 1. UNHOSTED RENTALS ARE BANNED: You cannot rent an entire home while you are away. 2. 275-DAY RULE: The property must be your primary residence for 275+ days/year. 3. GUEST LIMIT: You are legally restricted to a maximum of 2 guests at a time. 4. ADU RESTRICTIONS: Most Accessory Dwelling Units cannot be used for short-term rentals. 5. RSO UNITS: Rent-controlled units have extreme restrictions and usually prohibit STRs. 6. NEIGHBOR NOTICE: You must notify your neighbors that you are operating a home-share. 7. TAX REMITTANCE: You must file monthly TOT reports even if the platform collects the tax.

Application process8 rules

STR regulations overview for Santa Monica: Short-term rentals of an entire home (Vacation Rentals) are strictly PROHIBITED in Santa Monica. Only 'Home-Sharing'—where the host stays on-site in the same unit as the guest—is permitted for stays under 31 days.

Fees & costs1 rule

Santa Monica charges a registration fee of $100 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Santa Monica: TAX REMITTANCE: You must file monthly TOT reports even if the platform collects the tax.
Santa Monica 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 VRBO remit the base 14% TOT directly to the city.

Limits & restrictions8 rules

Santa Monica enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM.
Santa Monica limits STRs to a maximum of 2 guests. Formula: Limited to two (2) guests total per stay.
Santa Monica: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.

Safety requirements1 rule

Santa Monica requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Notice to neighbors required, Proof of liability insurance.

Penalties7 rules

Santa Monica: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Santa Monica, CA: Operating an STR in a rent-controlled unit can result in permit denial and fines. STRs in rent-controlled units are generally prohibited if they violate the rent control lease terms or exceed allowable rent.

Exemptions3 rules

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

Santa Monica

Prohibited

CaliforniaUpdated Feb 13, 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

Primary residence required
Host presence required (hosted-only)
Limited to 1 property per owner
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$100

Processing time2-4 weeks

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility15 rules

Santa Monica prohibits STRs in the following property types: ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) built after 2017, Rent-controlled units (highly restricted), Affordable housing units.
Santa Monica, CA: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements21 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Santa Monica: 1. UNHOSTED RENTALS ARE BANNED: You cannot rent an entire home while you are away. 2. 275-DAY RULE: The property must be your primary residence for 275+ days/year. 3. GUEST LIMIT: You are legally restricted to a maximum of 2 guests at a time. 4. ADU RESTRICTIONS: Most Accessory Dwelling Units cannot be used for short-term rentals. 5. RSO UNITS: Rent-controlled units have extreme restrictions and usually prohibit STRs. 6. NEIGHBOR NOTICE: You must notify your neighbors that you are operating a home-share. 7. TAX REMITTANCE: You must file monthly TOT reports even if the platform collects the tax.

Application process8 rules

STR regulations overview for Santa Monica: Short-term rentals of an entire home (Vacation Rentals) are strictly PROHIBITED in Santa Monica. Only 'Home-Sharing'—where the host stays on-site in the same unit as the guest—is permitted for stays under 31 days.

Fees & costs1 rule

Santa Monica charges a registration fee of $100 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Santa Monica: TAX REMITTANCE: You must file monthly TOT reports even if the platform collects the tax.
Santa Monica 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 VRBO remit the base 14% TOT directly to the city.

Limits & restrictions8 rules

Santa Monica enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM.
Santa Monica limits STRs to a maximum of 2 guests. Formula: Limited to two (2) guests total per stay.
Santa Monica: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.

Safety requirements1 rule

Santa Monica requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Notice to neighbors required, Proof of liability insurance.

Penalties7 rules

Santa Monica: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Santa Monica, CA: Operating an STR in a rent-controlled unit can result in permit denial and fines. STRs in rent-controlled units are generally prohibited if they violate the rent control lease terms or exceed allowable rent.

Exemptions3 rules

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

1Are short-term rentals allowed in Santa Monica?

2Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Santa Monica?

3How much does an STR permit cost in Santa Monica?

4What is the TOT tax rate in Santa Monica?

5Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Santa Monica?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Are short-term rentals allowed in Santa Monica?

2Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Santa Monica?

3How much does an STR permit cost in Santa Monica?

4What is the TOT tax rate in Santa Monica?

5Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Santa Monica?

Disclaimer