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Is short-term rental allowed in Los Angeles?
Only in your primary residence. In the City of Los Angeles, a short-term rental (30 consecutive days or less) is allowed only as Home-Sharing, an accessory use of the host's primary residence, the home where the host lives more than 6 months of the year. Stays of more than 30 consecutive days fall outside the short-term rental definition.
This page covers the City of Los Angeles only. Other cities in Los Angeles County and unincorporated county areas have their own rules.
The rules at a glance
| Short-term rental means | A rental of 30 consecutive days or less. A 30-night stay is still a short-term rental. |
|---|---|
| Where it is allowed | Only as Home-Sharing in the host's primary residence, with City registration |
| Primary residence | The host's sole residence, where the host lives more than 6 months of the calendar year |
| Day limit | 120 days a calendar year, unless the host holds an Extended Home-Sharing registration (unlimited days) |
| Extended Home-Sharing eligibility | Registered for at least 6 months, or hosted for at least 60 days, among other conditions |
| Listings | Every ad must show the City registration number or pending registration number |
| Not eligible | A primary residence under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), under affordable housing covenants, or income-restricted |
| Renters | Need the landlord's prior written approval |
| ADUs | An ADU with a building permit application submitted on or after January 1, 2017 only if it is the applicant's primary residence |
Fees
- Home-Sharing registration and renewal: $441 (adopted February 23, 2026, Ordinance 188796).
- Extended Home-Sharing registration and renewal (administrative): $883.
- Home-Sharing per-night fee: $3.30 (effective September 1, 2025).
A City Planning fee report of May 28, 2026 says its re-evaluated fee amounts should replace those previously adopted. Check the current fee with City Planning before you apply.
Lodging tax
The City of Los Angeles transient occupancy tax (TOT) is 14%. It applies to properties rented to transients, meaning people who stay 30 days or less. The city's TOT guide says housekeeping and room cleaning fees are subject to TOT. If you rent exclusively through an online platform with a TOT withholding agreement with the city, such as Airbnb or HomeAway (VRBO), you don't need to register for TOT yourself. Rent received any other way must be registered and reported.
What this means for your numbers
If the home is not your primary residence, the practical choice in Los Angeles is a long-term lease or a furnished stay of more than 30 days. Our Rental Strategy Comparison shows a long-term lease and a short-term rental side by side for your address, with the city's lodging tax and rental rules looked up for each order. In a city with a minimum stay, the short-term column is based on that minimum.
Compare long-term and short-term for your home, $39
Official sources
- City Planning: Home-Sharing Ordinance (Ord. 185931)
- City Clerk: Home-Sharing fee report, CF 14-1635-S7 (May 28, 2026)
- Office of Finance: Transient Occupancy Tax requirements
- Office of Finance: TOT Compliance Guide (revised July 16, 2026)
Last checked: October 17, 2026. Rules and fees change. Confirm with the City of Los Angeles, and with any HOA or lease, before you list. General information, not legal advice.