Los Angeles, California
When deciding whether to become an Airbnb host, it is important for you to understand the laws in your region or city. As a platform and online marketplace we do not provide legal advice, but we want to provide resources that may help you better understand applicable laws and regulations. This list is not exhaustive, but it may give you a good start in understanding your local laws. If you have questions, contact government agencies directly, or consult a local lawyer or tax professional.
Host Registration Requirement
If you host for 30 days or more at a time, you do not have to register to publish your listing.
If you host for 1 to 29 days at a time, you are required to add a home-sharing permit prior to publishing your listing.
Step 1: Obtain a home-sharing permit from the the City of Los Angeles
Step 2: Once you receive your home sharing permit, add the number to your Airbnb listing
Government Contact Information
Who can I reach out to for more information?
We recommend reviewing these FAQs.
For technical difficulties registering, contact support+los-angeles-ca@hostcompliance.com.
For all other questions, contact planning.home-sharing@lacity.org or call (213) 202-5464.
Registration Eligibility
How do I know if my listing’s address requires a permit number?
See if your address is within the geographic boundaries of the City of Los Angeles (colored parcels on map). Neighborhoods commonly referred to by their own name but which all or portions are within the City of Los Angeles and are regulated by Los Angeles’s rules include, but not limited to:
- Venice
- Woodland Hills
- Van Nuys
- Canoga Park
- Studio City
- Westwood
- Leimert Park
- Baldwin Hills
- Bel Air
- Pacific Palisades
- Northridge
- Encino
- Pacoima
- Tarzana
- Hollywood
- North Hollywood
- Crenshaw
- Echo Park
- Brentwood
If your address is within a white parcel, the City of Los Angeles short term rental ordinance does not apply to your listing and you do not need to register.
Who is eligible to register?
Only primary residences are eligible to register. Registered listings are only able to host for up to 120 days per calendar year.
The City of Los Angeles defines primary residence as “the property you reside in for more than 6 months in each calendar year”. Per Los Angeles ordinances, you can’t 1) apply for or obtain more than one registration or 2) operate more than one Airbnb listing at a time in the City of Los Angeles.
ADU: Only ADUs that have a certificate of occupancy for an ADU issued by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) before January 1, 2017, are eligible to register. The registration application for the ADU must include the address of the ADU.
Renters: If you are renting your primary residence, you need to provide an affidavit signed by yourself and the property owner/landlord that approves you to host short-term rentals. The affidavit must be dated, notarized and include the name, address, phone number, email for yourself and your property owner/landlord.
Who is ineligible to register?
Non-primary residences are not eligible to register.
Primary residences that are rental units subject to affordable housing covenants, rent stabilization, and/or income restricted under City, State or Federal law are ineligible to register.
You can look up your address on ZIMAS and verify the “Rent Stabilization Ordinance” and “Ellis Act Property” flags under the Housing section. For more information, you can contact the Housing + Community Investment Department (HCIDLA) at (866) 557-7368.
Who is exempt from registering?
If you host a hotel, motel, transient occupancy residential structure, or bed and breakfast, your listing is exempt from registration.
However, you still need to claim an exemption from Airbnb to comply. It only takes a few minutes.
Registration Process
How long does it take to receive your registration number?
The entire registration process can be done online or in person at the Los Angeles Planning Department. It may take several weeks to issue a registration number depending on the number of applications.
Contact planning.home-sharing@lacity.org for the latest registration time estimate.
How much does registration cost?
Information about the cost to register your short term-rental can be found on this page.
Is there a registration step by step guide?
Here is a registration step by step video tutorial.
To register, you’ll need:
- Photo identification (ID)- A valid federal or state-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID card, or passport.
- Documentation of primary residence- Two of the following documents must be provided, unless the address on the photo ID matches the location of your listing, in which case you’ll only need one of the following:
- A current valid California voter's registration card or voter registration status (Pro-tip: You can access your voter registration online. Save as a PDF file.)
- A current valid California vehicle registration certificate
- A recent health insurance bill
- A recent vehicle insurance bill
- A copy of a paycheck or pay stub issued in the last six months
- A copy of a current property tax bill indicating homeowner's exemption
- A copy of a current rental or lease agreement, including the property manager's or landlord's contact information and signature
Pro-tip: The documents must include your name and the address of your listing.
Hosting for more than 120 days
Registered Hosts are only able to host for up to 120 days per calendar year.
You can apply for an extended home-sharing permit (EHS) that allows for short term rentals 365 days per year. It is available for Hosts who have been registered for 6 months or who have hosted for 60 days.
The extended home-sharing permit is valid for 1 year from time of issuance. Information about the cost of the fee for an EHS can be found on this page.
Taxes
The City of Los Angeles imposes a 14% transient occupancy tax on the listing price (including cleaning fees) for stays of 30 nights or less. Airbnb collects and remits the City transient occupancy tax. However, hosts are still required to file monthly returns to the Office of Finance, and should take a deduction for tax collected and remitted by Airbnb (and any other applicable platform). For more information about the City's transient occupancy tax, visit the City's FAQ page. In addition, Los Angeles County applies a transient occupancy tax on any unincorporated areas within the county, which applies to broad categories of transient use. “Transient use” is defined as a guest stays of 30 days or less. Airbnb currently does not collect the County transient occupancy tax. More information about the County transient occupancy tax is available on the County's FAQ page.
Other resources to help you Host
- Safety & Airbnb
- Airbnb Resource Center to help you become your best Host
- Austin area Airbnb Host Facebook Group
- Austin’s Code Compliance Office
Airbnb isn’t responsible for the reliability or correctness of the information contained in any links to third party sites (including any links to legislation and regulations).