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Los Angeles vs. Santa Monica: short-term-rental rules
Both are in California, but the rules differ. Los Angeles is currently the more permissive of the two for short-term rentals (Allowed with registration), while Santa Monica is tighter (Restricted).
| Rule | Los Angeles | Santa Monica |
|---|---|---|
| STR status | Allowed with registration | Restricted |
| City license / registration | Home-Sharing Registration; Extended Home-Sharing Registration; Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Registration Certificate; Short-Term Rental Enforcement Fund per-night fee; Notarized landlord written approval (renters only) | Home-Sharing Permit; Home-Sharing Business License; Proof of primary residency (two documents); Liability insurance (minimum $500,000); Transient Occupancy Tax collection & remittance |
| Primary residence | Required | Required |
| Minimum stay | No set minimum | No set minimum |
| Lodging tax | ~14.0% total | See detail |
| Enforcement | Not specified | Not specified |
For most hosts, Los Angeles is the easier of the two to operate in today, but confirm the specifics — rules change, and the "Restricted" status in Santa Monica may still allow rentals under the right conditions. Open each full record for the cited, dated details.
Full Los Angeles rules Full Santa Monica rules
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Frequently asked questions
Is short-term renting easier in Los Angeles or Santa Monica?
Do both Los Angeles and Santa Monica require a license or registration?
Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against each jurisdiction's official sources.