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San Francisco vs. Los Angeles: short-term-rental rules
Both San Francisco and Los Angeles carry the same headline short-term-rental status (Allowed with registration) — the differences are in the details below: licensing, taxes, minimum stays, and enforcement.
| Rule | San Francisco | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| STR status | Allowed with registration | Allowed with registration |
| City license / registration | Short-Term Residential Rental Certificate (Office of Short-Term Rentals registration); Business registration with Treasurer & Tax Collector (Business Account Number); Permanent Resident occupancy requirement (275 nights/year; 60 days prior residence); Property liability insurance minimum $500,000; Quarterly short-term rental activity reports to OSTR | 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) |
| Primary residence | Required | Required |
| Minimum stay | No set minimum | No set minimum |
| Lodging tax | ~14.0% total | ~14.0% total |
| Enforcement | Active | Not specified |
Neither is clearly easier at the headline level; the decision usually comes down to taxes and minimum-stay rules. Open each full record below for the cited, dated details.
Full San Francisco rules Full Los Angeles rules
Frequently asked questions
Is short-term renting easier in San Francisco or Los Angeles?
Both share the same headline status (Allowed with registration); compare the licensing, tax, and minimum-stay rows above.
Do both San Francisco and Los Angeles require a license or registration?
San Francisco: yes — Short-Term Residential Rental Certificate (Office of Short-Term Rentals registration); Business registration with Treasurer & Tax Collector (Business Account Number); Permanent Resident occupancy requirement (275 nights/year; 60 days prior residence); Property liability insurance minimum $500,000; Quarterly short-term rental activity reports to OSTR. Los Angeles: yes — 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).
Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against each jurisdiction's official sources.