Long Beach, California Short Term Rental Regulations

City Code of Ordinances

Long Beach heavily regulates short-term rental. There are two (2) types of rental activity: Hosted or Un-Hosted. Hosted: Hosted rental activity is a rental whereby the registrant remains on-site and resides in a qualified dwelling unit or portion thereof throughout the guest’s stay.  The registrant must either be an owner or an authorized long-term tenant of the property.   Un-hosted: Un-hosted rental activity is defined as a rental where the registration holder is not required to have a host present or remain on-site during their guest’s stay. Accessory dwelling units (ADU) are not considered qualified dwelling units and may not be operated as STRs. Maximum occupancy shall be two (2) persons per bedroom plus two (2) more persons, with a maximum of ten (10) persons per STR.  The calculation includes the host(s) and the guest’s children.  If the host/STR operator wishes to accommodate an event that exceeds the maximum occupancy of the unit, they must first obtain an Occasional Event Permit from the Long Beach Special Events office.  See "Occasional Event Permit" below for more information. Visit the Long Beach City Ordinance CHAPTER 5.77 Short-Term Rentals and Short-Term Rentals page.

Business License Requirements

Two (2) types of Short-Term Rental Registration can be applied for Primary Residence or Non-Primary Residence.  An individual may obtain one (1) of each registration type.   Primary Residence STR Registration: To apply for this type of registration the unit offered for STR use must reside on the same parcel of land as the applicant’s primary residence. “Primary Residence” is a person’s permanent residence or usual place of return for a minimum of two hundred seventy-five (275) days during the calendar year.  The following types of rental activity are allowed for a Primary Residence STR: Un-hosted – Max of 90 days per registration periodHosted – Unlimited number of days per registration period Non-Primary Residence STR: A Non-Primary Residence STR registration can be applied for by anyone who owns residential property in Long Beach that is not their “Primary Residence.” The following types of rental activity are allowed for a Non-Primary Residence STR:Un-hosted – Unlimited number of days per registration periodHosted – Unlimited number of days per registration period There is no limit on the number of primary residence STR registrations issued. The City can issue a max of 800 non-primary residence STR registrations to operate in the City at a given time. If the host/STR operator is a renter or lessee, a signed and notarized Property Owner Authorization is required.

Building and Housing Standards

Long Beach has rules and regulations that specify minimum building, design, maintenance standards, habitability, health, and safety requirements. Some rules and regulations that apply to residential and non-residential properties may apply to your listing. View the City Building Code Ordinance and consult the City’s Building Department for more information. 

Tourist and Local Taxes

Hotels, motels, and other short-term rentals in Long Beach are subject to a 13% transient occupancy tax. For Airbnb, the City has a voluntary collection agreement with Airbnb, and Airbnb is collecting TOT and remitting it to the City on behalf of STRs.  Please visit the Finance Department's website for more information. Short-term rentals might be subjected to state and county sales tax and are liable for payment as established by state and county law. 

Other Rules

Short Term Rental Operating Requirements:

• Local Contact Person: The host/STR operator shall be available twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days a week, or identify a local contact person who shall be available twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days a week for responding within one (1) hour to complaints regarding the condition, operation, or conduct of the STR or its occupants; and taking any remedial action necessary to resolve such complaints. 
• Nuisance: The operator and property owner shall be jointly responsible for any nuisance violations arising at a property during short-term rental activities. Repeated violations of the STR Ordinance will be considered a nuisance. Nuisance is further defined in the City’s Municipal Code under Chapter 9.37.
• STR Advertising: All marketing and advertising of a registered STR, including any listing on a hosting platform, shall list the City-issued STR registration number.

 Guest Information  All STRs must post a notice containing the following information within the unit. Hosts must place the notice in an area where the guest can quickly identify and access it.

• The maximum number of STR guests permitted to reside in the unit.
• Location, parking spots, parking capacity, and parking rules, if applicable. 
• Information on recycling and trash pickup. 
• The local contact’s name and the phone number of that person will be contactable on a 24-hour basis. 
• Emergency contact information for contacting the police, fire, or emergency medical services. 
• Evacuation plans for the unit detailing emergency departure routes, exits, and fire extinguisher locations.
• Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., all outdoor pools, spas, and hot tubs must be closed. 
• STR operators shall place no sign outside the STR premises to advertise the STR rental unit’s availability to the general public.

 It is also essential to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo boards, co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable. Visit the Long Beach website for more information.