Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Santa Monica, CA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Santa Monica, CA, but with restrictions. Home-sharing is allowed only in the host's primary residence where the host remains on-site during the stay; 'vacation rentals' (exclusive transient use) are prohibited. Occupancy is limited to the lesser of 10 persons, one person per 200 square feet, or two adults per bedroom. Hosts are limited to two listings per platform and must provide listing URLs to the City within 10 days of approval. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Home-sharing is allowed only in the host's primary residence where the host remains on-site during the stay; 'vacation rentals' (exclusive transient use) are prohibited. Occupancy is limited to the lesser of 10 persons, one person per 200 square feet, or two adults per bedroom. Hosts are limited to two listings per platform and must provide listing URLs to the City within 10 days of approval.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Santa Monica. 1) Submit a combined Home-Sharing Permit and Business License application with a $100 non-refundable fee and proof of primary residency (e.g., DMV registration, utility bill). 2) Upon approval, include the issued business license number in all listings and provide listing URLs to Code Enforcement within 10 days. 3) Renew annually by submitting a renewal application and paying a $50 fee.

1) Submit a combined Home-Sharing Permit and Business License application with a $100 non-refundable fee and proof of primary residency (e.g., DMV registration, utility bill). 2) Upon approval, include the issued business license number in all listings and provide listing URLs to Code Enforcement within 10 days. 3) Renew annually by submitting a renewal application and paying a $50 fee.

Vrbo is permitted in Santa Monica, CA under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Santa Monica are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Santa Monica. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.