As of November 1st 2019, Los Angeles has new vacation rental regulations. For starters, residents living in rent-controlled apartments are prohibited from using their unit for short-term rentals. Otherwise, the following applies:
- Hosts can’t rent out temporary structures like RVs, sheds, yurts, trailers or tents
- Hosts must register with the city and pay a fee of $89. They must also pay a special tax and keep records of any city inspection.
- Any short-term rental must include working smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and display emergency exits.
- Hosts can’t operate more than one vacation rental at a time.
- Hosts must live in the property at least half the year. Second properties (ie investment properties) are prohibited from being run as short-term rentals. That means you can only rent accommodations like an extra room, in-law suite, basement, etc in your house.
- Hosts are limited to renting out 120 days a year. However, they can request to go beyond (up to 365 days) if a case can be made that the vacation rental wouldn’t hurt the neighborhood. This costs an extra $850.
Hosts in Los Angeles can consult the complete city ordinance, or this handy FAQ prepared by the city.
