The Long Beach City Council established an ordinance on December 8, 2020, expanding the short term rental (STR) program. A short term rental in the City of Long Beach, California is a guest stay for 30 nights or less. The following is a complete guideline for Long Beach’s short term rental regulations so that anyone can be a responsible host when using platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and other similar services. This rundown should give you a good start in understanding your local laws.
Short Term Rental Registration
Hosts must first register with the City to operate a short term rental. There are two types of rental activity:
- Hosted: The host stays on-site and lives in a habitable dwelling unit or portion during the guest’s stay. The host must be either the property’s owner or a long-term authorized tenant of the property.
- Un-hosted: The STR doesn’t require a host to be present or stay on-site during the stay of their guests.
Short term rental registrations are of two types: Primary and Non-Primary Residence. An individual may hold up to one registration for each kind at a time.
- Primary Residence: A person’s permanent abode or regular place of return for a minimum of 275 days/year is considered their “Primary Residence.” To apply for a primary home STR registration, the unit offered for STR use must be located on the same piece of land as the host’s Primary Residence. A Primary Residence can be rented for a maximum of 90 days per year as an un-hosted rental. Furthermore, rentals of a hosted Primary Residence have no restrictions. Property owners can register Here.
- Non-Primary Residence STR: Anyone who owns residential property in Long Beach that is not their “Primary Residence” can apply for a Non-Primary Residence STR registration. They can be hosted or un-hosted for an unlimited number of days. Only 800 of Non-Primary Residence STR registrations are available around the City. Property owners can submit their applications Here.
Short Term Rental Operating Requirements
The following are some of the standards the host/operator will need to follow as described in the Ordinance for individuals considering operating an STR in the City of Long Beach.
- Annual Application/Registration Fee: The fee of having your STR application or any subsequent renewal application reviewed by the City is $250. The yearly period of STR registration begins on the date of the City-issued registration number.
- Local Contact Person: The host must be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Otherwise, they can identify a local contact person who must be available all the time. Moreover, they must respond within one hour to complaints related to the operation, condition, or conduct of the STR or its occupants. They should also be able to take any remedial actions necessary to resolve such complaints.
- Maximum Occupancy: Maximum occupancy of an STR is two people per bedroom, with a maximum of 10 people per STR. The calculation includes the host’s and guest’s children. In order to accommodate an event that exceeds the unit’s maximum occupancy, the host must first obtain an Occasional Event Permit. They can obtain this permit from the Long Beach Special Events office. Click Here for further information on Occasional Event Permits.
- Noise and Nuisance: Any nuisance violations that occur at a property during short term rental activities are the responsibility of both the STR operator and the property owner. Violations of the STR Ordinance on a repeated basis is a “nuisance”. The City’s Municipal Code has further defined the term “nuisance” in Chapter 9.37.
- STR Advertising: The City-issued STR registration number must be displayed in all marketing and advertising of a registered STR. Hosts should also display the registration number on any listing on a hosting platform.
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 easily identify and access it.
- The maximum number of STR guests permitted to reside in the unit.
- Location of 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.
Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)
Hotel, motel, and other short term rentals in Long Beach are subject to a 13% Transient Occupancy Tax. The host must collect, report, and pay a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) to the City every month by all means. They can calculate these taxes by using the gross receipts of rental stays. Hosts can pay taxes through the same website they use to register.
Other Regulations
As a responsible host, you must comprehend and abide by other vacation rental rules and regulations that bind you. These include leases, community rules, HOA rules, or other guidelines set up by tenant associations. Feel free to reach out to your landlord, housing authority, or community council to find out more. To get more information about other regulations, you can also visit Long Beach’s official website or contact us.