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Is Airbnb legal in Santa Monica, California?

Whole-home vacation rentals are illegal citywide. Santa Monica bans vacation rentals, meaning whole-home short-term stays with the host away, everywhere in the city, and no permit can make one legal. The only legal path is home-sharing: renting rooms in your own primary residence while you stay on site.

Showing the researched rules for Santa Monica, CA below. Type your Santa Monica address to jump to the verdict.

Not allowed

Whole-home vacation rentals are illegal citywide

Santa Monica bans vacation rentals, meaning whole-home short-term stays with the host away, everywhere in the city, and no permit can make one legal. The only legal path is home-sharing: renting rooms in your own primary residence while you stay on site.

Permit and costs

Permit
Home-Share Permit + Business License
Issued by
City of Santa Monica
Cost
$100 new / $50 renewal (about $582 total first year with license tax and fees)
Renewal
Annual, expires June 30

Key limits

Whole-home STR
Illegal citywide, no permit available
Home-share
Host must live on site during stays
Primary residence
Must have lived there 1+ year
Bookings
Max 2 guest groups at a time

Taxes

Transient occupancy tax
14%
Nightly fee
$2 / night, collected by Airbnb

Registration checklist

  1. 1
    Confirm primary residency
    Gather two proofs of residency and proof you have lived in the unit at least a year.
  2. 2
    Apply for both approvals
    Submit the joint Home-Share Permit and Business License application to the city.
  3. 3
    Collect and remit TOT
    Collect 14% transient occupancy tax monthly and renew both approvals each fiscal year.

What could change this verdict

Your HOA
HOA and condo rules can ban home-sharing on top of the city's rules, so check the CC&Rs before you buy.
Rent control
Home-share income on a rent-controlled unit is capped at the Maximum Allowable Rent.

Sources

City of Santa Monica home-share ordinance page · Airbnb Santa Monica help article

Rules researched October 2026. They change, so verify with the city before you buy.

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Verify before you buy. Rules change often and vary by zoning, HOA, and building type. This is a research starting point, not legal advice. Always confirm with the city's planning or business-license office before signing anything.