Community Development

There are two (2) types of Short-Term Rental Registrations that 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 defined as 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:
  1. 1. Un-hosted – Max of 90 days per registration period
     2. Hosted – 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:
  1. 1. Un-hosted – Unlimited number of days per registration period
     2. Hosted – Unlimited number of days per registration period

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There are two (2) types of rental activity: Hosted or Un-Hosted.

• Hosted: Hosted rental activity is defined as 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 of the property 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 be present or remain on-site during their guest’s stay.

• Qualified Dwelling Unit: A qualified dwelling unit is a structure that has been legally permitted by the City as a habitable space.  Accessory dwelling units (ADU) are not considered qualified dwelling units and may not be operated as STRs. The table below list examples of some common permitted structures and their eligibility for STR use. If you are considering using a structure and are unsure about what it is permitted as, we strongly encourage you to research our City building records. If you are still unsure, please contact us before you apply. Your application fee will not be refunded or reimbursed if we discover that you applied for an unqualified structure. An inspection may be required as a condition of registration and/or renewal approvals.
  
  

  Qualified for STR use	Not Qualified for STR use
  Single Family Dwelling*	Rumpus Room
  Individual units on a multi-family property*	Garage
  Maid Quarters*	Storage Room
  Guest House*	Pool houses
  Apartment*	Casitas
  	ADUs or JADUs
  	Live-Work Units/Spaces

     *or portion thereof

• Number of Units Allowed: The number of qualified dwelling units on a property or development determines the number of units that can be offered as a short-term rental.  ADUs shall not be counted when determining the number of qualified dwelling units on a parcel.  See table below.

• Property Owner Consent: If the individual attempting to register the unit/property is not an owner, a signed and notarized Property Owner Authorization form is required. See Documentation Required below for form.

• No Pending Citations: The dwelling unit or primary residence shall not be the subject of any active or pending code enforcement actions or violations pursuant to the City’s Municipal Code.

To assist those who are considering operating a STR in the City of Long Beach, the following represent some (but not all) of the requirements that the host/operator will need to follow as outlined in the Ordinance.  Please reference the Ordinance for additional information.

1. Transient Occupancy Tax: The host/STR operator shall be required to collect, report and pay a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on a monthly basis to the City.  These taxes are based on gross receipts of rented stays.  Taxes can be paid through the same portal as registration. See "Transient Occupancy Tax" below for more information.
2. Annual Application/Registration Fee: The fee for the City to review your STR application or any subsequent renewal application is $260.00.  The annual term of STR registration shall commence on the date of the City-issued registration number.
3. 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:
1. 1. responding within one (1) hour to complaints regarding the condition, operation, or conduct of the STR or its occupants; and
   2. taking any remedial action necessary to resolve such complaints.
4. Maximum Occupancy: Maximum occupancy shall be two (2) persons per bedroom plus two (2) more persons, with a maximum of ten (10) persons per STR.  Calculation is inclusive of the host(s) and 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.
5. 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.
6. STR Advertising: All marketing and advertising of a registered STR, including any listing on a hosting platform, shall clearly list the City-issued STR registration number.
7. Guest Information Posted: Each STR shall have a notice posted within the unit in a location clearly marked and accessible to the guest (e.g., posted on the refrigerator, included within a binder with additional information on the unit, etc.), containing the following information:
   1. 1. The maximum number of occupants permitted in the unit;
      2. Parking capacity, location of parking spaces, and parking rules, if any;
      3. Trash and recycling pickup information;
      4. The name of the local contact and a telephone number at which that person may be reached on a twenty-four (24) hour basis;
      5. Emergency contact information for summoning police, fire, or emergency medical services; and
      6. Evacuation plan for the unit showing emergency exit routes, exits, and fire extinguisher locations.
8. Use of all outdoor pools, spas and hot tubs shall be prohibited between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
9. No sign shall be posted on the exterior of the STR premises to advertise the availability of the STR rental unit to the public.

FOR BOTH OWNER & RENTER

• Documentation of Primary Residence: Two (2) of the following documents must be provided as part of the registration application.  The documents provided must indicate the host’s name and the address which should match the primary residence address and name on the STR registration application:
• • Motor Vehicle Registration
  • Driver’s License
  • Voter Registration
  • Tax Documents showing the residential unit as the person’s residence
  • Utility Bill

• Primary Residence Certification and Indemnification Form: As it relates to the application for, and operation of, short-term rentals in the City of Long Beach, this form certifies the Proposed STR Operator’s Primary Residence and includes their agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the City with respect to certain liability.  We will not accept digital signatures.
  
  Download the form: Primary Residence Certification and Indemnification Form    

• Assessor Identification Number: Use the Los Angeles County Assessor website to assist in locating your address and associated AIN

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FOR RENTER ONLY

• Property Owner Consent: If the host/STR operator is a renter or lessee, a signed and notarized Property Owner Authorization is required.
  
  Download the form: STR Property Owner Authorization

FOR ALL REGISTRANTS

• Driver’s License with name that matches the name on the non-primary STR registration application

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PROPERTY OWNER REGISTRANTS

If applicant will be in the name of a property owner which is a legal entity and/or business structure such as an LLC:

• The individual who applies on behalf of, and in the name of, a business for the non-primary residence STR registration must submit a notarized agreement form which declares that the individual may lawfully act on behalf of the entity.  View/download the form: STR Legal Entity/Business Structure Applicant Authority and Agreement.
• The business entity, such as an LLC, will need to be registered and in good standing with the California Secretary of State.

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REGISTRANTS OTHER THAN AN OWNER

If the applicant is an individual who is a renter or lessee:

A signed and notarized Property Owner Authorization is required. View/download the form: STR Property Owner Authorization

If the applicant is not an owner and would like to apply under their individual business:

• When applying and prompted to enter the individuals name, instead the applicant will enter the name of the business entity followed by the applicants name in parenthesis  For example: Long Beach STR Operators, LLC (Jane Doe).
• A signed and notarized Property Owner Authorization is required and the owner must reference the name of the individual’s business name when acknowledging the name of the STR Operator/Registration Applicant.  View/download the form: STR Property Owner Authorization
• The individual must submit a notarized agreement form which declares that the individual may lawfully act on behalf of the entity they are applying under.  View/download the form: STR Legal Entity/Business Structure Applicant Authority and Agreement.
• The business entity, such as an LLC, will need to be registered and in good standing with the California Secretary of State.

For Primary Residence STRs

To begin the Primary Residence registration process, first click on the Registration – Primary Residence STR button below.  You will be taken to our registration portal and from there will click on “Application to Register a Primary Residence STR”.  The timing of registration approval will be dependent on staff workload as well as the accuracy and validity of materials submitted and to any follow-up

PLEASE NOTE:

• You will not be able to save your place should you close your browser or navigate away to another page while working through the registration pages. 
• The application/registration fee ($400.00) shall be paid prior to City review of your application. The payment of this fee does not guarantee approval of your application. Application fees are not refundable once the application has been submitted.

 

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For Non-Primary Residence STRs

The number of Non-Primary Residences allowed to operate in the City at any given point in time is 800. Those wishing to register their non-primary residence STR must submit an Application of Interest by clicking on the Non-Primary Residence STR Application of Interest button below.

The City will review Applications of Interest for completion and accuracy.  Once the application is considered complete the applicant will either be given a Reservation to register their property/unit, or placed on the Waiting List if the 800 limit has been reached. To see how many Non-Primary units have been registered, please refer to the table under “Concerns or Complaints” further down the page.

 

STR registrations are good for one (1) year from the date they are approved.  Registrations may be renewed beginning forty-five (45) days before they expire.

The renewal application fee ($400.00) shall be paid prior to City review of your application. The payment of this fee does not guarantee approval of your application. Application fees are not refundable once the application has been submitted.

To renew your registration, click on the Renew Registration button below.

 

Click the link below to view instructions and additional information for the Petition to Restrict Un-Hosted Short-Term Rentals and to view and download the application.

• Petition Information & Application
• Petitions Conducted

Pursuant to the STR Ordinance, the City is maintaining a “Prohibited Buildings List” that allows for residential apartment building property owners and homeowners’ associations in Long Beach to prohibit anyone from obtaining a short-term rental registration on their property.

If you are a landlord, please complete and notarize the self-certification form below and submit to ShortTermRentals@longbeach.gov.

• Landlord Self-Certification Form

If you are an authorized representative for a homeowners association (HOA), and your association resides within the Coastal Zone, please contact ShortTermRentals@longbeach.gov for more information regarding steps to be added to the Prohibited Buildings List.  To see if your property is in the Coastal Zone, please enter your address in our Coastal Zone Property Lookup.

If you are an authorized representative for a homeowners association (HOA), and your association does not reside in the Coastal Zone, please complete the self-certification form below and submit to ShortTermRentals@longbeach.gov.

• HOA Self-Certification Form

Please allow staff up to five (5) business days for staff to respond to submittals.  We will not accept digital signatures.

You can use the Los Angeles County Assessor website to assist in locating your address and associated AIN.

View the list: Prohibited Buildings List

What is Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)?
TOT is a tax that hosts must charge to guests who rent a room for a temporary period of time, 30 days or less. TOT is required to be reported and paid monthly. The current TOT rate applied to applicable room rental fees is 13%.

STR hosts must:

• Collect TOT for all applicable rentals on all platforms, and remit (pay) this additional TOT to the City.
  • 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.
  • All other platforms: Hosts must collect and remit (pay) TOT directly to the City for receipts collected on or after December 1, 2021.
• Report TOT collected from all applicable rentals on all platforms (both Airbnb and non-Airbnb) for receipts collected on or after December 1, 2021.

How do I report and pay TOT?
On and after February 1, 2022, you will begin to receive monthly emails from the City’s TOT Portal (sender’s email address will be no-reply@mg.hostcompliance.com) notifying you that it is time to report the TOT collected from your guests. In this monthly email, there will be a link to the website where you will enter your unique registration number that was issued to you when you registered your STR with the City (for registration questions, contact shorttermrentals@longbeach.gov). From there, you will be able to report all TOT collected from your guests and pay the portion that has not already been collected and remitted on your behalf by Airbnb. Once logged in, the system will show you what month is due for reporting and will ask for the gross room rental revenue along with other information. The site will do the calculations for you and will provide a breakdown of the charges due. The reporting process is completed by paying for the TOT that is due through the website. If there are any previous months that have not been reported, the system will ask for those months to be entered as well. If you did not rent your STR for that month you must still log in and report $0.00 for that month.

Due Dates and Penalties
TOT reporting and payment is due on the 10^th day of the month following the reporting month in question. The first penalty for late reporting and/or payment of TOT is 25% of the TOT tax amount due for that reporting month which is applied on the first day of the second month after the reporting month in question. If the reporting month in question continues to remain unpaid and/or unreported, then a second penalty of 50% of the TOT tax amount due for that reporting month will be applied on the first day of the third month after the reporting month in question. For example:

Reporting Month: January
Due Date	February 10
First Penalty of 25%	March 1
Second Penalty of 50%	April 1

*Note on December 2021 TOT reporting and remittance: Because the portal for STRs to report and pay their TOT will not be live until February 1, 2022, penalties will not begin to be assessed on TOT for December 2021 until March 1, 2022. For January 2022 reporting, and every month thereafter, penalties will be assessed on any late TOT reportings/payments as they normally would be described above.  

Find out more information about TOT.

Should you have any questions about TOT and reporting, you may contact us by emailing STR-TOT@LongBeach.gov.

A host/operator who has registered their STR with the City and wishes to accommodate an event that exceeds the maximum occupancy of the unit must first obtain an Occasional Event Permit from the Long Beach Special Events office.  The maximum number of Occasional Event Permits that can be executed during the annual term of a registration is four (4).

Occasional Event Permit

The City maintains a 24/7 STR Complaint Hotline at 562.568.8665. This hotline can be used to log concerns, complaints, and suspected violations of the STR ordinance at specific properties/units. If the property in question is on our list of registered STRs below, you can request us to call the emergency contact of the registered STR to help resolve the issue.

You may also call the non-emergency police number 562.435.6711 if the situation requires more immediate attention.

In an emergency, always call 911.

The registration cost is $400.00 per application. An operator who applies for both a primary and non-primary residence STR registration would have to pay $400.00 for each. A registration is valid for one year (365 days) from the date of registration approval. A renewal registration is also $400.00.

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.

Yes, new state laws which took effect January 1, 2020 (AB 68/AB 881) now prohibit short-term rentals in ADUs. Accordingly, the City’s ordinance will also prohibit short-term rentals in ADUs.

A rental offered or provided to a paying guest(s) that is for thirty (30) or fewer consecutive
nights is considered a short-term rental.

The City will require a property owner consent form for anyone applying for a registration who is
not the property owner. Additionally, a property owner can request at any time to place their property on the prohibited buildings list. Once placed on this list, the City will NOT issue any STR registrations for that property.

The City maintains a 24/7 Complaint Hotline at 562.568.8665 to report any concerns or
complaints. In an emergency always call 911.

• Short-Term Rental – A home, or portion of a home, rented by paying guests for short stays (30 consecutive days or less).
• Primary Residence – The parcel/property where the STR registrant lives in at least 275 days (9 months) per year.
• Non-Primary Residence – An STR unit that is not located at the Primary Residence of the STR registrant.
• Hosted Stay – The STR registrant is present and lives with the guests during a Short-Term Rental.
• Un-hosted Stay – The STR registrant is not present on the property during a Short-Term Rental.