On November 1, 2019, the City began enforcement of the Home-Sharing Ordinance. Hosts and Hosting Platforms are expected to be in compliance with the ordinance beginning on November 1. Anyone engaging in home-sharing activity must include a valid registration number in the rental listing. Anyone engaging in or advertising short-term rental activity that does not comply with the Home-Sharing Ordinance may be subject to daily fines. More information about fines and enforcement can be found in the Home-Sharing Ordinance and the Administrative Guidelines.
Hosts who wish to share their homes can register by clicking here.
To learn more about the Home-Sharing Program, watch City Planning's webinar below.
About the Home-Sharing Ordinance
The City Council adopted the Home-Sharing Ordinance (CF 14-1635-S2) in December of 2018. In order to prevent the wholesale conversion of homes into rental properties, the legislation establishes a regulatory framework to restrict short-term rentals to one's primary residence. The Home-Sharing Ordinance requires hosts who wish to engage in short-term rentals to register with the City and post their registration number on all advertisements. Hosts must adhere to all requirements and must use the online portal to register.
The video below explains how to register for the Home-Sharing Program.
Please disregard instructions regarding pending registration numbers as City Planning no longer issues pending registration numbers.
Implementation Timeline
Eligible hosts may submit their applications through the Home-Sharing Online Registration Portal. The City began accepting registrations on July 1, 2019, and began enforcement of the Home-Sharing Ordinance on November 1, 2019. Anyone engaging in home-sharing activity or advertising after November 1, 2019, must include a valid registration number in all rental listings and must ensure that the home-sharing operations are being conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Home-Sharing Ordinance.
Anyone who wishes to participate in the Home-Sharing Program must register with the City before listing their property for short-term rental or booking any short-term rental stays. Anyone who continues to engage in or advertise short-term rental activity after that date without posting an approved registration number will be in violation of the Home-Sharing Ordinance. Sign up here to receive email updates on the Home-Sharing Program.
Five Key Steps for Home-Sharing
1. Verify eligibility criteria (see checklist below).
2. For renters and lessees, obtain a notarized affidavit signed by the property owner/landlord authorizing the host to participate in home-sharing.
3. Gather relevant documents to demonstrate primary residency.
4. Complete online registration.
5. Post home-sharing registration number on all listings.
Update: Effective February 16, 2021, City Planning will no longer issue pending registration numbers for Home-Sharing in Los Angeles. Hosts will receive a final registration number via email once the Department has processed and approved their application. Pending registration numbers were issued at the outset of the Home-Sharing Program to assist the City in processing the initial rush of applications, and to allow active, eligible hosts to continue Home-Sharing activities while their applications were under review by Department staff. The volume of new Home-Sharing applications has since leveled off. This procedural change will improve the City’s ability to monitor and enforce against the improper use of provisionally issued registration numbers which are now invalid because they are associated with denied applications.
Update: Effective July 1, 2023, City Planning fees will increase by 4.9% based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U). You can view the complete updated Fee Schedule here.
As a result of the fee update, Regular Home-Sharing application fees will increase from $183 to $192 for new or renewal applications submitted after June 30, 2023. Extended Home-Sharing application fees will increase from $982 to $1030 for new or renewal applications submitted after June 30, 2023.
The Administrative Guidelines outline the implementation and enforcement of the Home-Sharing Ordinance, providing detail for property owners, hosts, and hosting platforms on how to comply. The Guidelines cover the application and registration processes, reporting requirements, and relevant restrictions and enforcement procedures. They are intended to ensure all residential units are lawfully registered by the time enforcement commences.
Two types of home-sharing registration are available. Standard home-sharing registration allows hosts to rent out all or a portion of their home for up to 120 days in a calendar year. Extended home-sharing registration allows hosts to participate in home-sharing for more than 120 days per year.
To apply for a home-sharing or extended home-sharing registration, applicants must meet all of the eligibility requirements outlined on the Requirements tab below.
Before applying for home-sharing, applicants should also make sure that they have the following documents (see the Administrative Guidelines for more detail):
Photo Identification (ID). A valid federal or state-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID card, or passport is required. If the address on the photo ID matches the location of the home-sharing unit, only one document from the list below is needed to verify primary residence.
Documentation of Primary Residence. Two of the following documents must be provided, unless the address on the photo ID matches the location of the home-sharing unit, in which case one of the following must be provided. The documents must indicate the host's name and the address of the home-sharing unit.
A current valid California voter's registration card or voter registration status
A current valid California vehicle registration certificate
A recent health or vehicle insurance bill
A copy of a paycheck or pay stub issued in the last six months
A copy of a current property tax bill indicating homeowner's exemption
A copy of a current rental or lease agreement, including the property manager's or landlord's contact information and signature
Landlord Approval. If the host is a renter or lessee, a signed and notarized Affidavit (available here) that approves the host's participation in home-sharing for that unit is required.
Primary Residence: The host must prove that the apartment or home is his or her primary residence, meaning that they live there for more than six months of the year. Proof of identification (including a Photo ID) and residence will be required to register any short-term rental property online. Consult the Administrative Guidelines for a list of acceptable documents.
Restrictions on Affordable and RSO Housing: The residence must not be subject to the City's Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), which applies to most multi-family units constructed before 1978, or any other affordability provisions such as an affordable housing covenant. For information on whether a property is subject to the RSO, search the City's web based mapping tool – Zone Information and Map Access (ZIMAS): zimas.lacity.org. The Housing tab will display if the unit is subject to the RSO. Contact the Housing and Community Investment Department (HCIDLA) at (866) 557-7368 for any questions.
Residential Use: Home-Sharing will not occur in a vehicle parked on the property, storage shed, trailer, temporary structure or other structure not built for residential use.
No Pending Citations: The Primary Residence or property cannot have any pending citations, order, ticket, or similar notice of violation from any City enforcement agency, including the Department of Building and Safety, the Housing and Community Investment Department, the Police Department and the Fire Department.
Landlord Approval: Anyone renting will have to obtain written approval from their landlord. The written approval will need to be signed and notarized, and submitted with application. The required Affidavit form is available here.
TOT Registration: The home-sharing registration system will facilitate the requirement for hosts to register to pay Transient Occupancy Tax. Additional details are available in the Administrative Guidelines.
Registration Number: Hosts must be in possession of a valid Home-Sharing registration number, which they can apply for online at planning.lacity.gov beginning July 1, 2019. Beginning November 1, 2019, listing without a valid registration number may result in fines.
To qualify, you can only engage in Home-sharing at your primary residence, in which you reside for more than 6 months of the calendar year. Proof of identification (including a Photo ID) and residence will be required to register your short-term rental. Additional detail on required documentation is provided in the Administrative Guidelines.
Do you plan to rent out a room in your home or on your property that is built for residential use?
Home-Sharing may not occur in a vehicle parked on the property, storage shed, trailer, temporary structure or other structure not built for residential use.
Have you verified that there are no open code violations associated with the property and/or unit?
The Primary Residence or property cannot have any open or unresolved code violations, including any enforcement citation, order, ticket, or similar notice of violation issued by a City enforcement agency, such as the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS), the Housing and Community Investment Department (HCIDLA), the Police Department (LAPD) and the Fire Department (LAFD). While you should be aware if the property has pending citations, the City will also check this requirement during the registration process.
Have you verified that there are no existing code violations associated with the property and/or unit?
The Primary Residence or property cannot have any open or unresolved code violations, including any enforcement citation, order, ticket, or similar notice of violation issued by a City enforcement agency, such as the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS), the Housing and Community Investment Department (HCIDLA), the Police Department (LAPD) and the Fire Department (LAFD). While you should be aware if the property has pending citations, the City will also check this requirement during the registration process.
If you live on a property with two or more units, have you verified that your unit is not subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO)?
Your property cannot be subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO). Generally, the RSO applies to most units built before October 1978 located on a property with two or more units. An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) or Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) may subject the property to the RSO. Please refer to HCIDLA's Accessory Dwelling Unit/Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit Frequently Asked Questions. Temporary exemptions, such as for owner-occupancy, do not relieve a residence from being subject to the RSO. For information on whether a property is subject to the RSO, you may text "RSO" to 1-855-880-7368. Learn more about the Rent Stabilization Ordinance on HCIDLA's website.
Have you verified that your property is not subject to other affordability restrictions?
You cannot engage in Home-Sharing if your property is restricted affordable or designated as an Ellis Act property, meaning that the building has been converted from units subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) to single-family home(s) within five years of the date of conversion. Contact HCIDLA at (866) 557-7368 for more information.
If you are a renter (i.e. tenant), do you have written approval from your landlord to participate in Home-Sharing?
If you are a renter or lessee, you must obtain an affidavit that has been signed by both you and the property owner/landlord that approves your participation in Home-Sharing (Affidavit form available here).
Extended Home-Sharing
To participate in home-sharing for more than 120 days per year, applicants must apply for an extended home-sharing registration. In addition to the eligibility requirements outlined above, applicants must also meet the following criteria to participate in extended home-sharing. (See the Administrative Guidelines for more details on these criteria.)
Applicants may apply online using the same portal they initially used to register for home-sharing. Click here to be directed to the online registration portal.
Six Months or 60 Days: Hosts must have maintained a valid home-sharing registration for at least six months or have hosted for at least 60 days.
Neighborhood Notification: Hosts must notify adjacent and abutting owners and occupants.
No Suspensions or Revocations. Hosts must demonstrate that they have not had their registration suspended or revoked within the past two years.
No More than One Citation. Hosts cannot have more than one citation issued within the prior three years to qualify for administrative approval. Otherwise, hosts must submit an application for discretionary review. The discretionary review process allows Los Angeles City Planning to consider whether there has been a history of continued nuisance activity at the site, and may require a public hearing.
Hosting Requirements
Hosts must adhere to the following rules and responsibilities, as outlined in the ordinance. (Note: This is a partial list. A complete list of restrictions is available in the Home-Sharing Ordinance and the Administrative Guidelines.)
Hosts must only post listings on hosting platforms that are specified in the home-sharing application.
Hosts must not book more one set of guests at a given time.
Hosts must not engage in any commercial uses for purposes of a party or an event.Hosts must ensure that basic health and safety features are provided, including fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors.
Hosts must not permit late-night outdoor parties.
Hosts must adhere to occupancy limits, which permit a maximum of two persons (excluding children) per habitable room.
Hosts must provide a Code of Conduct (available here) to all guests.
Hosts must pay a $3.10 per-night fee for each night of Home-Sharing.
Enforcement
The Home-Sharing Ordinance prohibits any listing of a short-term rental without a valid home-sharing registration number. The City’s compliance system regularly monitors short-term rental listings on hosting platforms and initiates enforcement for listings that are not registered. An initial notice of violation will be issued in situations where a listing without a registration number is identified. If the non-permitted activity does not cease, property owners and/or hosts may be subject to an enforcement action, including possible fines and citations.
Hosting platforms will be required to provide information to assist in the enforcement and removal of illegal listings. Additionally, both hosting platforms and hosts will be asked to maintain and provide written logs of all home-sharing activity.
Los Angeles City Planning maintains a 24/7 Complaint Line at (213) 267-7788 to report any concerns or complaints; these calls are attached to the property’s rental record. If the address can be matched with a Home-Sharing registration, the complaint will be reported to the Host’s emergency contact so they can address the problem with their guests. If the property is not registered, there is no emergency contact connected with the property to notify. Whether or not a property is registered for Home-Sharing, excessive noise, unruly gatherings, or criminal activity can be reported to the Police Department at 877-ASK-LAPD (877 275-5273); an officer can be dispatched, who can issue a citation or take further action, if warranted. Emergencies, such as a violent crime in progress, should be reported to 911.
Hosting Platforms
Following is a list of the hosting platforms that have entered into a Platform Agreement with the City of Los Angeles.
California Public Records Act Requests:
Requests for home-sharing registration data are processed under the California
Public Records Act and should be sent to Planning.CustodianofRecords@lacity.org. Requests
for assistance with home-sharing applications will not be responded to and will be
forwarded to planning.home-sharing@lacity.org.
