Long Beach Short-Term Rental Rules: What Airbnb Hosts Need to Know Before Listing
Does Long Beach require a permit to list on Airbnb?
Yes. Long Beach requires short-term rental hosts to obtain a Home Sharing Permit through the city's Development Services Department before listing on Airbnb, Vrbo, or any similar platform. Operating without a valid permit is a code enforcement violation and can result in daily fines. Check current permit requirements and fees at longbeach.gov.
Does Airbnb collect the Long Beach hotel tax (TOT) automatically?
Airbnb collects and remits Long Beach's Transient Occupancy Tax on behalf of hosts for bookings made through its platform, so most Airbnb hosts don't have to handle that tax separately. However, if you list through a platform that does not collect TOT automatically, you are responsible for remitting it to the Long Beach Finance Department yourself.
Can a renter in Long Beach legally list their apartment on Airbnb?
A renter in Long Beach needs to clear two separate hurdles before listing on Airbnb: first, the lease must allow subletting or short-term rentals, and the landlord must consent; second, the city's Home Sharing Permit must be obtained. A city permit does not override a lease prohibition, and violating either can result in eviction or fines independent of each other.
What is the Transient Occupancy Tax rate for short-term rentals in Long Beach?
Long Beach charges a Transient Occupancy Tax on short-term rental revenue, but the specific rate can change and should be confirmed with the Long Beach Finance Department at longbeach.gov rather than relying on any fixed figure. Airbnb typically collects and remits this tax automatically for bookings on its platform, but hosts using other platforms are responsible for remittance themselves.
Can Long Beach fine me for running an unpermitted Airbnb?
Yes. Long Beach code enforcement can issue fines to hosts operating short-term rentals without a valid city permit, and fines can accrue on a per-day basis. The city has used data from rental platforms to identify unpermitted listings. If you're currently listing without a permit, the city generally expects you to come into compliance before relisting. Contact Development Services at longbeach.gov for the current process.
Long Beach has its own short-term rental permitting system that operates separately from state law and from Airbnb's own platform policies, and the city has been enforcing it actively. If you rent out a room or an entire home through Airbnb, Vrbo, or any similar platform without the right local permits, you're not just risking a platform takedown - you're looking at city fines and potential legal action.
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What Long Beach Actually Requires
Long Beach requires short-term rental operators to obtain a Home Sharing Permit from the city. The program distinguishes between two types of listings: hosted rentals, where the primary resident is present during the guest's stay, and non-hosted rentals, where the host is not on-site. Long Beach has historically been more restrictive about non-hosted rentals, and the specific rules and permit categories in effect as of fall 2026 should be confirmed directly with the city's Development Services Department, since the ordinance framework has been updated more than once since it was first adopted. What has remained consistent is that operating without a valid permit is a code enforcement violation.
In addition to the Home Sharing Permit, hosts are required to collect and remit Transient Occupancy Tax, commonly called TOT, on short-term rental revenue. Airbnb collects and remits this automatically on behalf of hosts in Long Beach, but if you use a platform that doesn't handle TOT remittance for you, that obligation falls on the host. The city's current TOT rate and remittance instructions are managed through the Long Beach Finance Department.
How to Apply for a Permit
Applications for a Home Sharing Permit in Long Beach go through the city's Development Services Department, and the process is handled online through the city's permitting portal. You'll need to provide your property address, proof that the property is your primary residence (for hosted listings), and pay an application fee. The fee amount and any annual renewal costs are set by the city and can change, so check the current schedule at longbeach.gov rather than relying on any third-party summary, including this one.
There are also conditions attached to operating a short-term rental in Long Beach that remain in effect after you're permitted. These typically include noise and nuisance rules, occupancy limits tied to the size of the unit, and requirements that your rental not displace tenants in rent-stabilized housing. If your property is subject to the city's Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance or any other tenant protection measure, those protections generally don't disappear because you've decided to list on Airbnb.
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HOA and Lease Restrictions Still Apply Separately
A city permit does not override restrictions in your HOA's governing documents or your own lease if you're a renter. A number of Long Beach condo associations and apartment complexes prohibit short-term rentals outright, and violating those restrictions can result in fines or eviction entirely apart from anything the city does. If you're a renter thinking about subletting on Airbnb, your landlord's permission and your lease terms are threshold questions before the city permit process even becomes relevant.
What Happens If You're Operating Without a Permit
Long Beach's code enforcement division can issue fines to unpermitted short-term rental operators, and the city has used data from platform listings to identify non-compliant hosts. Fines can accrue per day of violation. If you're currently listing without a permit, the practical path is to pause the listing, apply for the permit, and get into compliance before relisting rather than hoping the listing won't be flagged. Continued violations after a notice can escalate to more significant enforcement action.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Short-term rental rules in Long Beach have been updated multiple times and specific permit fees, occupancy limits, and eligibility conditions can change. Always verify current requirements directly with the Long Beach Development Services Department and the Long Beach Finance Department at longbeach.gov before listing your property.