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Claremont

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Claremont, CA

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STR Regulations for Claremont, California

Overview: STR Allowability in Claremont, CA

Short-term rentals are allowed in Claremont, CA, but with significant restrictions. The city permits only hosted short-term rentals within a resident's primary residence or an eligible accessory structure on the same property. No-host short-term rentals (vacation rentals) are strictly prohibited. This means the property owner must be present during the entire guest's stay. The city operates under a one-year pilot program with strict caps and regulations designed to balance economic opportunities with neighborhood preservation.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Claremont

Step 1: Determine Eligibility

  • Primary Residence Requirement: The property must be your primary residence (resided in at least 9 months of the year)
  • Host Presence: You must live on-site during the entire guest's stay
  • Property Type: Can be a room within the main home or a permitted accessory structure (e.g., guest house, ADU)
  • Zoning Compliance: Verify your property is in an eligible zone

Step 2: Zone Verification

Claremont is divided into five STR zones aligned with City Council districts. Each zone has a maximum of 20 permits. Check your zone status using the district map lookup tool.

Step 3: Application Process

  1. Contact City Staff: Reach out to Alex Cousins at (909) 399-5323 or acousins@claremontca.gov
  2. Submit Application: Use the online portal at portal.deckard.com/ca-los_angeles-city_of_claremont-str-portal/
  3. Neighborhood Notification: Mail notices to abutting properties, diagonally across the street, and any relevant HOAs
  4. Safety Inspection: Complete building, fire, and safety inspection
  5. Notarized Affidavit: Complete and notarize the STR permit affidavit

Step 4: Operational Setup

  • Register for Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and file monthly reports
  • Include STR permit number in all listings
  • Ensure compliance with occupancy and parking limits
  • Establish protocols for guest management and complaint handling

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Essential Documents

  • STR Permit Application ($585.20 fee)
  • STR Permit Affidavit (must be notarized)
  • Neighborhood Notice (using official template)
  • Proof of Primary Residency (resided 9+ months annually)
  • Building/Fire Safety Inspection ($95.21 re-inspection fee if needed)

Permits and Licenses

  • STR Permit: Annual renewal required ($435.73)
  • Transient Occupancy Tax Registration: Monthly filing obligations
  • Building Permits: If using accessory structures, proof of legal habitable status required

Safety and Compliance Requirements

  • Initial Safety Inspection: Mandatory for all STRs
  • Biannual Inspections: Required unless violations occur (then annual)
  • Smoke/CO Alarms: Compliance required
  • GFCI Outlets: Must meet code requirements
  • Egress Windows: Safety standards apply

Guidelines and Standards

  • Occupancy Limits: (Bedrooms × 2) + 1, plus up to 2 additional minor children (12 and under)
  • Parking: Maximum 1 vehicle per bedroom plus 1, all overnight parking on-site
  • Noise Compliance: No amplified sound audible at property line
  • Event Restrictions: No parties, weddings, receptions, or commercial events
  • Advertising: STR permit number must be included in all listings

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

City-Level Regulations (Claremont Municipal Code Chapter 16.110)

Permitted STR Types

  1. Hosted Rentals: Owner present throughout guest stay in primary residence
  2. Accessory Structure Rentals: Permitted guest houses/ADUs on same property as primary residence
  3. Limited Rentals: Maximum rental contracts per year for occasional use

Prohibited Activities

  • No-host Rentals: Strictly prohibited (owner must be present)
  • Commercial Events: Weddings, receptions, parties exceeding occupancy limits
  • Signage: No advertising signs on or around property
  • Multiple Permits: Only one STR permit per property owner/household

Operational Standards

  • Stay Duration: Less than 30 consecutive days
  • Occupancy: Overnight limits with daytime allowances (8 AM - 10 PM, up to double overnight limit)
  • Parking: On-site overnight parking required
  • Noise: Must comply with City Noise Ordinance (CMC 16.154.020)

County-Level Regulations

No specific Los Angeles County STR regulations identified in provided content. City regulations supersede county requirements.

State-Level Regulations (California)

ADU Restrictions (Government Code §66323)

  • State-Mandated ADUs: Prohibited from STR use even if hosted
  • Minimum Rental Terms: Most ADUs must be rented for 30+ days
  • Deed Restrictions: ADUs approved post-2019 include deed restrictions prohibiting short-term rentals

General California Requirements

  • Business License: Standard California business licensing requirements
  • Tax Obligations: TOT compliance (10% in Claremont)
  • Building Codes: State building and fire safety standards

Permit Caps and Availability

Current Permit Availability (Last Updated: October 29, 2025)

| STR Zone | Permits Issued | Permits Available | |----------|----------------|-------------------| | Zone 1 | 2 | 18 | | Zone 2 | 1 | 19 | | Zone 3 | 3 | 17 | | Zone 4 | 2 | 18 | | Zone 5 | 4 | 16 |

Total City Cap: 100 permits (20 per zone) Current Status: 88 permits available citywide

Waiting List Process

If your zone's cap is reached, applications are placed on a waiting list in order received. Regular updates provided on city website.

Fees and Tax Obligations

Permit Fees

  • Application Fee: $585.20
  • Annual Renewal: $435.73
  • Re-inspection: $95.21 (if needed)
  • Planning Time: $81.38 per hour

Tax Requirements

  • Transient Occupancy Tax: 10% of rental rates
  • Filing Frequency: Monthly
  • Platform Collection: Airbnb can collect directly; other platforms require self-reporting

Revenue Projections

City estimates potential TOT revenue of $70,000 annually with full compliance, not including permit fees.

Contact Information for Local Authority

Primary Contact

Alex Cousins
Senior Management Analyst
Phone: (909) 399-5323
Email: acousins@claremontca.gov
Responsibility: STR applications, program administration

General City Contact

City of Claremont
Address: 207 Harvard Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711
Phone: (909) 399-5460
Email: contact@claremontca.gov
Website: www.claremontca.gov

Complaint Reporting

STR Violation Hotline: (840) 205-0693
Online Reporting: complaints-str.deckard.com/claremont_city-str-complaints

Enforcement and Penalties

Violation Consequences

  • Three Violations: 12-month period results in 2-year suspension
  • TOT Non-Compliance: 12-month suspension
  • Unpermitted Advertising: Fines and possible permanent ineligibility

Inspection Requirements

  • Initial Inspection: Required before permit issuance
  • Biannual Inspections: Standard requirement
  • Annual Inspections: Required if violations occur
  • Safety Standards: Smoke/CO alarms, GFCI outlets, egress windows

Key Dates and Regulatory Timeline

  • February 4, 2025: Planning Commission recommended adoption
  • April 22, 2025: City Council adopted ordinance (4-1 vote)
  • One-Year Pilot Program: Currently in effect
  • Regular Updates: Zone availability updated regularly on city website

Important Links and Resources

Application and Portal

  • STR Registration Portal: portal.deckard.com/ca-los_angeles-city_of_claremont-str-portal/
  • Customer Portal Guide: Rentalscape User Guide (PDF, 6MB)

Document Templates

  • Neighborhood Notice: STR-Permit-Neighbor-Notice.pdf (173KB)
  • Safety Inspection Checklist: STR-Safety-Inspection-Checklist-7.2.25.pdf (146KB)
  • Permit Affidavit: STR-Permit-Affidavit.pdf (202KB)

Regulatory Documents

  • Full Ordinance: Short-Term-Rentals-City-Council-Staff-Report-April-22-2025.pdf (55MB)
  • Public Hearing Notice: STR-Ordinance-CC-4-22-Public-Hearing-Notice.pdf (129KB)

Planning and Zoning

Contact and Reporting

Investment Considerations for STR Operators

Advantages

  • Legal Framework: Clear regulations provide certainty for compliant operators
  • Growing Market: Tourism and business travel demand in Claremont area
  • Revenue Potential: Estimated $70,000 annual TOT potential indicates active market
  • Platform Support: Integration with Airbnb for TOT collection

Challenges

  • Strict Limitations: Only hosted rentals allowed significantly restricts options
  • Permit Scarcity: 80% of zones near or at capacity limits growth
  • High Costs: Application and renewal fees total over $1,000 annually
  • Intensive Oversight: Biannual inspections and strict compliance requirements

Strategic Recommendations

  1. Act Quickly: With limited permits available, early application advised
  2. Verify Eligibility: Confirm primary residence status and zoning compliance
  3. Budget Appropriately: Factor in permit fees, inspection costs, and ongoing compliance
  4. Plan for Renewal: Annual renewal process requires continued documentation and inspections

This regulatory environment favors serious, committed hosts over speculative investors, creating a more stable but limited investment opportunity.

Claremont

Market Saturation Score

036912
Moderate Saturation
5/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
5–7 declining months: moderate saturation risk - market may be nearing capacity.
View Full Claremont Market Analysis →

Photos of Claremont

Overview of Claremont

Claremont is a suburban city on the eastern edge of Los Angeles County, California, United States, 30 miles (48 km) east of downtown Los Angeles. It is in the Pomona Valley, at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 34,926, and in 2019 the estimated population was 36,266.Claremont is home to the Claremont Colleges and other educational institutions, and the city is known for its tree-lined streets with numerous historic buildings. Because of this, it is sometimes referred to as "The City of Trees and Ph.Ds." It was named the best suburb in the West by Sunset Magazine in 2016, which described it as a "small city that blends worldly sophistication with small-town appeal." In 2018, Niche rated Claremont as the 17th best place to live in the Los Angeles area out of 658 communities it evaluated, based on crime, cost of living, job opportunities, and local amenities.The city is primarily residential, with a significant portion of its commercial activity located in "The Village," a popular collection of street-front small stores, boutiques, art galleries, offices, and restaurants adjacent to and west of the Claremont Colleges. The Village was expanded in 2007, adding a controversial multi-use development that includes an indie cinema, a boutique hotel, retail space, offices, and a parking structure on the site of an old citrus packing plant west of Indian Hill Boulevard. Claremont also hosts several large retirement communities.Claremont has been a winner of the National Arbor Day Association's Tree City USA award for 22 consecutive years. When the city incorporated in 1907, local citizens started what has become the city's tree-planting tradition. Claremont is one of the few remaining places in North America with American Elm trees that have not been exposed to Dutch elm disease. The stately trees line Indian Hill Boulevard in the vicinity of the city's Memorial Park.

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