Yes. Short-term rentals are allowed in Long Beach under a municipal STR ordinance. A “short‑term rental” is defined as a home, or portion of a home, rented to paying guests for 30 consecutive days or less. The City allows two types of registrations:

• Primary Residence STR: For your permanent home (used at least 275 days/year).
• Non‑Primary Residence STR: For properties you own that are not your primary residence.

Primary Residence STRs are unlimited in number. Non‑Primary Residence STRs are capped at 800 citywide. Hosts must register annually, collect and remit Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), meet operating requirements, and pass any required inspections.

Long Beach has increased enforcement, especially in 2025, with additional eligibility checks, renewal inspections, “three-strike” citations, and stricter occupancy/event rules (see Enforcement Updates below).

How to start an STR business in Long Beach

1. Determine your registration type

• Primary Residence STR:
  • Must be your primary residence (≥275 days/year).
  • Hosted stays: unlimited days.
  • Unhosted stays: max 90 days per registration period.
• Non‑Primary Residence STR:
  • Any residential property that is not your primary residence.
  • Hosted or unhosted: unlimited days.
  • Citywide cap: 800 registrations.

2. Check eligibility (typical hurdles)

• Qualified dwelling unit only. ADUs/JADUs are not eligible. Inspection may be required.
• No active/pending code enforcement violations or unpaid citation fees for the property.
• Property must have a clear safety profile; new/renewal inspections may be required.
• Property owner consent required if the applicant is not the owner (notarized authorization).
• For non-primary rentals, a waiting list applies once the 800 cap is reached.

3. Prepare documentation (see next section for specifics)

4. Apply in the City portal

• Submit the correct application (primary vs non-primary), pay the application fee, and provide all required uploads.
• Non-primary: submit an Application of Interest; if the cap is reached, you will be placed on the waiting list.
• Approval timelines vary with staff workload and application completeness.

5. Receive registration and list legally

• Once approved, display your City‑issued STR registration number on all listings/ads.
• Appoint a 24/7 emergency contact who can respond within one hour to complaints.

6. Collect and remit TOT (13%)

• Airbnb has a voluntary collection agreement with Long Beach and remits TOT for Airbnb bookings.
• For all other platforms and non‑Airbnb receipts, you must collect, report, and pay TOT monthly via the City’s TOT portal.
• Report and pay by the 10th of the month following the reporting month. Late penalties: 25% on the first day of the second month after the reporting month; 50% on the first day of the third month after.

7. Renew annually

• Renewal should be submitted at least 30 days before expiration.
• New inspections and eligibility criteria may apply at renewal (see Enforcement Updates).
• The renewal fee is payable and non‑refundable once review begins.

8. Occasional events (optional)

• To host an event exceeding the STR’s maximum occupancy, obtain an Occasional Event Permit from the Long Beach Special Events office (max 4 per registration year).

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

Registration fee

• Application review fee: $400 (primary) or $500 (non‑primary) per year.

Documentation: Primary Residence STR (owner or renter)

• Proof of primary residence (two of the following; must include your name and the property address):
  • Motor vehicle registration
  • Driver’s license
  • Voter registration
  • Tax documents showing the unit as your residence
  • Utility bill
• Primary Residence Certification and Indemnification Form (wet signature; digital signatures not accepted).
• For renters: STR Property Owner Authorization (notarized).
• Los Angeles County Assessor Identification Number (AIN) for the subject property.

Documentation: Non‑Primary Residence STR

• Driver’s license (name matches the application).
• Property Owner Authorization (notarized) if applicant is not the owner.
• Legal entity authority (if applying under an LLC or similar):
  • Notarized “STR Legal Entity/Business Structure Applicant Authority and Agreement”
  • Entity must be registered and in good standing with the California Secretary of State.
• Los Angeles County Assessor Identification Number (AIN) for the subject property.

Operating requirements you must follow

• Collect, report, and pay 13% TOT monthly (see TOT section).
• Post inside the STR:
  • Maximum occupancy
  • Parking capacity and rules
  • Trash/recycling pickup information
  • 24/7 local contact name and phone
  • Emergency contact info (police/fire/medical)
  • Evacuation plan showing exits and fire extinguisher location
• Maintain a 24/7 local contact who can respond within one hour to City‑forwarded complaints.
• Maximum occupancy: two persons per bedroom plus two more, max eight persons total. Studios count as zero bedrooms and have a max occupancy of two. Children are included in the count.
• No exterior signs advertising the STR.
• Use of outdoor pools, spas, and hot tubs is prohibited from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
• Operators and property owners are jointly responsible for nuisances; repeated violations trigger enforcement.
• Required for any event exceeding occupancy: Occasional Event Permit.

Prohibited buildings and local restrictions

• ADUs/JADUs are not eligible for STR registration.
• A “Prohibited Buildings List” allows residential apartment building owners and HOAs to opt out of STRs citywide; landlords/HOAs can submit self‑certification forms to be added.
• If your building/HOA is in the Coastal Zone, additional steps are required via the City to be placed on the Prohibited Buildings List.
• Neighborhood petition process can restrict unhosted STRs; petition instructions and applications are available on the City’s STR page.

Coastal Zone overlay

• Special constraints and procedures apply to properties in the Coastal Zone (e.g., HOA prohibition process and certain coastal access requirements). Use the City’s Coastal Zone Property Lookup tool to check your parcel.

Specific regulations: City, County, and State

City of Long Beach (Municipal Code; STR Program)

• STR definition: ≤30 consecutive days.
• Registration caps:
  • Primary Residence STR: unlimited.
  • Non‑Primary Residence STR: capped at 800 citywide.
• Registration limits per person:
  • One Primary Residence STR and one Non‑Primary Residence STR per host.
• Qualified dwelling unit required; ADUs/JADUs prohibited.
• Number of units allowed per property/development (cap on the share of units that can be STRs):
  • 1–10 qualified units: 1 STR
  • 11–50: 10%
  • 51–100: 12%
  • 101+: 15%
• Hosted vs unhosted:
  • Primary Residence STR: hosted (unlimited days), unhosted (max 90 days/period).
  • Non‑Primary Residence STR: hosted or unhosted (both unlimited).
• Safety/inspection: Any areas accessible to guests must be inspected and cleared of hazardous/unsafe conditions; renewals may require inspections.
• Eligibility “good standing”: No active/pending code enforcement actions; no outstanding citation fees; additional renewal checks apply (see Enforcement Updates).
• Occupancy: Two per bedroom + two additional, max eight total (studios: max two).
• Taxes: 13% TOT remitted monthly; Airbnb remits for Airbnb bookings; hosts remit for all other platforms.
• Advertising: STR registration number must appear on all ads/listings.
• Quiet hours: No outdoor pools/spas/hot tubs between 10:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.
• Events: Occasional Event Permit required to exceed occupancy.
• Nuisance liability: Operator and owner are jointly responsible.
• Prohibited buildings: Building owners/HOAs may prohibit STR registrations via the City’s list.

Los Angeles County

• The STR program is City‑run. County roles are limited; key practical items (e.g., AIN lookup) use the County Assessor’s mapping tool.

State of California (AB 3182/Strahorn; effective 2021)

• Bans “no‑rent‑or‑lease‑of‑less‑than‑30‑days” clauses in residential leases statewide. This prevents landlords from banning 30‑day+ STRs via lease addenda. Local governments may still regulate STRs (zoning, caps, taxes, safety), and HOAs may still adopt STR rules, subject to state law. The County and City may implement STR registration and tax programs (as Long Beach has done).

Enforcement updates (approved Feb 2025; staged implementation)

• Pre‑approval safety inspection for all new/renewal STRs.
• Outstanding code enforcement fees disqualify approval/renewal.
• Active or pending criminal/civil investigations (including code enforcement) disqualify approval/renewal.
• Three or more citations in an 18‑month period disqualify renewal.
• Recreational vehicles, pool houses, rumpus rooms, casitas are banned as STRs.
• Maximum occupancy: two per bedroom, max eight persons.
• Filming/special events prohibited without an Occasional Event Permit (already required) or other necessary permits.
• Violence at an STR counts as two strikes; any municipal code or Penal Code violation counts as three strikes; three strikes blocks renewal; the City can cancel/suspend an STR if the owner/operator fails to respond to or remedy a violent incident.
• These updates appear in City Council materials and local reporting and will be incorporated into the City’s STR portal over time.

Contact information (Local authority in charge of STRs)

Short‑Term Rentals Program (City of Long Beach, Community Development – Code Enforcement)

• Email: shorttermrentals@longbeach.gov
• Phone: 562.570.6141 (Victoria Bueno, Assistant Administrative Analyst)
• Complaint Hotline (24/7): 562.568.8665 (report STR violations/complaints)
• Address: 411 W. Ocean Blvd., 4th Floor, Long Beach, CA 90802
• TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) Questions: STR‑TOT@LongBeach.gov

Occasional Event Permits (Special Events Office)

• Website: City STR page provides the Occasional Event Permit link
• Address: 5001 Airport Plaza Drive, Suite 130, Long Beach, CA 90815
• Phone: 562.570.5333
• After Hours Line: 562.570.5339
• Fax: 562.570.5335

Code Enforcement Bureau

• General Contact: 562.570.CODE (2633)
• Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
• Address: 411 West Ocean Blvd., 3rd Floor, Long Beach, CA 90802

Source pages (links)

• City of Long Beach Short‑Term Rentals Program: www.longbeach.gov/lbcd/enforcement/strs/
• City of Long Beach STR Ordinance (Municipal Code): library.municode.com/ca/long_beach/ordinances/municipal_code?nodeId=1346216
• City of Long Beach TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax): longbeach.gov/finance/business-info/business-licenses/transient-occupancy-tax/
• Los Angeles County Assessor Map (AIN search): maps.assessor.lacounty.gov/m/
• City of Long Beach Press Release (2020 STR Registration Launch): longbeach.gov/press-releases/long-beach-announces-start-of-registration-for-citywide-short-term-rentals-program/
• City Council Meeting – Dec 8, 2020 (STR program): longbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4707384&GUID=68D55476-5623-4F10-97E8-B7122BA9CDD2
• City Council Meetings – STR Ordinance readings (June 2020): longbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4564850&GUID=1F8FCFB4-E89C-4C6C-A4E0-CCDA10704828
• City Council Meeting – May 12, 2020 (prior STR action): longbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4522645&GUID=C726FCB1-97B9-449E-B7A4-01A45E12B33B
• Long Beach Post – STR enforcement tightening (Feb 2025): lbpost.com/news/city/long-beach-moves-to-crack-down-on-problem-airbnbs-with-stricter-rules-enforcement/
• Airbnb Help – Long Beach STR overview (platform perspective): www.airbnb.com/help/article/939
• Long Beach Coastal Zone Property Lookup: longbeachca.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=98c8e5c14a3e400f9661bc0f9a07dff1

Notes

• Rely on the City’s STR program page and ordinance for binding requirements. Third‑party summaries can vary (e.g., different occupancy or cap figures), and the City’s 2025 enforcement changes are in the process of being integrated into the portal.
• All “downloadable forms” referenced above (Primary Residence Certification; Property Owner Authorization; Legal Entity/Business Structure Applicant Authority; Landlord/HOA Self‑Certification forms; Occasional Event Permit) are linked from the City STR page.