Politics
West Hollywood Council Approves Short-Term Rental Ordinance, Aligning Rules With Los Angeles County Standards
Property owners operating short-term rentals in West Hollywood will face new permit and occupancy requirements starting in October, a change that also applies to listings in adjacent Los Angeles neighborhoods.
How we reported this
The West Hollywood City Council voted 4-1 on July 7 to adopt a short-term rental ordinance that mandates annual permits, caps occupancy at two guests per bedroom, and imposes a 90-day annual limit on hosted stays. The measure applies to all residential zones within city limits and requires hosts to register with the city’s planning department before listing on platforms such as Airbnb or Vrbo.
Why the vote occurred now
City records show 142 active short-term rental listings in West Hollywood as of May 2026. Staff reports presented at the meeting noted a 35 percent rise in resident complaints about noise and parking between 2024 and 2025. The ordinance mirrors provisions already in place in the city of Los Angeles and unincorporated county areas, where similar caps took effect in 2024.
Under the new rules, hosts must pay a $250 annual registration fee and maintain liability insurance of at least $1 million. Revenue from the fees is projected in the city’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget document to generate $35,500, which will fund code enforcement positions within the planning department.
Effects on residents and daily operations
Long-term renters in multi-unit buildings along Santa Monica Boulevard and Fountain Avenue may see fewer units converted to transient use, since the 90-day cap applies per property. Hosts who currently list entire homes for more than three months a year will need to adjust listings or convert properties back to year-round residential use. Visitors staying in permitted units will continue to pay the city’s existing 14 percent transient occupancy tax, unchanged by the vote.
Enforcement begins October 1. City staff will conduct random inspections and respond to complaints through the existing 311 reporting system. Non-compliant listings can be removed from platforms after two written warnings, according to the ordinance language.
The legislation requires the planning department to issue a compliance report to the council by January 2027, including the number of permits issued and enforcement actions taken.