PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - The registration process has now begun for property owners who may be interested in legally operating their residence as a hosted short-term rental (STR) in Long Beach.

The STRs Program provides guidelines designed to maintain the City’s long-term housing stock while ensuring the safety and livability of Long Beach neighborhoods. All registration information and materials are available on the Development Services Department STRs Program webpage. For assistance with completing an application, property owners or operators may call 562.570.6820 or email shorttermrentals@longbeach.gov.

In June, the Long Beach City Council adopted an Ordinance regulating STRs in the city. Key provisions of the ordinance include:

• Any unit used as an STR must have a host, such as an owner or tenant, who is present throughout a guest’s stay. The Ordinance does not currently allow for un-hosted STRs; however, per the City Council’s direction, City staff will bring forth an item regarding regulations for operating un-hosted STRs for the City Council’s consideration at a meeting in November.
• Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are not allowed for STR use. 
• If an individual applying for an STR registration is not the property owner, they must submit a signed and notarized property owner consent form at the time of registration.
• Registrations are valid for one year from the date of issuance.
• The maximum number of persons, including the host or hosts, who may occupy the STR at a time is limited to two persons per bedroom, plus two; the maximum occupancy may not exceed 10 persons, unless an occasional event permit has been issued. 
• Until the California Coastal Commission takes action on the City’s STR ordinance, the City will not be accepting applications for STRs in the city’s Coastal Zone.

Pursuant to the STRs Ordinance, the City will be maintaining a list of residential apartment building property owners and homeowners’ associations (HOAs) in Long Beach who want to prohibit anyone from obtaining an STR registration on their property. Landlords and HOAs interested in being included on the list must complete and notarize a self-certification form, which is available on the STRs webpage.

“We believe that the hosted short-term rental program is fair and well thought out for property owners and residents alike,” said Development Services Department Director Oscar Orci. “It will provide additional lodging/housing opportunities while providing safeguards to preserve the character of our diverse residential neighborhoods across the city,”

Following the growth of rental platforms such as Airbnb and HomeAway in recent years, the City Council took action to adopt an ordinance to permit the rent or lease of privately-owned residential units on a short-term basis.

The City held a series of community meetings to offer opportunities for residents to provide input on STRs in Long Beach. Regulating STRs in Long Beach required an update to the City’s Zoning Regulations, including safety and design guidelines and transient occupancy tax (TOT) provisions.

To learn more about the STR Program, go to longbeach.gov/strs. For additional information about housing in Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/lbds or view the City’s Resources for Homeowners, Renters and Landlords.

###