West Hollywood, CA short-term rental license
West Hollywood prices its vacation rental fines off the ad itself. Citations begin at 400% of the advertised rental rate, rising to 800% by the third offense. Ads without a listed price draw fines from $1,000 to $5,000.[5]
Every rule below links to the official source it comes from, verified October 1, 2026.
Can you rent short term in West Hollywood?
Get a license first
What you apply for: Home Sharing Business License
- Seasonal homes
- 465
- Housing units
- 26,079
- Residents
- 34,884
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates
- City ruleLicense required
- City feeNone published
- Tax on each stay12.5%
- Seasonal homes18 per 1,000
West Hollywood short-term rental license
West Hollywood issues one short-term rental license, the Home Sharing Business License, to property owners only. It is required to host a guest for compensation for less than 31 days. You qualify only if you own the unit, residing in it during your paying guests' entire stay. Renters are not eligible. Applicants provide proof of identity, ownership and residency through the city's registration page. The city's Home Sharing License page publishes no fee for this license. Licensees pay transient occupancy tax, currently 12.5%, every month through the same portal.[4]
What West Hollywood asks of you
A property owner who wants to host a guest for compensation for less than 31 days must obtain a Home Sharing Business License.[4]
Eligibility is limited to owners who reside in the unit during the paying guests' entire stay.[4]
Renters are not eligible for Home Sharing Business Licenses.[4]
Proof of identity, ownership and residency must be provided with the registration.[4]
The city's Home Sharing License page publishes no fee amount for the license.[4]
Owners who host 2025 wildfire evacuees can request a waiver of the license fee, for new applications and renewals alike.[4]
Outside that license, a violation notice directs the immediate stoppage of renting housing for less than 31 days. The city cites Municipal Code section 19.36.331.[5]
Enforcement may start with a warning notice to all responsible parties. Citations follow if the violation continues.[5]
For ads with a listed price, fines are 400% of the advertised rate for a first offense, 600% for a second, 800% for a third.[5]
For ads without a listed price, fines are $1,000.00, then $2,500.00, then $5,000.00. A $75.00 administrative fee appears in both fine tables.[5]
The advertised rental rate is the nightly rate multiplied by the minimum number of nights required. Deposits are not counted, nor are ancillary fees.[5]
Continued non-compliance may be referred to the City Prosecutor's Office for criminal prosecution.[5]
What California asks wherever you host
These rules apply at this address whatever the city decides.
No state license exists for short-term rentals in California. The state's 2025 act on booking platforms says it does not preempt a local short-term rental ordinance.[1]
Since July 1, 2024, every mandatory fee has to sit inside the rate you advertise. Only government taxes and fees may be added later.[2]
State law caps city fines when a short-term rental violation threatens health or safety. The first ceiling is $1,500. A second violation within the year reaches $3,000, each later one $5,000.[3]
What a guest pays on top of your nightly rate in West Hollywood
Each layer is set by a different authority, and not all of them are collected by the platform.
| Layer | Rate | Remitted to |
|---|---|---|
| West Hollywood transient occupancy tax[4] | 12.5% | The city |
| Total on a taxable stay | 12.5% |
Home sharing licensees pay the tax directly through the city's Registration and Tax Payment Portal. Hosts pay monthly, with the last day of the following month as the deadline.[4]
Airbnb taxes for hostsWhat the census counts
How much of West Hollywood is already a second home
The Census Bureau counts 465 of West Hollywood's 26,079 homes as vacant for seasonal, recreational or occasional use. That is 18 out of every 1,000. It ranks West Hollywood 27th of the 37 California cities on this site for the share of its housing stock kept for part-year use.
- Rank in the state
- 27th of 37
- Share of housing
- 18 per 1,000
- Median home value
- $924,800
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, tables B25004, B25001, B01003 and B25077.
Nearby and comparable
Where West Hollywood sits among its neighbors
Los Angeles, CA
Primary residence only
With a Home-Sharing registration, for up to 120 days a year unless you hold Extended Home-Sharing.
Los Angeles short-term rental rulesSanta Monica, CA
Permit required
739 seasonal homes, 14 per 1,000 housing units.
Santa Monica short-term rental rulesPasadena, CA
Permit required
746 seasonal homes, 12 per 1,000 housing units.
Pasadena short-term rental rulesHuntington Beach, CA
Permit required
1,464 seasonal homes, 18 per 1,000 housing units.
Huntington Beach short-term rental rulesFAQ
West Hollywood short-term rental questions
Can a renter get a Home Sharing Business License in West Hollywood?
How much does the West Hollywood Home Sharing Business License cost?
What is the fine for an illegal vacation rental in West Hollywood?
Does the 3% tourism district assessment apply to home sharing?
Sources
- Short-Term Rental Facilitator Act of 2025 (SB 346), Government Code sections 50990 to 50996, California Legislative Information, read on October 1, 2026
- Business and Professions Code section 17568.6, lodging price display, California Legislative Information, read on October 1, 2026
- Government Code section 36900, fines for city ordinance violations, California Legislative Information, read on October 1, 2026
- Home Sharing License, City of West Hollywood, read on October 1, 2026
- Vacation Rentals, City of West Hollywood, read on October 1, 2026
- Transient Occupancy Tax, City of West Hollywood, read on October 1, 2026
This page is not legal advice. It summarizes the official sources listed on this page as they read on October 1, 2026. Rules can change after that date, so check with the issuing office before you apply or publish a listing.
Before you list
Free tools for new hosts
Short-term rental agreement generator
Parties, dates, rent, deposit checked against your state's cap, and the house rules clauses you enforce. A signed-ready PDF for direct and Vrbo bookings.
Airbnb host fee calculator
What Airbnb takes on a booking under the 15.5% host-only fee or the old split fee, what the guest pays on top, and the payout that reaches you.
Airbnb house rules
Generate a complete PDF house rules document for your property: rules, schedule, amenities, emergency contacts.
Check-in instructions
The message a guest reads before getting in: access, keys, WiFi, parking, contact. English or bilingual output.