Critical Finding
See whether the property can operate now, what blocks it, and which exception may apply.
Local guide
Long Beach Short-Term Rental Laws
Long Beach STR rules for 2026: primary and non-primary eligibility, $500 review fee, 800-unit cap, 13% TOT, renewal, and official sources.
- 100+ U.S. cities
- Official sources
- Address used only for local rules
Compliance layers
A Clear Answer, Then a Path Forward.
Address Context
Confirm zoning, current land use, jurisdiction, and the rules that actually govern the address.
Required Approvals
Get the permits, licenses, documents, inspections, and tax registrations needed before launch.
Recommended Path
Follow prioritized next steps, deadlines, renewal duties, and viable alternatives when rules change.
Decision rule
Long Beach STR status: the answer first
Long Beach requires annual STR registration and divides applications into primary-residence and non-primary-residence tracks. The current application-review fee is $500, qualified units may require inspection, and the non-primary-residence program is capped at 800 registrations citywide.
Eligibility is property-specific. ADUs and JADUs are not qualified dwelling units, a building or HOA can appear on the Prohibited Buildings List, and the number of STR units allowed on a multi-unit property is limited by the development’s unit count.
Long Beach defines an STR as a home or portion of a home rented to paying guests for 30 consecutive days or less.
Registration depends on residence class and cap
Allowed only for an eligible dwelling with the correct registration type, inspection/consent, and operating compliance.
Warning
What is materially different in Long Beach
These are the local facts that change eligibility, cost, or workflow.
- Application review fee
- $500Applies to new and renewal review and is not refundable once reviewed.
- Primary residence test
- Usual residence for at least 275 days per yearUnhosted primary-residence use is limited to 90 days per registration period.
- Non-primary cap
- 800 citywideComplete applicants may receive a reservation or be placed on a waitlist.
- ADU/JADU
- Not eligibleDo not pay the non-refundable fee for an unqualified structure.
- TOT
- 13%, reported monthlyAirbnb collects, but hosts report all platform receipts; other platform/direct receipts require owner remittance.
Address and property eligibility
Complete these checks before paying a non-refundable fee or accepting a reservation.
Eligibility gate 1
Choose primary or non-primary registration and hosted or unhosted activity before applying.
RequiredEligibility gate 2
Confirm the space is a legally permitted qualified dwelling; ADUs, JADUs, garages, casitas, pool houses, and live-work spaces are listed as ineligible.
RequiredEligibility gate 3
Check the Prohibited Buildings List, HOA/owner consent, unit-count limit, code cases, unpaid citations, coastal-zone status, and inspection readiness.
Required
Required approvals and records
Keep each account or approval separate so one receipt is not mistaken for full authorization.
- Registration type
- Primary and non-primary tracks have different residency, cap, and use rules.
- Owner authorization
- A non-owner applicant needs signed and notarized property-owner authorization.
- Inspection
- Guest-accessed areas must be inspected and unsafe conditions corrected before approval.
- Completion window
- After city review identifies items, the applicant has 45 days to complete the file or the application can become invalid and the fee forfeited.
A workable Long Beach compliance sequence
Long Beach registration starts with a pre-payment eligibility audit because the $500 fee can become non-refundable and does not guarantee approval. The most important decision is the primary/non-primary track, followed by structure, building, cap, inspection, and citation checks.
Classify the application
Select primary/non-primary and hosted/unhosted status and document the residency facts.
Screen the property
Check legal dwelling status, prohibited buildings, unit caps, code cases, citation balances, coastal zone, and owner authorization.
Prepare inspection and documents
Collect identity/residency, owner authorization if needed, property records, floor information, and emergency contacts.
Submit and pay $500
Use the applicable city registration path; non-primary applicants may first need an Application of Interest.
Close corrections within 45 days
Complete document or safety corrections within the city’s post-review window.
Activate listings and monthly TOT
Add the issued number to all listings and report 13% TOT every month.
Lodging tax and marketplace handling
Treat registration, collection, filing, and marketplace reporting as separate checks.
Long Beach’s current STR page sets TOT at 13% and requires monthly reporting. Airbnb collects and remits under a city agreement, but hosts still report Airbnb receipts; for other platforms and direct bookings, the host collects and remits the tax unless the city confirms another arrangement.
Collection and filing are different duties
Record who collects each tax on each channel, who files the return, and what evidence supports exemptions or marketplace deductions.
Warning
Operating rules and enforcement exposure
An unqualified structure, prohibited building, active code case, unpaid citation, failed inspection, missed 45-day correction window, or non-primary cap can block approval. Renew 30 days before expiration; an expired or invalid registration makes continued listing and operation enforceable.
Operating control 1
Place the issued registration number on every listing and advertisement.
RequiredOperating control 2
Maintain a 24/7 host or emergency contact and comply with occupancy, parking, noise, and event rules.
RequiredOperating control 3
Do not exceed 90 unhosted days for a primary-residence registration.
RequiredOperating control 4
Report 13% TOT monthly across all booking channels and keep platform-level evidence.
Required
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally start a new short-term rental in Long Beach?
Allowed only for an eligible dwelling with the correct registration type, inspection/consent, and operating compliance. Eligibility is property-specific. ADUs and JADUs are not qualified dwelling units, a building or HOA can appear on the Prohibited Buildings List, and the number of STR units allowed on a multi-unit property is limited by the development’s unit count.
What is the first Long Beach requirement to verify?
Choose primary or non-primary registration and hosted or unhosted activity before applying.
What does the local short-term rental registration cost?
$500. Applies to new and renewal review and is not refundable once reviewed.
Does a booking platform finish the tax work for a Long Beach host?
Long Beach’s current STR page sets TOT at 13% and requires monthly reporting. Airbnb collects and remits under a city agreement, but hosts still report Airbnb receipts; for other platforms and direct bookings, the host collects and remits the tax unless the city confirms another arrangement. Verify every channel rather than assuming platform collection closes the owner account.
When should the Long Beach STR rules be checked again?
Long Beach's official sources were checked on August 11, 2026 and this city guide is scheduled for review by 2026-09-10. Recheck sooner after a local notice, court decision, fee change, ownership change, or portal update.