Alhambra, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rental Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Short-term rental use
- Prohibited for ADUs and JADUs
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 23.22.040(L)
- Cross-referenced chapter
- Chapter 5.92 (STR permits)
- Applies regardless of
- Owner-occupancy status
Summary
Alhambra Municipal Code § 23.22.040(L) flatly prohibits using an accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit as a short-term rental, cross-referencing the short-term rental permit chapter, Chapter 5.92, for enforcement.
(L) Short-term rental. ADUs and JADUs are prohibited from being utilized as short-term rentals pursuant to Chapter 5.92.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-25: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 4851, passed 10-27-25).
Full Breakdown
92. This closes off what would otherwise be an obvious use for a newly built or legalized accessory unit in a city where a large share of the housing stock is multifamily and rental demand near Cal State LA and the Gold Line is strong. 040(H) separately confirms ADUs carry no owner-occupancy requirement. 92 permits short-term rentals of a primary residence elsewhere on the same lot. An owner who wants to generate income from an ADU is limited to standard long-term tenancy; night-to-night or week-to-week bookings on platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo are not permitted uses for these units anywhere in the city.
Violations & Fines
Operating an ADU or JADU as a short-term rental violates § 23.22.040(L) and Chapter 5.92, and the ADU chapter's enforcement provision, § 23.22.040(K), authorizes Chapter 1.04 administrative fines against the owner and successors in interest, along with potential revocation of the right to maintain the unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I list my Alhambra ADU on Airbnb?
Does it matter if I live in the main house?
What can I use the ADU for instead?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alhambra
California rules heatmap·Compare Alhambra to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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