Short-Term Rentals in Glendale, CA

If you live in Glendale or are thinking about moving there, short-term rentals are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Glendale has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of short-term rentals, and some of them might surprise you.

Host Presence Rule

Glendale only licenses home-sharing where at least one host lives on site for the guest's entire stay. Any short-term rental where no host is present, called a vacation rental under city code, is banned outright in every zone, with no permit path available.

Key details: Host must live on site: Throughout guest's entire stay. Minimum host residency: 60 consecutive days before hosting. No-host rentals: Classified as vacation rentals. Vacation rentals: Prohibited in all zones. Governing section: Municipal Code § 5.56.030.

Renting out a dwelling with no host present converts the use into a prohibited vacation rental under Section 5.56.020(B), which carries no permit option and exposes the operator to license revocation, denial of renewal, and code enforcement, plus loss of the local hosting privilege for repeat offenses under Section 5.56.040(D)(3).

This is one of the stricter rules in Glendale's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Noise Rules

Glendale bans home-sharing guests from generating noise or disturbance that unreasonably interferes with a neighbor's enjoyment of their dwelling, and subjects every home-sharing property to the city's loud-and-large-party fee ordinance, which bills hosts for repeat police responses.

Key details: First party response: Written warning only. Second response window: Fine if within 12 hours. Repeat-response window: 3 months, citywide for same person. Commercial events/parties: Banned at home-sharing units. Fine appeal deadline: 15 days to city clerk.

A loud or large party at a home-sharing property draws a written warning on the first police response; a second response within 12 hours, or any further response within three months, triggers a council-set fine billed as a civil debt under Section 9.22.080. Hosting a banned commercial event or gathering violates Section 5.56.050(E) and can jeopardize the home-sharing license under Section 5.56.040(D).

This is one of the stricter rules in Glendale's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Glendale requires anyone renting a residential dwelling for 30 days or less to first obtain a home-sharing license under Municipal Code Chapter 5.56. Vacation rentals with no on-site host are banned citywide, and every host must register, register for transient occupancy tax, and name a 24-hour local contact.

Key details: License required: Yes, before any home-sharing. Vacation rentals (no host): Prohibited in all zones. Separate license per unit: Required on multi-unit lots. Local contact: Available 24 hours a day. Governing chapter: Municipal Code Ch. 5.56.

Operating home-sharing without a license, or operating a vacation rental where no host lives on site, violates Chapter 5.56 and can lead to license denial, suspension, or revocation under Section 5.04.100. Repeated violations by a host count against renewal, and the city may pursue any lawful remedy under Section 5.56.040(D) for nuisance or code violations, with appeals routed through Section 5.04.110.

This is one of the stricter rules in Glendale's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Taxes & Fees

Glendale folds home-sharing straight into its hotel tax law: Municipal Code Section 5.56.050(J) requires every host to comply with all of Chapter 4.32, the Transient Occupancy Tax ordinance, meaning the same 12% tax charged to hotel guests applies to short-term rental stays. Hosts must also keep three years of stay records for the finance department.

Key details: TOT rate on home-sharing rent: 12% of rent charged. Governing tax duty section: Municipal Code § 5.56.050(J). Record retention required: 3 years of stay records. Monthly filing deadline: 25 days after month closes. First late penalty: 10% of unpaid tax.

Late or unremitted TOT carries a 10% penalty on the tax owed, plus a second 10% penalty if the delinquency continues past 30 days, and a 50% penalty on top of both if the tax administrator finds fraud. Unpaid tax also accrues interest at 0.5% per month. A host who fails to collect the tax, refuses to file a return, won't produce records for inspection, or files a false return commits a misdemeanor under Section 1.20.010, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense; the city may also refer the debt to a collection agency or pursue civil action.

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

STR guests in Glendale must use available off-street parking. The home-sharing ordinance requires that rentals not create parking nuisances. Hosts must provide parking instructions to guests. On-street parking follows city regulations.

Key details: Off-Street: Guests should use available spaces. Permit Districts: Many neighborhoods have permit parking. Host Duty: Provide parking instructions. Nuisance Standard: Must not create parking congestion.

Parking violations by STR guests may result in tickets and towing. Persistent parking complaints contribute to Home-Sharing License review and potential revocation.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Glendale gives residents more flexibility on short-term rental parking rules.

The Bottom Line

Glendale is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Glendale, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Glendale can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.