Short-Term Rentals in Huntington Beach, CA (2026)

10 verified short-term rentals rules for Huntington Beach, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

Every Huntington Beach short-term rental needs a City permit from the Director of Community Development before it can be advertised or rented. The permit is personal, lasts two years, and comes with strict occupancy caps, a guest parking plan, and a 24-hour local contact, and violators face $1,000-a-day fines under Chapter 5.120.

Huntington Beach STR Permit Rules

Significant Restrictions

Huntington Beach, CA Municipal Code § 5.120.030(A)

No person or entity shall advertise, rent, or operate a short-term rental (STR) in the City unless a permit has been issued by the City pursuant to this chapter. An operator or host of the STR shall apply with the City to obtain a permit and shall be responsible for complying with all requirements of this chapter.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

Huntington Beach bans loud, unnecessary noise from any short-term rental under Section 5.120.040(G), on top of the City's general noise ordinance. Hosts must keep guests from causing disturbances, provide a 24-hour contact who answers within an hour, and STR tenants must be at least 25 years old.

Huntington Beach STR Noise Rules

Some Restrictions

Huntington Beach, CA Municipal Code § 5.120.040(G)

It is unlawful for any STR operator, host, occupant, renter, lessee, person present upon, or person having charge or possession of the STR premises, to make or continue to cause to be made or continued any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise which disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood, or which causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of normal sensitivities residing in...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Every Huntington Beach short-term rental host or operator must hold a City-issued STR permit paid for with a Council-set fee, and must collect and remit Transient Occupancy Tax on every booking under Chapter 3.28. Skipping the permit fee or TOT triggers a $1,000-per-day fine.

Huntington Beach STR Permit Fees and TOT

Significant Restrictions

Huntington Beach, CA, Municipal Code §§ 5.120.030(B), 5.120.050(D)

An application for a STR permit shall be accompanied by a fee established by resolution of the City Council, provided, however, the fee shall be no greater than necessary to defer the cost incurred by the City in administering the provisions of this chapter. ... Transient occupancy taxes shall be collected on all STRs pursuant to Huntington Beach Municipal Code Chapter 3.28. If a hosting platfo...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Before the City issues a Huntington Beach short-term rental permit, the host or operator must submit a guest parking plan for approval under Chapter 5.120. That plan then has to reach guests twice: posted inside the unit and disclosed again before they arrive, covering exactly where they're allowed to park.

Huntington Beach STR Parking Plan Rule

Some Restrictions

Huntington Beach, CA Municipal Code § 5.120.030(E)(5)

The host or operator shall provide a guest parking plan to the City for approval prior to issuance of a STR Permit.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Huntington Beach caps short-term rental occupancy at two guests per bedroom plus two more, with an absolute ceiling of 10 people per unit. Large commercial-style events like weddings and parties are flatly banned regardless of headcount.

Huntington Beach STR Occupancy Limits

Some Restrictions

Huntington Beach Municipal Code § 5.120.030(E)(6)

The maximum number of guests who may occupy the STR at one time is two persons per bedroom, plus two additional guests (including children). Lofts that meet California Building Code egress requirements are considered a bedroom for the purposes of the occupancy calculation. In no event may the maximum occupancy exceed 10 persons in any STR. Large-scale events (i.e., exceeding maximum allowed occ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

Huntington Beach requires every STR host or operator to carry and prove liability insurance appropriate to cover the rental, and to sign a City indemnification agreement, before a permit issues under Chapter 5.120.

Huntington Beach STR Liability Insurance Rule

Some Restrictions

Huntington Beach Municipal Code § 5.120.050(C)

The host or operator shall maintain and provide proof of liability insurance appropriate to cover the STR as required by the City.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

Huntington Beach bans unhosted short-term rentals citywide except in Sunset Beach (Zone 2). Everywhere else, the owner must occupy the property as host for the guest's entire stay to legally operate an STR under Chapter 5.120.

Huntington Beach STR Host Presence Rule

Significant Restrictions

Huntington Beach Municipal Code § 5.120.040(C)

Unhosted STRs are prohibited in the City of Huntington Beach except in Zone 2. Existing unhosted STRs in Sunset Beach have until March 1, 2022 to obtain a STR Permit.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Outside Sunset Beach, Huntington Beach only allows short-term rentals in owner-occupied homes: the host must live on site and remain there throughout the guest's stay. Sunset Beach's Zone 2 is the sole carve-out, and even there no new unhosted permits have been issued since March 1, 2022.

Huntington Beach STR Owner-Occupancy Rule

Significant Restrictions

Huntington Beach, CA Municipal Code § 5.120.010

This chapter will establish two zones in the City where short-term rentals are permitted. Zone 1 will consist of all areas of the City excluding Sunset Beach. Zone 2 will consist of Sunset Beach. In Zone 1 and Zone 2, short-term rentals are permitted in owner occupied residential dwelling units as set forth herein. In Zone 2, short-term rentals are permitted for existing owner "unoccupied" resi...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Repeat Violator Strikes

Three fines against a Huntington Beach STR host within any 12-month period trigger mandatory permit revocation, suspension, or new conditions, and a revoked permit cannot be renewed for a full year under Chapter 5.120.

Huntington Beach STR Three-Strike Revocation

Significant Restrictions

Huntington Beach Municipal Code § 5.120.070(C)

If three fines have been issued against a STR host or operator within a 12-month period, the STR permit shall be revoked, or suspended, or additional conditions may be imposed by the Director by providing written notice to the STR host or operator setting forth the basis of the intended action and giving the STR host or operator an opportunity, within 14 calendar days, to present responding inf...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Platform Liability

Huntington Beach bars hosting platforms like Airbnb from completing any booking for a listing without a valid City STR permit, and requires monthly reporting of every listing, host name, address and booking revenue to the City.

Huntington Beach STR Hosting Platform Duties

Significant Restrictions

Huntington Beach Municipal Code § 5.120.060(A)

Hosting platforms shall not process or complete any booking transaction for any STR, unless the STR has a valid current STR permit issued by the City. Hosting platforms are required to list the STR Permit number and expiration date.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Huntington Beach city rules.

Short-Term Rentals in Orange County →