Night Caps: Burbank vs Santa Monica
How do night caps rules compare between Burbank, CA and Santa Monica, CA?
Burbank and Santa Monica have similar restriction levels.
Burbank, CA
Los Angeles County
Burbank effectively prohibits short-term rentals through its zoning code. Short-term rentals are not listed as a permitted or conditionally permitted use in any residential zone under BMC 10-1-602. The City Planning Board has recommended a formal ban. There is no night cap because STRs are not allowed.
View full Burbank rules →Santa Monica, CA
Los Angeles County
Santa Monica does not impose an annual night cap on hosted home-sharing, but requires the host to be on-site for every night of every stay. Hosts may not book more than two groups of visitors for any given date. Vacation rentals (unhosted) are completely prohibited regardless of duration.
View full Santa Monica rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Burbank | Santa Monica |
|---|---|---|
| STR Status | Effectively prohibited | - |
| Night Cap | N/A (not permitted) | - |
| Zoning | Not listed as permitted use | - |
| ADU Rentals | Prohibited | - |
| Code | BMC 10-1-602 | SMMC Ch. 6.20 |
| Annual Night Cap | - | None (host must be on-site) |
| Max Groups/Night | - | 2 groups per date |
| Host Presence | - | Required at all times |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Burbank FAQ
Are short-term rentals allowed in Burbank?
No. Burbank does not permit short-term rentals in any residential zone. STRs are not listed as a permitted use in the zoning code. Enforcement is complaint-driven.
Is there a night cap for Airbnb in Burbank?
There is no night cap because short-term rentals are effectively banned. Operating an STR in Burbank is a zoning violation that may result in citations and fines.
Santa Monica FAQ
Is there a limit on how many nights I can home-share in Santa Monica?
No annual night cap, but the host must be present on-site for every night. You cannot book more than two groups of visitors for any given date.
Can I leave my property while guests are staying?
No. Santa Monica requires the host to live on-site throughout the visitor's stay. Leaving converts the home-share into an illegal vacation rental subject to penalties.
Compare other topics
See how Burbank and Santa Monica compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool