Host Presence Rule: Los Angeles vs San Francisco
How do host presence rule rules compare between Los Angeles, CA and San Francisco, CA?
Los Angeles has fewer restrictions than San Francisco.
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles County
Los Angeles does not require the host to be physically present during a home-share rental, but the dwelling must remain the host's primary residence and the host must hold a valid Home-Sharing Registration under LAMC §12.22 A.32.
View full Los Angeles rules →San Francisco, CA
San Francisco County
San Francisco distinguishes hosted stays (host present overnight) from unhosted stays (host absent). Unhosted rentals are capped at 90 nights yearly while hosted stays have no annual cap, encouraging genuine home sharing over de facto hotels.
View full San Francisco rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Los Angeles | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Host onsite required | No, presence not mandated | - |
| Primary residence rule | Yes, registered residence only | - |
| Annual cap | 120 nights without extended permit | - |
| Registration | HSR number required | - |
| Fine range | Up to $2,000 per day | - |
| Unhosted cap | - | 90 nights per year |
| Hosted cap | - | No annual limit |
| Code section | - | Police Code 41A.5(g) |
| Reporting frequency | - | Quarterly host reports |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Los Angeles FAQ
Can I travel and rent out my whole house in LA?
Yes, unhosted whole-home stays are allowed if the property is your registered primary residence and you stay within the 120-night annual cap or hold an Extended Home-Share permit.
Do I need a roommate present during the rental?
No. LAMC §12.22 A.32 does not require the host or any occupant to be physically onsite during a guest stay, only that the dwelling be the host's primary residence.
San Francisco FAQ
What counts as a hosted stay in San Francisco?
A hosted stay requires the registered primary resident to physically sleep at the property during the guest's visit. Leaving for the night, even briefly, converts it to unhosted under OSTR audits.
Do hosted nights still count toward primary-residence proof?
Yes. Hosted stays count as resident occupancy and apply toward the 275-night annual primary-residence threshold required for registration.
Compare other topics
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