Night Caps: Los Angeles vs Santa Monica
How do night caps rules compare between Los Angeles, CA and Santa Monica, CA?
Los Angeles and Santa Monica have similar restriction levels.
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles County
LA Home-Sharing Ordinance caps standard short-term rental permits at 120 nights per year. An Extended Home-Sharing Permit allows unlimited nights but requires prior operating history.
View full Los Angeles 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 | Los Angeles | Santa Monica |
|---|---|---|
| Standard cap | 120 nights per year | - |
| Extended permit cap | Unlimited nights | - |
| Extended permit fee | 850 dollars | - |
| Extended eligibility | 6+ months prior HSR, zero violations | - |
| Code section | LAMC 12.22 A.32 | - |
| Annual Night Cap | - | None (host must be on-site) |
| Max Groups/Night | - | 2 groups per date |
| Host Presence | - | Required at all times |
| Code | - | SMMC Ch. 6.20 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Los Angeles FAQ
Does the 120-night cap reset each calendar year?
Yes, the cap resets on January 1 each year for standard HSR permit holders. Extended permit holders have no annual cap but must maintain primary residence status.
Can I get an Extended permit right away?
No. You must first operate under a standard HSR permit for at least six months with zero violations before applying for Extended Home-Sharing.
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
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