Extended Home Share: Santa Monica vs South Gate
How do extended home share rules compare between Santa Monica, CA and South Gate, CA?
South Gate has fewer restrictions than Santa Monica.
Santa Monica, CA
Los Angeles County
Unlike Los Angeles City, unincorporated Los Angeles County offers no extended home-share permit. Title 22.140.290 caps unhosted rentals at 30 nights per year with no path to lift that limit while keeping the host offsite.
View full Santa Monica rules →South Gate, CA
Los Angeles County
South Gate has no cap on the number of nights an STR may operate per year. Stays of 31 consecutive days or more are not 'transient' under SGMC §2.74, so no TOT applies, but the unit then falls under California landlord-tenant law and AB 1482 statewide rent caps once the tenancy passes 12 months.
View full South Gate rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Santa Monica | South Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Extended permit available | No, unlike LA City | - |
| Unhosted cap | 30 nights, hard limit | - |
| Hosted alternative | No annual cap if onsite | - |
| Beyond 30 nights option | Conditional Use Permit | - |
| Applies to | Unincorporated areas only | - |
| Annual Night Cap | - | None |
| Transient Cutoff | - | 30 consecutive days (SGMC §2.74) |
| AB 1482 Trigger | - | 12 months continuous occupancy |
| Rent Cap (AB 1482) | - | 5% + CPI annually, max 10% |
| ADU 30-Day Minimum | - | Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(6) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Santa Monica FAQ
Can I get a permit to rent unhosted year-round?
No standard permit lifts the 30-night cap. You can pursue a Conditional Use Permit for a bed-and-breakfast or transient lodging use under Title 22.140.110, but that requires zoning compatibility and a hearing.
Does staying onsite avoid the 30-night cap?
Yes. Hosted rentals where you remain in another bedroom face no annual night cap under Title 22.140.290, only the standard primary-residence and permit requirements.
South Gate FAQ
Is there a yearly limit on how many nights I can rent my South Gate home short-term?
No. South Gate does not codify an annual cap on STR nights, so you may operate year-round. Each rental remains subject to the 8% TOT under SGMC Ch. 2.74 for guests staying 30 days or fewer, plus business license and operating standards in Ordinance No. 2021-01-CC.
What happens if a guest stays longer than 30 days?
Stays of 31 consecutive days or more are not 'transient' under SGMC §2.74, so no TOT is owed for the post-day-30 portion. The guest also becomes a tenant under California Civil Code §1940 et seq., and once continuous occupancy passes 12 months the unit may fall under AB 1482's 5% + CPI rent cap and just-cause eviction rules unless an exemption applies.
Compare other topics
See how Santa Monica and South Gate 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