Taxes & Fees: Santa Monica vs South Gate
How do taxes & fees rules compare between Santa Monica, CA and South Gate, CA?
South Gate has fewer restrictions than Santa Monica.
Santa Monica, CA
Los Angeles County
Santa Monica imposes a 17% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on home-sharing rentals, effective March 2023. Hosts must also obtain a business license (Tax Rate Group III: $75 base on first $60,000, plus 0.3% above). Airbnb pays the City $2 per night booked under a settlement agreement.
View full Santa Monica rules →South Gate, CA
Los Angeles County
South Gate permits short-term rentals of single-family residences subject to operating standards adopted by City Council Ordinance No. 2021-01-CC. Operators must obtain (1) a South Gate business license under South Gate Municipal Code Chapter 2.08 (Business License Tax) and (2) a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate, with the city imposing a 10% TOT on the rental amount for any stay of less than 31 days, consistent with the city's TOT authority under Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code §7280.
View full South Gate rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Santa Monica | South Gate |
|---|---|---|
| TOT Rate | 17% of room charges | - |
| Business License | $75 base + 0.3% over $60K | - |
| Airbnb Fee | $2/night to City | - |
| Code | SMMC Ch. 6.20, Ch. 6.08 | - |
| Governing ordinance | - | South Gate Ordinance No. 2021-01-CC (STR operating standards) |
| TOT rate | - | 10% on stays of less than 31 days |
| Business license | - | Required under SGMC Chapter 2.08 (Business License Tax) |
| TOT certificate | - | Required before listing; issued by South Gate Finance Department |
| State authority | - | Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code §7280 (TOT enabling) |
| Long-stay exemption | - | 31+ consecutive days exempt (Cal. Civ. Code §1940(b)) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Santa Monica FAQ
What taxes do Santa Monica home-share hosts pay?
A 17% Transient Occupancy Tax on all room charges, plus a business license fee of $75 on the first $60,000 in gross receipts (0.3% on amounts above $60,000).
Does Airbnb collect TOT in Santa Monica?
Under the 2019 settlement, Airbnb pays the City $2 per night booked. Hosts should verify whether the full 17% TOT is being collected and remitted by their platform or if they need to file separately.
South Gate FAQ
What tax do South Gate STR hosts pay?
A 10% Transient Occupancy Tax on the rental amount for any stay of less than 31 days, in addition to a city business license under SGMC Chapter 2.08.
Do I need both a business license and a TOT certificate?
Yes. Under Ordinance No. 2021-01-CC, STR operators must hold a South Gate business license (SGMC Chapter 2.08) and a separate TOT certificate from the Finance Department before renting.
What about long-term stays?
Stays of 31 consecutive days or more are not 'transient' under Cal. Civ. Code §1940(b) and Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code §7280, so no TOT applies.
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