Hawthorne, CA Short-Term Rentals: Host Presence Rule (2026)

Hawthorne's Chapter 17.74 builds host involvement directly into the definition of a short-term rental. The primary pathway is a hosted arrangement: renting a primary residence while the host lives on-site, so the operator is physically present during guest stays. The code also recognizes a more limited un-hosted scenario, where a secondary residence is rented out by an owner whose own primary residence is in Hawthorne. Even where the host is not staying in the unit, the city requires that a responsible person be reachable around the clock: every operator must provide 24-hour local emergency contact information so that complaints, emergencies, or guest problems can be addressed promptly. This combination, on-site hosting for primary residences plus a guaranteed 24-hour local contact for secondary residences, keeps a responsible human accountable for each rental and discourages absentee operations. The host-presence framework is reinforced by occupancy limits, parking requirements, and nighttime noise rules, all of which assume an engaged operator managing guest behavior. California state law does not require host presence or a local contact statewide, so Hawthorne's approach is a local enhancement aimed at neighborhood compatibility. Operators using the secondary-residence pathway should ensure their designated 24-hour contact is genuinely local and responsive, because failure to respond to incidents undermines the substantial-compliance showing needed for renewal.