Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Hawthorne, CA Short-Term Rentals: Night Caps (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Annual day cap
90 days per calendar year
Zones barred entirely
Industrial and commercial zones
Citywide secondary-residence permits
Capped at 10 per year
Max permits per owner
1 secondary-residence permit
Permit expiration
December 31 annually

Summary

Hawthorne limits a vacation rental, a short-term rental that is not the owner's primary residence, to no more than ninety total rental days per calendar year, and bars vacation rentals entirely from industrial and commercial zones.

Vacation rentals, as defined in this chapter, are permitted for no more than a total of ninety days during the calendar year but are not permitted in any industrial or commercial zones of the city.

Full Breakdown

010 as a dwelling unit that is not the owner's primary residence and is offered for temporary lodging for compensation, excluding single-room occupancy buildings, hotels, month-to-month rentals and corporate housing. 040 caps a duplex at one short-term rental unit, and a triplex or four-unit planned development at two units, with the designated units locked in for the year and barred from rotating among the dwellings. 020(B) and must be renewed annually with proof of business-license and transient occupancy tax compliance. Operating past the ninety-day cap, or operating a vacation rental in a commercial or industrial zone, is treated as an unpermitted use of the chapter and exposes the owner to the same enforcement track as any other short-term rental violation.

Violations & Fines

A vacation rental that exceeds the ninety-day annual limit, or that operates in an industrial or commercial zone in violation of Section 17.74.050, is enforced under Section 17.74.090 as a misdemeanor carrying a fine up to one thousand dollars, up to six months in jail, or both; the city may instead issue an administrative citation under Chapter 1.23B or abate the property as a public nuisance under Chapter 8.20.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days a year can a Hawthorne vacation rental operate?
No more than ninety total days during the calendar year under Section 17.74.050. This cap applies to vacation rentals specifically, meaning dwellings that are not the owner's primary residence.
Can I open a vacation rental in a commercial zone in Hawthorne?
No. Section 17.74.050 expressly bars vacation rentals from any industrial or commercial zone in the city, regardless of the ninety-day cap.
Is there a limit on how many vacation rental permits Hawthorne issues?
Yes. Only ten secondary-residence vacation rental permits are issued citywide per year, on a first-come, first-served basis, and no property owner may hold more than one such permit.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Hawthorne

All Hawthorne rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Hawthorne to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview

Get notified when Night Caps in Hawthorne, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Night Caps in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Los Angeles County handle night caps.

Inglewood, CA
Some Restrictions
Pasadena, CA
Some Restrictions
Los Angeles, CA
Some Restrictions
Long Beach, CA
Significant Restrictions
Santa Monica, CA
Heavy Restrictions