Hawthorne, CA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Guest formula
- 2 per bedroom + 2 additional
- Bookings per residence per night
- 1, regardless of bedrooms
- Ineligible sleeping spaces
- Garage, shed, tent, parked vehicle
- Exterior STR signage
- Prohibited
Summary
Hawthorne caps short-term rental occupancy at two guests per bedroom plus two more, and allows only one booking or reservation per residence per night no matter how many bedrooms the unit has.
Only one short-term rental period, reservation, stay or booking by guests shall be allowed per residence per night, regardless of the number of bedrooms available for occupancy. Short-term rentals shall not be used by more than two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests at one time.
Full Breakdown
080 sets the occupancy ceiling under the chapter's prohibitions list. Subsection A provides, "Only one short-term rental period, reservation, stay or booking by guests shall be allowed per residence per night, regardless of the number of bedrooms available for occupancy," which blocks a host from splitting one house into multiple simultaneous bookings to different guest groups. Subsection B sets the headcount formula: "Short-term rentals shall not be used by more than two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests at one time," so a three-bedroom short-term rental tops out at eight guests at any one time.
080(D). 030, which confines short-term rentals to single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and qualifying small planned-unit or multifamily developments, and excludes Section 8 housing and accessory dwelling units entirely.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the per-bedroom occupancy formula, booking more than one reservation per night at the same residence, or housing guests in a garage, shed, tent or vehicle under Section 17.74.080 is enforced under Section 17.74.090 as a misdemeanor with a fine up to one thousand dollars, up to six months in jail, or both, plus administrative citations under Chapter 1.23B and public-nuisance abatement under Chapter 8.20.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many guests can stay at a Hawthorne short-term rental at once?
Can a Hawthorne host book two separate guest groups in the same house on the same night?
Can guests sleep in a backyard tent or garage at a Hawthorne short-term rental?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hawthorne
California rules heatmap·Compare Hawthorne to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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Occupancy Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle occupancy limits.