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Alhambra, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

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

Short-term rental permit rules in Alhambra, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.

Key Facts

Governing law
Alhambra Municipal Code Ch. 5.92 (Ord. No. O2M24-4836, eff. Nov 24, 2024)
Permit required
Yes - required on and after March 1, 2025 for rentals of 30 nights or fewer
Who may apply
Natural-person owner or qualifying family trust; no LLCs or corporations
Citywide cap
Maximum 500 active permits; waiting list once reached
Permit term
1 year; non-transferable; does not run with the land
Eligible dwellings
SFR, duplex, condo, townhome, multi-family under 5 units; no ADUs/JADUs; not Industrial zone

Summary

The City of Alhambra allows short-term rentals but requires a Short-Term Rental Permit before renting any eligible dwelling for 30 nights or fewer. Permits became required March 1, 2025, are capped at 500 citywide, run one year, and only a natural person who owns the property may apply.

On and after March 1, 2025, A host with an eligible dwelling unit is required to obtain a STR permit from the City prior to offering the unit for rent as a STR. A host may only obtain a total of one STR permit for one dwelling unit in the City.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.

Full Breakdown

92 of the Alhambra Municipal Code by Ordinance No. O2M24-4836, adopted October 14, 2024 and effective November 24, 2024. This is the incorporated city's code, not Los Angeles County's; the County's unincorporated STR rules and TOT do not govern inside Alhambra city limits. 020 defines a short-term rental as a residential dwelling unit, or portion of one, offered to paying guests for 30 or fewer consecutive nights (hotels, motels, and inns are excluded). 040 states that on and after March 1, 2025 a host with an eligible dwelling must obtain an STR permit from the City before offering the unit for rent, and a host may obtain only one STR permit for one dwelling unit citywide.

A 'host' must be a natural person who owns the property (or a family trust whose beneficiaries are all natural persons); LLCs, corporations, and other business entities are excluded. The application is filed on a Finance Department form signed under penalty of perjury. A building inspection report by a certified third-party general contractor, building, or home inspector must accompany the initial application and each annual renewal. Permits are valid one year, are non-transferable, do not run with the land, and the City issues a maximum of 500 active permits at any time, with renewals taking priority and a waiting list once the cap is reached.

030) are single-family residences, duplexes, condominiums, townhomes, and multi-family buildings of fewer than five units, in all zones except Industrial; ADUs and JADUs are prohibited.

Violations & Fines

Operating an STR without a valid permit is subject to an administrative fine not to exceed $5,000 per citation (5.92.060(3)). Any violation of Chapter 5.92 is a misdemeanor punishable under Section 1.12.020, or may be enforced by administrative citation with fines up to $1,500 (first), $3,000 (second within 12 months), and $5,000 (third). Three violations against a property within a 12-month period cause automatic permit revocation, appealable to the Planning Commission within 10 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Alhambra?
Yes. Chapter 5.92 of the Alhambra Municipal Code requires a Short-Term Rental Permit from the City before offering any eligible dwelling for 30 nights or fewer, effective March 1, 2025. You apply on a Finance Department form and must submit a third-party building inspection report. Only a natural-person owner may hold a permit, and the city caps permits at 500.
Can an LLC or company own a short-term rental in Alhambra?
No. Section 5.92.020 defines a 'host' as a natural person who is the owner of record, or a family trust whose beneficiaries are all natural persons. LLCs, corporations, limited liability partnerships, and other business entities cannot hold an Alhambra STR permit. Each host may obtain only one STR permit for one dwelling unit citywide.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Alhambra

All Alhambra rules

How Alhambra compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare Alhambra to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview

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