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

020. The application goes to the department of planning and community development and must include the applicant's name and 24-hour emergency contact information, the owner's consent if the applicant is not the owner, a scaled plot plan showing bedrooms, bathrooms and required parking, proof of at least $1,000,000 in general liability insurance, contact information for any hosting platform used, a notarized affidavit on fire and building-safety compliance (including smoke and carbon monoxide detectors), any required HOA approval, and proof of primary residency if the unit is not a vacation rental.

The city charges a non-refundable application fee set by council resolution, and the planning department has 30 days after a complete submittal to approve or deny the application. An approved applicant must then obtain a business license from the finance department and a transient occupancy tax registration certificate within 30 days, or the approval lapses. Permits expire every December 31st unless revoked, and renewal requires proof of substantial compliance, current business license taxes, and up-to-date TOT remittance. Permits are not assignable: a change in ownership requires the new owner to apply for a fresh permit before renting or advertising, since short-term rental permits do not run with the land. A denial can be appealed to the city manager within 10 calendar days.