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

Lakewood Municipal Code § 9320(F)(2) states flatly that short-term rentals of any dwelling for periods under 31 days are not allowed anywhere in the R-1 zone. Section 9320(F)(3), added alongside it, phased out the City's prior permit system: any property holding a valid Short Term Rental Permit issued under Title VI before March 1, 2023 could keep hosting through June 30, 2024, but the code states any such pre-existing permit was null and void as of June 30, 2023 unless it stayed fully compliant with every short-term rental provision, including full payment of all fees and taxes owed.

Since July 1, 2024 there is no lawful path to a new or continuing short-term rental permit in Lakewood; the ordinance also voids any remaining permit immediately upon any violation, including a fee or tax delinquency. Advertising a short-term rental is separately prohibited under the same subsection. , and the code specifies the citation must carry the maximum fine authorized by state law, on top of any other remedy the City pursues, such as nuisance abatement. Lakewood's contract-city structure means Community Development handles the zoning enforcement side of a short-term rental complaint, while the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which the City contracts with for police service, responds to noise or nuisance calls at an offending property.