South Gate, CA Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)

Unlike Los Angeles, Santa Monica, or San Francisco — all of which limit STRs to a host's primary residence — the South Gate Municipal Code and Ordinance No. 2021-01-CC do not impose a codified primary-residence restriction. The relevant zoning use chapters (SGMC Ch. 11.21 Land Use Types, Ch. 11.25 Residential Neighborhood Zones, and Ch. 11.40 Specific Use Standards) regulate the underlying residential use but do not condition short-term rental on the operator's domicile. As a result, non-owner-occupied STRs and operator-investor models are not categorically prohibited by the code, provided the property's zone allows residential occupancy and the operator complies with the TOT (SGMC Ch. 2.74), business license (SGMC Ch. 2.08), noise (SGMC Ch. 7.44), parking and other operating standards in Ordinance No. 2021-01-CC. State law leaves this question entirely to local jurisdictions; there is no California statute requiring or prohibiting a primary-residence STR rule. Operators should still confirm with the South Gate Community Development Department whether any later council action or HOA / CC&R restrictions impose a residency condition. ADUs (accessory dwelling units) built under SB 9 / SB 10 or state ADU law cannot be rented for less than 30 days under Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(6), which is a separate state-law restriction that effectively excludes ADUs from STR use citywide.