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Spanish-Colonial bungalow with white stucco and a red-tile roof in Los Angeles, California
Primary-residence only

Short-term rental laws in Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles’ Home-Sharing Ordinance permits short-term rentals only in the host’s primary residence (registered, with a night limit). A non-owner-occupied investment property generally cannot be a legal STR.

Last updated 2026-04-26·Source: City of LA Home-Sharing Ordinance (LAMC §12.22 A.32)

The current rules

What Los Angeles actually requires

LA’s Home-Sharing Ordinance ties legal short-term rental to the host’s registered primary residence.

A pure investment property held by an investor is, in most cases, not eligible — so STR-as-investment is effectively off-limits.

The engine flags this as owner-occupancy-required and routes to LTR/MTR feasibility, which can still fund as a DSCR deal on long-term rent.

Does it still pencil?

A $645,000 3BR at 25% down

0.76×cap-adjusted STR DSCR

Pencils — 1 STR lenders clear the floor at this ratio.

Run your Los Angeles address

FAQ

Los Angeles STR-law questions

Is short-term rental legal in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles’ Home-Sharing Ordinance permits short-term rentals only in the host’s primary residence (registered, with a night limit). A non-owner-occupied investment property generally cannot be a legal STR. (Source: City of LA Home-Sharing Ordinance (LAMC §12.22 A.32), as of 2026-04-26.) Always confirm current rules with the jurisdiction before purchasing.
How much does an Airbnb make in Los Angeles?
A typical 3-bedroom projects around $76,000/yr from 23 comparable listings within 0.75 mi, trailing 12 months (AirROI + Rabbu comps). Revenue scales with bedroom count and amenities; lenders verify via Form 1007 or operating statements.
Can an investment property be an STR in Los Angeles?
Generally no — Los Angeles limits short-term rental to a host’s primary residence, so an investor-held property usually can’t qualify as a legal STR. A mid-term (30+ day) or long-term rental can still fund as a DSCR deal on long-term rent.
Will the rules in Los Angeles change?
Likely — STR ordinances are moving city by city in 2026. This page was last checked 2026-04-26; we re-check on a monthly minimum and on ordinance events. Confirm the current rule with Los Angeles before closing.
Can I get a DSCR loan on an Airbnb with no rental history?
Yes. 9 of the 10 STR lenders we track qualify the loan on a market revenue projection (AirDNA/Rabbu) or an appraiser’s Form 1007 short-term-rent schedule, so no operating history is required for many programs.
What DSCR do STR lenders require?
Most set a floor around 1.0 on the cap-adjusted DSCR (revenue ÷ PITIA). Some offer no-ratio or sub-1.0 STR programs at a premium for thinner deals. The engine shows your ratio against each lender’s specific floor.
How current is this information?
Revenue and rate figures render from the data layer with an “as of” date; STR legality is re-checked on a monthly minimum and on ordinance events, because stale legality is worse than none. Every status shows when it was last checked and a source to verify.
Los Angeles feasibility All cities STR → MTR pivot

Legality: Short-term-rental rules change frequently and vary by city, county, and HOA. Legality shown reflects publicly available sources as of the date displayed; it is not legal advice or a permitting determination. Confirm current rules, permits, and HOA/condo restrictions with the local jurisdiction before purchasing.

Revenue: Projected revenue is an estimate from comparable listings and is not a forecast of your results. Lenders independently verify income, typically via appraisal (Form 1007/1008) or 12-month statements. This is not a loan decision or offer.

Run a Los Angeles address before you buy.

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