Overview: Are STRs Allowed in Culver City?

Short-term residential rentals of less than 30 consecutive days are currently prohibited in the City of Culver City. The City operates a permissive zoning code, meaning any use not explicitly allowed is prohibited; rentals for fewer than 30 days are not an allowed land use. The City Council is expected to consider new STR regulations before the end of 2025, but no ordinance has been adopted. Until a new ordinance takes effect, operating an STR in Culver City is unlawful under the municipal code, even if listings appear on platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO. The city is not proactively enforcing the ban against listings but continues to enforce neighborhood nuisances, noise, and other disturbances.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in This Market

Given the current prohibition, a compliant path to operate does not exist today. If and when the City Council adopts an ordinance permitting STRs, the likely framework—based on the City’s discussion draft—would require:

• Registering with the City (a “Home-Sharing” registration) limited to the host’s primary residence.
• Maintaining a valid Culver City Business Tax Certificate.
• Obtaining a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate and remitting Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT).
• Complying with advertising, safety, neighbor-notification, occupancy, and operating conditions that the City will specify by ordinance and administrative guidelines.

Prospective investors should therefore:

• Track the City’s ordinance process and subscribe to email updates on STR policy.
• Avoid listing any property in Culver City for STR use until an ordinance is in force.
• Prepare internal compliance systems (documentation, safety, recordkeeping, tax processes) to be “implementation-ready” upon adoption.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

If the City adopts an STR ordinance, the discussion draft anticipates the following:

• City Home-Sharing Registration

  • Application through the Community Development Department.
  • Two-year validity, non-transferable, site-specific.
  • Annual reporting of STR records at renewal, maintained for three years.
  • Renewal contingent on compliance, fee payment, and record submission.

• Business Tax Certificate

  • Required for home-sharing hosts (proof of city business tax registration).

• Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate and TOT

  • Hosts must register with the Finance Department under Municipal Code Chapter 11.02 (Hotels and Motels).
  • TOT collection/remittance monthly when the platform does not collect; platforms collecting payment share liability with hosts under the City’s Voluntary Collection Agreement (VCA) with Airbnb.

• Safety and Disclosure

  • Hosts must provide and maintain fire extinguishers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, emergency exit routes, and 24-hour emergency contact information.
  • Advertising must include the City registration number and comply with platform disclosure rules.

• Eligibility and Occupancy

  • Home-sharing only in the host’s primary residence.
  • No more than one Home-Sharing registration per person/entity citywide.
  • No STR operation in multi-unit dwellings (apartments, duplexes, triplexes) unless the unit is the host’s on-site primary residence.

Specific Regulations: City, County, and State

City of Culver City

• Status: STRs are prohibited today (permissive zoning code).

• Anticipated Ordinance Scope (based on City discussion draft and Council direction):

  • Allow short-term rentals limited to the host’s primary residence.
  • Allow hosted (host present) and un-hosted (host not present) rentals; limit to one booking at a time per unit.
  • Prohibit STRs in apartments, duplexes, triplexes unless it is the owner’s on-site primary residence.
  • Not limit the number of rental nights per year.
  • Require neighbor notification and annual reporting.
  • Exclude ADUs from authorization pending further Council direction.

• Advertising and Platform Obligations:

  • Include registration number in all advertisements.
  • Only one listing may be booked at a time.
  • Platforms must prevent/remove illegal listings and provide quarterly compliance reports to the City.

• Enforcement and Penalties (proposed):

  • Hosts/property owners: minimum $500/day, or two times the nightly rent/day (whichever is greater), for advertising without compliance; $2,000/day, or two times nightly rent/day (whichever is greater), for exceeding day limits.
  • Platforms: $1,000/day for advertising illegal listings, failing to provide registration numbers, or refusing to provide addresses of unregistered STRs; $1,000/day for refusing monthly documents needed to verify TOT.

• Zoning Code Reference:

  • Residential Zoning District land uses and permit requirements are in Section 17.210.015.

• TOT Compliance:

  • Chapter 11.02 governs TOT collection and registration.
  • Airbnb has a Voluntary Collection Agreement with the City (effective November 1, 2018).

Los Angeles County

• County-levelordinances do not supersede city prohibitions for STRs; enforcement of STRs is primarily municipal. County health and safety codes may apply to any lodging activity.

State of California

• TOT is authorized by the Revenue and Taxation Code and administered locally. Hosts and platforms collecting payments share liability for collection/remittance under local TOT ordinances.
• Building, fire, and life safety codes (e.g., smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguishers, emergency egress) apply to any residential rental activity.
• Local governments may regulate STRs within their jurisdiction; any future Culver City ordinance will control STR operations within city limits.

Contact Information (Local Authority)

• City of Culver City (General)

  • Address: 9770 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
  • Phone: (310) 253-6000
  • Website: Culver City Home

• Short-Term Rentals Contact

  • Assistant City Manager: Jesse Mays
  • Email: jesse.mays@culvercity.org
  • Phone: (310) 253-6000

• Business Tax Certificate (Finance Department)

  • Website: Business License Information

• TOT Registration and Transient Occupancy Tax (Finance Department)

  • Website: Transient Occupancy Tax

• Community Development Department (Planning/Zoning)

  • Website: Permits

• City Email Updates on STR Policy

  • Sign-up for email updates

Source Pages and References

• City of Culver City: Short-Term Rentals page — Current status, FAQ, process timeline
• Culver City Zoning Code Section 17.210.015 — Residential Zoning District Land Uses and Permit Requirements
• Discussion Draft Regulations: Culver City Short-Term Rentals (2017-08-30) — Definitions, eligibility, registration, host/platform obligations, penalties
• City of Culver City Municipal Code Chapter 11.02: Hotels and Motels — TOT registration and compliance
• City Council Meeting: February 12, 2019 — Policy direction and agenda materials
• Voluntary Collection Agreement with Airbnb — Platform-based TOT collection details
• National League of Cities: Short-Term Rental Regulations: A Guide for Local Governments — Best-practice frameworks for STR regulation
• Guestable blog: Short-Term Rental Regulations in the City of Culver City, California — Secondary source summarizing current status
• Culver City Crossroads article: Short-Term Rentals – All Over the Map — Community perspective and City Council action item (VCA approval)