(A note on Huntington Park: the provided sources are all about Huntington Beach, CA, not Huntington Park, CA. I found no Huntington Park–specific information in the materials provided, so I can’t author a Huntington Park guide from these sources. The California statewide STR overview is included below.)

1) Overview: Are short‑term rentals allowed in Huntington Beach, California?

Yes. Huntington Beach explicitly allows short‑term rentals (STRs), defined as residential units rented for thirty (30) consecutive nights or fewer. The city adopted Ordinance No. 4224 adding Chapter 5.120 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code (HBMC) with final approval on January 19, 2021, and an effective date of February 19, 2021. All operators were required to obtain a valid city permit by December 31, 2021, to continue listing on platforms.

Key allowance conditions:

• Zone-based rules: City is divided into two zones—Zone 1 (all of the City except Sunset Beach) and Zone 2 (Sunset Beach).
• Hosted (owner-occupied) STRs are allowed in both zones.
• Unhosted (owner un-occupied) STRs are allowed only in Sunset Beach (Zone 2) and only if a permit was obtained by March 1, 2022.
• One STR permit per property for SFR/duplex/triplex/rentals; up to three STRs on ownership properties with four or more units (e.g., condos/townhomes), if CC&Rs permit.
• STRs are a legally permitted dwelling unit (ADUs or junior ADUs allowed only if legally established prior to the ordinance’s effective date).
• A Local Contact Person must be available 24/7, able to respond within one hour and take action.
• Noise Ordinance compliance is mandatory; no events (commercial parties, weddings, fundraisers, conferences).
• Owners must collect and remit Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) of 10% and Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment of 6% via the Deckard Portal quarterly (even if no activity—submit $0 returns).
• Permit must be posted and all ads must display the City‑issued STR permit number.

Enforcement:

• $1,000 per day per violation; three violations within 12 months can revoke the permit.
• Property must be maintained free of code violations.

Source: www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/departments/community_development/building_inspection/permit_center/short-term_rentals.php

2) How to start an STR business in Huntington Beach

Step-by-step process:

1. Confirm eligibility and zoning.
   • Zone 1 (most of Huntington Beach): Hosted rentals are allowed; unhosted STRs are not permitted in Zone 1.
   • Zone 2 (Sunset Beach): Both hosted and unhosted STRs are allowed; unhosted requires permit by March 1, 2022 (new unhosted permits after that date are not available).
2. Designate a Local Contact Person who can respond 24/7 within one hour.
3. Prepare required documents and safety items:
   • Proof of ownership or landlord authorization.
   • Property inspection certification and Code Enforcement inspection checklist.
   • Safety equipment: smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguisher, emergency exit information, first aid kit.
   • Good neighbor guidelines: trash schedule, parking, noise.
4. Apply for the STR permit via the Huntington Beach ACA portal; permit is non‑transferable.
   • Initial application fee: $639 (covers two years).
   • Annual renewal fee: $332.
5. Post the exterior STR sign with required information (template provided by the City).
6. Register for taxes and reporting:
   • Collect 10% TOT and 6% TBID from guests.
   • Remit quarterly via the Deckard Portal. If no rentals, submit $0 returns by the due date.
     • Q1 (Jan 1–Mar 31): due last City business day in April.
     • Q2 (Apr 1–Jun 30): due last City business day in July.
     • Q3 (Jul 1–Sep 30): due last City business day in October.
     • Q4 (Oct 1–Dec 31): due last City business day in January.
7. Include the City‑issued STR permit number in all online listings and advertisements.
8. Maintain the property; comply with noise and all municipal codes.

Source: www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/departments/community_development/building_inspection/permit_center/short-term_rentals.php

Fees at a glance:

• Initial application (two-year permit): $639
• Annual renewal: $332
• Taxes: TOT 10% + TBID 6% (remitted quarterly via Deckard)

3) Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

Permits and approvals:

• City of Huntington Beach Short‑Term Rental Permit (non‑transferable) via HB ACA portal.
• Business License Application may be required (City flyer references it alongside STR Business License and TOT info).
• Exterior STR Sign (use City template).
• Property Inspection Certification and Code Enforcement Inspection Checklist (to confirm safety and code compliance).

Host/operator requirements:

• Local Contact Person, 24/7 availability, response within one hour.
• Compliance with Noise Ordinance; no events.
• Maintain guest logs and emergency procedures as needed.
• Keep property free of code violations.

Required safety and operational items:

• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; fire extinguisher.
• Emergency exit information and first aid kit.
• Trash management per City schedule; parking rules.
• Permit number displayed on ads and property.

Documents center (applications and checklists):

• Application – Hosted Short‑Term Rentals
• Application – Hosted STR Renewal
• Application – Unhosted STR Renewal
• Property Inspection Certification Form
• Code Enforcement Inspection Checklist
• Neighborhood Notice – Hosted (template)
• Neighborhood Notice – Unhosted (Renewal Only)
• Exterior STR Sign Template
• STR Enforcement document
• STR Host or Operator Requirements
• STR Hosting Platform Responsibilities
• STR Permit Conditions
• STR Permit Eligibility Requirements
• STR Regulations (summary)
• STR Required Permit (overview)
• STR Business License and TOT Information (v7.0)
• Business License Application

Source: www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/departments/community_development/building_inspection/permit_center/short-term_rentals.php

4) Specific regulations (city, county, and state)

City-level (Huntington Beach):

• Zoning: Zone 1 vs Zone 2; hosted allowed citywide; unhosted allowed only in Sunset Beach with legacy permit.
• Permits: one per property; up to three per multi‑unit ownership property (if allowed by CC&Rs).
• Local Contact: 24/7 response within one hour.
• Noise and events: full compliance required; no events.
• Taxes: 10% TOT + 6% TBID, remitted quarterly via Deckard.
• Fees: $639 initial (two years), $332 annual renewal.
• Advertising: permit number must appear on all listings.
• Enforcement: $1,000/day per violation; three violations in 12 months = permit revocation.
• Legal basis: HBMC Chapter 5.120; Ordinance No. 4224; final approval Jan 19, 2021; effective Feb 19, 2021.

County-level (Orange County):

• County rules for unincorporated Orange County are not covered by the provided sources. Check Orange County’s Community Development/Code Enforcement directly for any county ordinances in effect.

State-level (California):

• Local control: STR zoning, permitting, and operational rules are set by cities and counties; state law does not impose a statewide STR ban.
• Common local rules include: permits/business licenses, occupancy limits, parking, noise, signage, safety equipment, trash, host contact requirements, and cap quotas.
• TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax): lodging tax (often 8–15%) collected by cities/counties from guests staying under 30 days; owners remit to the local tax authority. In Huntington Beach, TOT is 10% and TBID is 6%.
• Fair Housing laws apply to STR guests and marketing.
• Short‑term rental income is reportable for California state income tax and federal tax; consider consulting a tax professional.

Sources:

• City STR page: www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/departments/community_development/building_inspection/permit_center/short-term_rentals.php
• OC REALTORS® city-by-city STR guide: www.ocrealtors.org/community-information/Short-Term-Rentals
• Orange County Lawyers overview (context on allowed/denied cities): www.orangecountylawyers.com/blog/airbnb-vrbo-in-orange-county-ca-cities-that-allow-or-deny/
• General California STR landscape: hometeamluxuryrentals.com/blog/california-short-term-rental-regulations

5) Contact information (authorities in charge of STRs)

Huntington Beach:

• Permit Center (applications via HB ACA): www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/aca
• Planning & Zoning counter: (714) 536‑5271
• Permit Center email: permitcenter@surfcity‑hb.org
• Code Enforcement (complaints): (714) 375‑5155; Email: code@surfcity‑hb.org
• Tax remittance (TOT/TBID): Deckard Portal — portal.deckard.com/ca-orange-city_of_huntington_beach-str-portal
• Code Enforcement reporting: Online Complaint Form — www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/services/report_an_issue/index.php

County (Orange County, for unincorporated areas):

• Not detailed in provided sources. Contact Orange County Community Development/Code Enforcement for county ordinances and requirements.

State (California):

• Franchise Tax Board (state income tax, reporting STR income): www.ftb.ca.gov

6) Links to source pages (if available)

City of Huntington Beach STR information (primary reference):

• www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/departments/community_development/building_inspection/permit_center/short-term_rentals.php

HB ACA portal (permit applications):

• www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/aca

Huntington Beach TOT/TBID remittance (Deckard Portal):

• portal.deckard.com/ca-orange-city_of_huntington_beach-str-portal

HB Code Enforcement complaint page:

• www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/services/report_an_issue/index.php

HB Municipal Code online (HBMC; zoning/ordinances):

• ecode360.com/HU4937
• Zoning Code: ecode360.com/43870256#43870256

OC REALTORS® STR city guidelines (Orange County, multiple cities):

• www.ocrealtors.org/community-information/Short-Term-Rentals

Orange County Lawyers overview of allowed/denied cities:

• www.orangecountylawyers.com/blog/airbnb-vrbo-in-orange-county-ca-cities-that-allow-or-deny/

General California STR regulatory overview:

• hometeamluxuryrentals.com/blog/california-short-term-rental-regulations

Voice of OC (context on ongoing STR policy debates in Orange County):

• voiceofoc.org/2025/06/another-wave-of-airbnb-regulations-may-soon-come-to-orange-county/

A note on Huntington Park: I did not find any Huntington Park–specific STR content in the provided sources. If you supply Huntington Park materials (ordinances, municipal code pages, or official city guidance), I will compile a focused guide for Huntington Park using those documents.