Short-term rentals

What is a short-term rental?

A short-term rental is defined as the rental of any portion of a single-family home, condominium, townhome, apartment, or any dwelling unit for periods of time less than thirty-one (31) consecutive calendar days.

This includes any portion of a(n):

• Accessory dwelling unit (ADU).
• Junior accessory dwelling unit (JADU).
• Garage conversion.

These types of rentals are common on websites such as Airbnb or VRBO.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Lakewood?

Effective May 25, 2023 all short-term rentals are banned from operating in the City of Lakewood per Ordinance 2023-2(PDF, 85KB) . 

What about long-term rentals?

Long-term rentals or rentals of a dwelling unit for periods of time greater than 31 days at a time are allowed within the City without a license or permit.

These types of rentals are regulated by other State and County agencies.

What are the penalties for violators?

The State of California passed Senate Bill 60 that gave cities the authority to issue administrative fines for violations of their short-term rental ordinances starting at $1,500 for the first violation, $3,000 for a second, and $5,000 for each additional violation.

The City of Lakewood fully utilizes these fines to gain compliance from violators who are jeopardizing the safety and welfare of the community.