Short Term Rentals

Culver City’s Zoning Code is a “permissive” zoning code. This means that when it comes to zoning, nothing is allowed except that which is explicitly allowed by the zoning code. See the table in Section 17.210.015 “Residential Zoning District Land Uses and Permit Requirements” for what is allowed. Since rentals of less than 30 days are not called out as an allowable use, they are prohibited.

Short term rentals currently operating in Culver City, including the ones you find by searching online platforms, are operating without a permit and in violation of the Culver City Municipal Code. Recognizing that the City Council is considering changing short term rental regulations, including potentially permitting them in some form, the City is not actively enforcing the ban on short term rentals by proactively identifying and citing short term rentals. That policy is subject to change at any time, however. The City will continue to enforce for neighborhood nuisances, noise, etc.

It is anticipated that the City Council will consider new regulations for short term rentals before the end of 2025.

The City Council last discussed the issue of short term rentals at a special meeting on February 12, 2019.  Since that time, the City Council has changed in composition as members have left and new members have taken office. As such, it is possible that the next time the issue is discussed at City Council, the recommendations could be different.

At its February 12, 2019 meeting, the City Council considered policy recommendations from the Short Term Rentals Subcommittee(PDF, 123KB)  related to short term residential rentals (such as Airbnb and HomeAway).  After listening to public comment and extensive discussion, the City Council directed staff to begin preparing an ordinance that would:

• Allow short term residential rentals in Culver City
• Limit short term rentals to the host’s primary residence only
• Allow both hosted and un-hosted short term rentals
• Not impose a limitation on the number of nights short term rented annually
• Not allow short term rental of a duplex, triplex, or apartment unit, except the primary residence of the owner if it is on site
• Require neighbor notification by hosts
• Require annual reporting to City Council on short term residential rentals

The City Council discussed but did not yet give direction related to policies for short term rentals in accessory dwelling units. The agenda, staff report, backup material, and a video recording of the full meeting is available for streaming on the City’s website. The meeting minutes will also be posted to this webpage when available.

The next step in the process will be another City Council meeting at which the City Council will consider and give direction on short term rental of accessory dwelling units, as well as review an early draft ordinance based on the above policy direction. Please sign-up for email updates on this subject in order to be notified when the meeting is scheduled.

Community Meeting on September 20, 2018

On September 20, 2018 the City of Culver City hosted a Short Term Rentals Community Meeting in the Veterans Memorial Building at 4117 Overland Avenue in Culver City.

Culver City residents and business owners learned more about issues and potential policy regulations(PDF, 4MB) regarding short term rentals, engaged in discussion with their neighbors, and provided feedback(PDF, 1MB)  for the City’s consideration.  The City Council Short Term Rentals Subcommittee will use the feedback to create a list of recommended short term rentals policies, which will be presented to the City Council for its consideration.

Short term rentals refers to renting a home or portion of a home for a short period of time. The practice has become more prevalent in many communities due to the growth of websites such as Airbnb and HomeAway. While some residents simply see the rentals as a potential source of income and part of the new “sharing economy,” other residents perceive the changes as disruptive to the neighborhood. Potential impacts include an influx of transient residents, increased vehicle traffic, and complaints of noise and nuisance. Many cities are adopting regulations to address the impacts that short term rentals are having on communities.

On January 25, 2017, the Culver City Council and Planning Commission held a joint meeting to discuss issues and possible solutions related to the regulation of short term rentals in residential neighborhoods. At the meeting, staff presented a report on the City's options for regulating short term rentals. City Council decided at the conclusion of the meeting to create a Short Term Rentals Task Force to gather community input and formulate policy recommendations related to the issue. On April 11, 2017, City Council created the Short Term Rentals Task Force.

The Short Term Rentals Task Force met in June and August of 2017. Subsequently, the City Council Short Term Rentals Subcommittee met to further refine policy recommendations. At the City Council meeting on April 23, 2018, the City Council reviewed a staff report and received a report from the City Council Short Term Rentals Subcommittee on the Subcommittee's policy recommendations for short term rentals. The City Council did not take action at the meeting, but discussed the desire to obtain additional community input on the issue before taking further regulatory action, while moving forward in the near term with voluntary collection agreements for short term rental hosting platforms.

On June 11, 2018, the City Council directed staff to seek voluntary collection agreements (VCAs) with Airbnb and other short term rental hosting platforms. A VCA is a legally binding agreement between a hosting platform and the City for the platform to assume the tax collection and remittance obligations of the platform’s hosts (such as Culver City residents renting out a room on Airbnb) for booking transactions completed on the platform. The purpose is to simplify the process of collecting transient occupancy taxes (TOT) for short term rental bookings.  The City Council approved a VCA agreement with Airbnb(PDF, 182KB) on September 24, 2018. Airbnb began collecting TOT on the City's behalf on November 1, 2018.

Please email Jesse Mays, Assistant City Manager to submit your comments, suggestions, concerns, or questions related to short term rental policy in Culver City. Please indicate in your email whether you are a Culver City resident, business owner, prospective business owner, or other.

"Cities, the Sharing Economy, and What's Next" (National League of Cities Publication)

City of Culver City Residential Zoning District Land Uses and Permit Requirements

Table: How Other Cities Have Regulated

City of Los Angeles Memo on Taxing Short Term Rentals (July 2016)

City of Culver City Municipal Code Chapter 11.02: Hotels and Motels

Meeting #1: Monday, June 19, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Agenda(PDF, 156KB)

STRs Policies and Decision Points Matrix(PDF, 236KB)

STR Policy Examples Matrix(PDF, 202KB)

Meeting #2: Wednesday, August 30, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Agenda(PDF, 202KB)

Unapproved Minutes of June 19, 2017 Task Force Meeting(PDF, 160KB)

Discussion Draft Short Term Rentals Ordinance and Regulations(PDF, 257KB)

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