Short-term rental (Airbnb) rules in Los Altos, California
No. Los Altos prohibits short-term rentals, meaning paid stays of fewer than 30 consecutive days, in every zoning district, and no permit is available. You can rent your home or ADU for 30 days or longer.
| Short-term rentals | Prohibited in every zoning district [1] |
| What counts | Paid lodging in a dwelling for fewer than 30 consecutive days [2] |
| Minimum stay allowed | 30 consecutive days or more [2] |
| ADUs | Can't be rented for less than 30 days [4] |
| Permit or registration | None available; the use is banned [1] |
The rule
Los Altos bans short-term rentals outright. Chapter 14.30, adopted in 2018 (Ord. 2018-441), makes a short-term rental "a prohibited use in every zoning district in the city" [1]. There is no permit, registration or license that makes one legal, and no exception for owner-occupied homes or home-sharing.
What counts as a short-term rental
A short-term rental is lodging in a dwelling unit, for compensation, for fewer than 30 consecutive calendar days. Stays in city-approved hotels and motels are excluded [2]. That covers typical Airbnb and VRBO bookings for a whole house, a room or a guest house, as long as the stay is under 30 days and you're paid.
What you can do
Renting for 30 consecutive days or more falls outside the definition, so monthly or longer furnished rentals aren't covered by this ban. Ordinary landlord-tenant rules still apply.
ADUs and junior ADUs
The ADU chapter repeats the rule: an ADU can't be rented for less than 30 days [4]. A backyard cottage or in-law unit can be a long-term rental but not a nightly or weekly one.
Why the city adopted it
The city cites protecting the long-term residential character of neighborhoods and housing stock for permanent residents, and avoiding noise, overcrowding, parking and trash problems [3].
Enforcement
Violations are handled by the city's Code Enforcement Division. The chapter itself doesn't list fines; check with the city if you receive a notice.
See how Los Altos compares with 8+ other California towns on short-term rentals (airbnb / vrbo) →
Next steps
- If you want to rent, set lease terms of at least 30 consecutive days.
- Use a written lease for monthly or longer rentals; ordinary landlord-tenant rules apply.
- Report suspected short-term rentals or ask questions through Los Altos Code Enforcement (see the city website).
Common questions
- Are short-term rentals legal in Los Altos, California?
- No. Los Altos prohibits short-term rentals, meaning paid stays of fewer than 30 consecutive days, in every zoning district.
- Can I get a permit for an Airbnb in Los Altos, California?
- No. No permit or registration is available; the use is banned.
- Can I rent my home or ADU for 30 days in Los Altos, California?
- Yes. You can rent your home or ADU for 30 consecutive days or longer.
California state rules for short-term rentals
California has no statewide short-term rental license or registry. Your city or county decides whether and how you can rent on Airbnb or VRBO, including permits, caps, primary-residence rules and minimum stays.
Taxes: cities and counties may levy a transient occupancy tax (TOT) on stays of 30 days or less (Rev. & Tax. Code §7280). Rates and registration are local, and the county rate applies only in unincorporated areas.
New platform reporting law: since January 1, 2026, a city or county can adopt an ordinance requiring platforms like Airbnb and VRBO to report the address of each short-term rental (Gov. Code §50990 et seq., SB 346). Where a city has opted in, listings must also show the local license number and TOT certificate.
ADUs and SB 9 units: state law lets cities require that ADUs be rented for 30 days or longer. It requires that for by-right ADUs, junior ADUs and units built under SB 9 lot splits (see ADUs).
Coastal zone: in a December 2016 letter, the Coastal Commission said:
- STR rules in the coastal zone must be adopted through the city's Local Coastal Program or a coastal development permit, and bans adopted any other way are likely not enforceable there.
- The Commission has not historically supported blanket STR bans, finding they unduly limit public access to the coast.
- It has supported reasonable limits, such as caps on the number of rentals, occupancy limits, and limits on which housing types can be rented.
What the ordinance says
- Sec. 14.30.030 Short-term rentals prohibited, Municipal Code Chapter 14.30 - Short-Term Rental Prohibition, p. 1
A short-term rental is a prohibited use in every zoning district in the city.
- Sec. 14.30.020 Definitions, Municipal Code Chapter 14.30 - Short-Term Rental Prohibition, p. 1
"Short-term rental" means a use that provides lodging in a dwelling unit, for compensation, for a period of fewer than thirty (30) consecutive calendar days. "Short-term rental" does not include transient lodging in city-approved hotels and motels.
- Sec. 14.30.010 Purpose and intent, Municipal Code Chapter 14.30 - Short-Term Rental Prohibition, p. 1
The city has a legitimate interest in fostering and preserving the long-term residential character of its residential neighborhoods. The establishment of these regulations will help maintain adequate housing stock for permanent residents while ensuring that short-term-rental activities do not become a nuisance or threaten the public health, safety, or welfare due to excessive noise, disorderly conduct, overcrowding, traffic congestion, illegal parking, the accumulation of refuse, and other effects related to short-term rentals.
- Sec. 14.14.090(A) Short-Term Rental, Municipal Code Chapter 14.14 - Accessory Dwelling Units, p. 1
An ADU shall not be rented for periods less than thirty (30) days. Short-term rentals are prohibited pursuant to Chapter 14.30 of the Los Altos Municipal Code.