Malibu allows short-term rentals, but only through a city permit. If you own one to five properties in the City of Malibu and rent or plan to rent on Airbnb and Vrbo while running the guest work yourself, this page gives you the exact permit, wastewater, Code of Conduct, tax, and platform information you need.
Here is who does what. You confirm the permit and follow the local rules. BnBGenius answers guest messages on Airbnb and Vrbo 24/7, requests a review from the guest and publishes the host’s review, creates cleaning and repair tasks after checkout, answers guest calls with a voice AI agent, and sells gap nights, early check-in and late checkout. BnBGenius is run from Telegram. Your local people handle cleaning and repairs on the ground.
The permit comes first.
“As of January 15, 2021, advertising or operating residential property as a short-term rental (STR) without a permit is considered a violation of Ordinance No. 468 and Malibu Municipal Code Chapter 17.55.”
Source: Permit required
What this means for you: You need a permit before you advertise or operate a short-term rental. Doing either without a permit violates the city’s rules. Get the permit first, then list your property.
What BnBGenius Does for a Host in Malibu
Answers guest messages on Airbnb and Vrbo 24/7
BnBGenius answers guest messages on Airbnb and Vrbo 24/7. It installs as a Chrome extension in about 5 minutes, without API keys, without password sharing, no PMS required. For tips on answering guests day and night, see answering guests day and night. For message templates that save time, read about Airbnb automated messages.
Requests a review from the guest and publishes the host’s review
BnBGenius requests a review from the guest and publishes the host’s review.
“We went from reviewing 40% of stays to 100% overnight. The AI even thanked guests for things we fixed mid-stay. Our review-to-review rate jumped immediately.”
Source: Kent reviews
Creates cleaning and repair tasks after checkout
BnBGenius creates cleaning and repair tasks after checkout. To see how BnBGenius creates cleaning and repair tasks after checkout, read how tasks work. For a practical starting point, see this Airbnb cleaning checklist.
“We used to find out about issues in post-stay reviews. Now BnBGenius flags them mid-stay, creates the task, and our cleaners respond in under 15 minutes.”
Source: Kent tasks
Answers guest calls with a voice AI agent
BnBGenius answers guest calls with a voice AI agent (Voice Concierge, an add-on). The Voice Concierge page explains how BnBGenius answers guest calls with a voice AI agent.
“The concierge answered 84% of our after-hours calls last month without waking anyone up. Guests thought it was our in-house team the whole time.”
Source: Kent voice
Sells gap nights, early check-in and late checkout
BnBGenius sells gap nights, early check-in and late checkout. Before you accept any of these, check your permit and the city rules so what you sell stays within what Malibu allows.
Is run from Telegram
BnBGenius is run from Telegram. If you are weighing software options, the page on do you need an Airbnb PMS explains what a PMS does and does not do. You can read other hosts’ experiences on the reviews page.
One thing to be clear about: BnBGenius does not issue the Malibu permit, check wastewater compliance, or decide whether a property qualifies. Those steps stay with you and the city.
What the City Requires
Permit and coastal condition.
“As of January 15, 2021, advertising or operating residential property as a short-term rental (STR) without a permit is considered a violation of Ordinance No. 468 and Malibu Municipal Code Chapter 17.55.”
Source: Permit required
“The Hosted STR Ordinance regulations cannot go into effect until the associated amendments to the City’s Local Coastal Program and Land Use Plan are certified by the California Coastal Commission (CCC).”
Source: Coastal certification
What this means for you: You need a permit before you advertise or operate a short-term rental. The hosted rental rules cannot take effect yet. The Coastal Commission must first certify the city’s coastal plan changes. Treat this only as a condition, not as effective rules. Check the city’s short-term rental page for current status.
Wastewater.
“As of January 1, 2023, in order obtain a STR permit, property owners will need to either: (1) have obtained a valid Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) operating permit for the property that is to be rented as a STR pursuant to Chapter 15.44; or (2) have entered into a compliance agreement with the City excusing such compliance, and be in full compliance with the compliance agreement and not in default or breach.”
Source: Wastewater
What this means for you: You must meet one of two wastewater options. Option one is a valid wastewater system operating permit. Option two is a compliance agreement excusing that requirement. You must follow that agreement fully. You must not be in default or breach.
Fee.
“The STR Permit Application Fee is $372.”
Source: Permit fee
What this means for you: The city charges a set fee to apply. The quote above states the exact amount. Budget for it when you prepare your application. Confirm the current fee with the city before filing.
Permit enforcement.
“The short-term rental of property or the advertisement, offer, or facilitation of such rental without a valid STR Permit shall be subject to a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per day or violation, or twice the advertised short-term rental’s daily rental rate per day or violation, whichever is higher.”
Source: Permit enforcement
What this means for you: Renting or advertising without a valid permit brings a fine. The fine applies for each day or each violation. The city charges the higher of two amounts. One amount is $1,000 per day or violation. The other is twice your advertised daily rate per violation.
Code of Conduct.
“Violations of MMC 17.55 are subject to a fine of $500 per day or violation, or the short-term rental’s advertised daily rate per day or violation, whichever is higher.”
Source: Code of Conduct fine
What this means for you: Breaking the city’s short-term rental rules brings a fine. The fine applies for each day or each violation. The city charges whichever of two amounts is higher. One amount is $500 per day or violation. The other is your advertised daily rate per day or violation. Follow the Code of Conduct once you have the permit. Put its requirements in your house rules for guests.
Taxes
Malibu taxes short stays.
“All homes or other structures that are rented or leased for a period of 30 days or less are required to obtain a permit from the City of Malibu and are subject to a transient occupancy tax (TOT) per Malibu Municipal Code Section 3.24 .”
Source: TOT applies
What this means for you: Rentals of 30 days or less need a city permit. Those rentals are also subject to the transient occupancy tax. If your bookings run 30 days or less, this applies.
The rate went up.
“As part of the General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, Malibu voters were ask to vote on “Measure T” to decide whether the Transient Occupancy Tax paid by hotel and other lodging guest should be increased from 12% to 15%. Measure T required a majority of votes cast (50%+1) in order to pass. According to the certified results from Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Measure T was approved by Malibu voters.”
Source: TOT rate
What this means for you: Malibu voters approved Measure T in the November 2020 election. That measure raised the tax rate from 12% to 15%.
The increase has a set start date.
“On December 14, 2020, the City Council received the results of the November 3 General Election and adopted Resolution No. 20-63 certifying the County’s election results. Although the results of the election make the new TOT rate effective immediately, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 20-64 to set the effective date of the increase to be January 1, 2021.”
Source: TOT effective date
What this means for you: The City Council received the election results on December 14, 2020. It adopted a resolution setting the new effective date. The increase took effect on January 1, 2021.
Airbnb has a Malibu-specific tax statement.
“Malibu Transient Occupancy Tax: 15% of the listing price including any cleaning fee for reservations 30 nights and shorter.”
Source: Airbnb Malibu TOT collection
“Hosts may need to manually collect and remit other applicable taxes on their stay or experience price.”
Source: Airbnb owner responsibility
What this means for you: Airbnb’s help page states the Malibu transient occupancy tax rate. The tax is 15% of the listing price, including cleaning fees. It covers reservations of 30 nights or shorter. Airbnb also says hosts may need to collect other taxes themselves. Ask the city to clarify your exact duties.
The city describes a separate duty for other bookings.
“However, all property listed and rented through any other vacation rental service or made independently must collect and submit the required TOT and provide the required TOT tax returns for those rentals to the City.”
Source: Malibu other-booking tax duties
What this means for you: Rentals through other vacation rental services need tax collected and submitted. Bookings you make independently need the same treatment. You must also send required tax returns to the city. Ask the city to clarify your exact duties.
The city also describes what Airbnb collects.
“properties rented through Airbnb no longer have to collect and submit quarterly TOT tax returns to the City as Airbnb agreed to collect and remit the TOT on behalf of property owners who use its service.”
Source: Airbnb Malibu collection
What this means for you: The city says Airbnb agreed to collect and remit the tax. This applies to owners who use Airbnb’s service. Airbnb bookings no longer need quarterly tax returns from you. This covers Airbnb bookings only, not other bookings. Ask the city to clarify your exact duties.
Vrbo states a general owner duty.
“You’re also responsible for collecting and remitting lodging taxes when we’re not liable to do so.”
Source: Vrbo responsibility
What this means for you: Vrbo says you must collect and remit lodging taxes yourself. This applies when Vrbo is not liable to do so. This page makes no claim about Vrbo collecting Malibu’s tax. Ask the city to clarify your exact duties. For help tracking what you owe, see the page on Airbnb accounting and tax software.
Airbnb and Vrbo
| Tax and listing compliance | Airbnb | Vrbo |
|---|---|---|
| Tax collection for Malibu | “Malibu Transient Occupancy Tax: 15% of the listing price including any cleaning fee for reservations 30 nights and shorter.” (Source: Airbnb Malibu TOT collection) | “You’re also responsible for collecting and remitting lodging taxes when we’re not liable to do so.” (Source: Vrbo responsibility) |
| Owner tax duty | “Hosts may need to manually collect and remit other applicable taxes on their stay or experience price.” (Source: Airbnb owner responsibility) | “You’re also responsible for collecting and remitting lodging taxes when we’re not liable to do so.” (Source: Vrbo responsibility) |
What this means for you: Airbnb’s help pages state the Malibu tax rate and coverage. Airbnb also says hosts may need to collect other taxes themselves. Vrbo says you must collect taxes when Vrbo is not liable. The permit and accurate listing information remain your responsibility on both platforms. Confirm your current duties directly with the city.
How to Start
For another California city guide, read about self-managing a rental in Big Bear Lake.
BnBGenius is not a PMS, calendar sync, direct-booking, pricing, or accounting tool. It answers guest messages on Airbnb and Vrbo 24/7, requests a review from the guest and publishes the host’s review, creates cleaning and repair tasks after checkout, answers guest calls with a voice AI agent, and sells gap nights, early check-in and late checkout.
Rules and rates last checked on 23 October 2026.
