Huntington Beach splits short-term rental rules into 2 zones, and your options depend on where your property sits. Hosted, owner-occupied rentals are allowed in both zones. Un-hosted rentals are limited to Sunset Beach under a permit cutoff of March 1, 2022.
As the owner, you handle the permit, taxes, a local contact, inspections, insurance, parking, occupancy, and cleaning duties. BnBGenius answers guest messages on Airbnb and VRBO 24/7.
The city requires a permit to operate a rental.
“A valid, non-transferrable annual City of Huntington Beach Short-Term Rental Permit is required to operate a STR”
Source: annual permit
What this means for you: You need a valid city permit to operate. The permit is annual and cannot be transferred. The permit must stay valid while you rent.
What Is Restricted in Huntington Beach
The city uses a 2-zone system to decide what you can rent.
“City is divided into two zones: Zone 1 – properties within the City, excluding Sunset Beach; Zone 2 – properties within Sunset Beach”
Source: zones
“Hosted/owner-occupied STRs are allowed in Huntington Beach (Zone 1) and Sunset Beach (Zone 2)”
Source: hosted zones
“Un-hosted/owner un-occupied STRs are allowed in Sunset Beach (Zone 2) who obtain a permit by March 1, 2022”
Source: unhosted cutoff
What this means for you: Zone 1 covers the city without Sunset Beach. Zone 2 covers properties within Sunset Beach itself. Hosted, owner-occupied rentals are allowed in both zones. Un-hosted rentals are allowed only in Sunset Beach. That path needed a permit obtained by March 1, 2022.
The city also defines what counts as a hosted stay.
“A hosted stay means a short-term rental at a primary residence whereby the Host occupies the short-term rental property and remains on-site and resides in a habitable dwelling unit or portion thereof throughout the Guest’s stay.”
Source: hosted definition
What this means for you: A hosted stay happens at your primary residence. You occupy the property and remain on site. You reside in a habitable unit or portion throughout the guest’s stay.
Sunset Beach has its own definition for un-hosted stays.
“An un-hosted stay means a short-term rental in Sunset Beach, where there is no Host and the Operator resides off-site during the Guest’s stay.”
Source: unhosted definition
What this means for you: An un-hosted stay means no host is present. The operator lives off site during the guest’s stay. This definition applies to short-term rentals in Sunset Beach.
How to Check Your Address and Permit Path
The city limits how many permits one person can hold.
“The Operator or Host shall not be granted a permit for more than one STR within the City of Huntington Beach (including Sunset Beach).”
Source: owner cap
What this means for you: A host or operator gets one permit maximum. That limit covers the city including Sunset Beach. The city will not grant you a second permit.
Property-level limits also apply.
“One STR per property (SFR, duplex, triplex, rental properties of any size) Up to 3 STRs per property (on ownership properties with 4 or more units, i.e. condominiums and townhomes if allowed by CC&Rs)”
Source: property cap
What this means for you: The general rule allows one rental per property. That covers houses, duplexes, triplexes, and rentals of any size. Ownership properties with four or more units differ. Condominiums and townhomes are two examples of such ownership properties. Those may allow up to three rentals if CC&Rs allow it.
Accessory units face an early condition.
“Accessory Dwelling Units or Junior Accessory Dwelling Units may be permitted as a STR only if the unit was legally established prior to the effective date of this Ordinance and otherwise meets the requirements of Short-Term Rentals regulations.”
Source: ADU eligibility
What this means for you: An ADU or junior ADU may be permitted as a rental. The unit must have been legally established before the ordinance’s effective date. It must also meet all the other rental requirements.
Your community documents also matter for eligibility.
“The Host/Operator shall provide proof that the STR is not prohibited by the Homeowners’ Association Conditions Covenants and Restrictions or any other community standards/guidelines, applicable to the proposed STR.”
Source: CC&R proof
What this means for you: You must show your rental is not prohibited. That covers applicable HOA CC&Rs and community standards or guidelines.
What the City Requires Where Rentals Are Allowed
Where rentals are allowed, the city sets several owner duties. One duty involves a local contact person.
“A Local Contact Person must be available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week to respond within 1 hour to complaints and take action to resolve complaints regarding the condition, operation, or conduct of the short-term rental or its occupants. The Host shall be the Local Contact Person for a hosted short-term rental.”
Source: local contact
What this means for you: A local contact must be available at all times. That means every day, around the clock, all week. They must respond to complaints within one hour. They must also take action to resolve complaints. Complaints can concern the rental’s condition, operation, or conduct. Complaints can also concern the conduct of its occupants. For a hosted rental, you must be that contact.
You also need insurance and inspections.
“Proof of general liability insurance is required prior to permit issuance and upon annual permit renewal.”
Source: insurance
“A Third Party inspection certification is required to be submitted to confirm life/safety requirements.”
Source: third-party inspection
“an inspection by the Code Enforcement Division is needed prior to issuance of the short-term rental permit.”
Source: code inspection
What this means for you: You must show proof of general liability insurance. That proof comes before permit issuance and at each annual renewal. A third party must certify your life and safety items. You must submit that certification to the city. Code Enforcement must also inspect before your permit is issued.
A Business License comes later in the process.
“Once the Short-Term Rental Permit is accepted and approved, you will then apply for a Business License”
Source: business license
“To obtain a business license, please apply WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) DAYS after receiving your STR Permit”
Source: Business License deadline
What this means for you: Your permit must be accepted and approved first. After that approval, you apply for a Business License. You must apply within fifteen days after receiving your permit. The deadline covers applying, not the city issuing a license.
Parking and occupancy rules also apply.
“The Host or Operator shall provide a Guest parking plan to the City for approval prior to issuance of a STR Permit.”
Source: parking plan
“The maximum number of, guests who may occupy the STR at one time is two persons per bedroom, plus two additional guests (including children). Lofts that meet California Building Code egress requirements are considered a bedroom for the purposes of the occupancy calculation. In no event may the maximum occupancy exceed ten (10) persons in any STR.”
Source: occupancy
What this means for you: You must give the city a guest parking plan. The city must approve it before your permit is issued. Occupancy allows two guests per bedroom at one time. Two additional guests are allowed, and children count too. Lofts count if they meet California Building Code egress requirements. Ten guests is the absolute maximum in any rental.
Taxes
The permit fee has 2 parts: an initial fee and a renewal fee.
“$639 application fee for initial two years”
Source: initial fee
“$332 application renewal fee annually”
Source: renewal fee
What this means for you: The initial application fee covers the first two years. After that, you pay a renewal fee annually. The annual permit requirement stays separate from that fee period.
The city also charges a tax and an assessment on stays.
“All Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) (10%) and Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessments (6%) for STRs shall be collected and paid to the City”
Source: taxes
What this means for you: The city lists a ten percent TOT rate. It also lists a six percent TBID assessment. You must collect both and pay them to the city. The tax and the assessment are two separate amounts.
The city also sets a sign-up deadline for both amounts.
“You are required to register for TOT and TBID WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) DAYS.”
Source: TOT/TBID registration deadline
What this means for you: You must sign up for both TOT and TBID within fifteen days.
You file these amounts every quarter through the city portal.
“STR operators must remit their TOT and TBID via the Deckard portal for rentals each quarter.”
Source: quarterly
“Quarter 1 covers rentals between January 1st thru March 31st – TOT and TBID due last City business day in April.”
Source: quarter one
“Quarter 2 covers rentals between April 1st thru June 30th – TOT and TBID due last City business day in July.”
Source: quarter two
“Quarter 3 covers rentals between July 1st thru September 30th – TOT and TBID due last City business day in October.”
Source: quarter three
“Quarter 4 covers rentals between October 1st thru December 31st – TOT and TBID due last City business day in January.”
Source: quarter four
“If there is no rental activity, STR operators must still remit $0 return by the DUE DATE identified below in order to avoid fees.”
Source: zero return
What this means for you: You remit TOT and TBID through the Deckard portal quarterly. Quarter one covers rentals from January through March. Both amounts are due the last city business day in April. Quarter two covers rentals from April through June. Both amounts are due the last city business day in July. Quarter three covers rentals from July through September. Both amounts are due the last city business day in October. Quarter four covers rentals from October through December. Both amounts are due the last city business day in January. With no rental activity, you still file a zero return. It must arrive by the due date to avoid fees.
Platforms may not cover every tax for you.
“Hosts may need to manually collect and remit other applicable taxes on their stay or experience price.”
Source: Airbnb tax duty
“You’re also responsible for collecting and remitting lodging taxes when we’re not liable to do so.”
Source: Vrbo tax duty
What this means for you: Airbnb says hosts may need to collect taxes manually. Those are other applicable taxes on stay or experience prices. You may need to remit those taxes yourself. Vrbo owners collect and remit lodging taxes themselves. That applies when Vrbo is not liable to do so.
If Your Address Qualifies: What BnBGenius Does
BnBGenius does not know local rules and does not issue licenses or permits. The permit, taxes, local-contact work, inspections, insurance, parking, occupancy, and city duties remain the owner’s responsibility.
Answers Guest Messages on Airbnb and VRBO 24/7
BnBGenius answers guest messages on Airbnb and VRBO 24/7.
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.
Kent Morgan commented on guest reviews.
“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.
Kent Morgan commented on cleaning and repair tasks.
“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.
Kent Morgan commented on guest calls.
“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.
Is Run from Telegram
BnBGenius is run from Telegram.
You can read more host experiences on the reviews guide. There is also a tasks guide. A voice guide is available too. You can also visit the Telegram guide.
Airbnb and VRBO
The table below covers 3 job areas across both platforms.
| Area | Airbnb | VRBO |
|---|---|---|
| Messages | BnBGenius answers guest messages on Airbnb and VRBO 24/7. | BnBGenius answers guest messages on Airbnb and VRBO 24/7. |
| Reviews | BnBGenius 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. |
| Guest calls | BnBGenius answers guest calls with a voice AI agent. | BnBGenius answers guest calls with a voice AI agent. |
There is an Airbnb PMS guide you can read. An accounting and tax software guide is also available. You can also read the Airbnb automated messages guide. A VRBO automated messages guide is available too. There is also a late-night messages guide.
How to Start
There are 2 ways to set up your rental operation.
Rules and rates last checked on 23 October 2026.
