Long Beach offers two short-term rental registration types: Primary Residence and Non-Primary Residence. The city limits Non-Primary Residence registrations to 800 at any given time.
BnBGenius answers guest messages on Airbnb and VRBO 24/7.
BnBGenius does not know local rules and does not issue licenses or permits. Registration, advertisements, tax filings and the city’s local contact duties remain the owner’s responsibility.
The city sets a fixed ceiling on non-primary registrations.
“The number of Non-Primary Residences allowed to operate in the City at any given point in time is 800.”
Source: Non-primary cap
What this means for you: Only 800 non-primary homes can operate at one time. This cap does not apply to primary residence rentals.
What Is Restricted in Long Beach
The city names the two registration types and how many you may hold.
“There are two (2) types of Short-Term Rental Registrations that can be applied for: Primary Residence or Non-Primary Residence. An individual may obtain one (1) of each registration type.”
Source: Registration types
What this means for you: An individual may hold one registration of each type.
A primary registration ties the rental unit to your home parcel.
“Primary Residence STR Registration: To apply for this type of registration, the unit offered for STR use must reside on the same parcel of land as the applicant’s primary residence.”
Source: Primary residence scope
The city also defines what counts as a primary residence.
“permanent residence or usual place of return for a minimum of two hundred seventy-five (275) days during the calendar year.”
Source: Primary residence definition
What this means for you: The rental unit must sit on the same parcel as your primary home. Your primary home must be a permanent residence or usual place of return. That must hold for at least 275 days each calendar year.
For a primary residence registration, unhosted rentals have a day limit.
“Max of 90 days per registration period”
Source: Primary unhosted limit
For a primary residence registration, hosted rentals are treated differently.
“Hosted – Unlimited number of days per registration period”
Source: Primary hosted limit
What this means for you: For this type, unhosted stays are capped at 90 days each term. Hosted stays of this type have no day cap each term.
A non-primary registration has its own eligibility test.
“A Non-Primary Residence STR registration can be applied for by anyone who owns residential property in Long Beach that is not their “Primary Residence”.”
Source: Non-primary eligibility
For a non-primary registration, unhosted rentals have their own rule.
“Unlimited number of days per registration period”
Source: Non-primary unhosted
What this means for you: You must own residential property in the city. That property must not be your primary home. Unhosted stays of this type have no day cap each term. No day cap does not promise your address qualifies. Confirm the activity type with the city before applying.
How to Check Your Address and Registration Type
For non-primary applications, the city reviews submissions before granting anything.
“The City will review Applications of Interest for completion and accuracy. Once the application is considered complete the applicant will either be given a Reservation to register their property/unit, or placed on the Waiting List if the 800 limit has been reached.”
Source: Non-primary reservation
What this means for you: The city checks each form for completion and accuracy. Once the city deems the form complete, you get a reservation or waitlist placement. A reservation lets you register your property or unit. Waitlist placement happens if the 800 limit has been reached. A reservation is not the same as finished registration.
The city also defines which dwelling units can qualify at all.
“A qualified dwelling unit is a structure that has been legally permitted by the City as a habitable space. Accessory dwelling units (ADU) are not considered qualified dwelling units and may not be operated as STRs.”
Source: Qualified dwelling
What this means for you: The city must have legally permitted the structure as a space to live in. ADUs are not qualified dwelling units and may not be run as short-term rentals.
This page lists selected verified conditions only. It does not establish that a given address qualifies. Check the full current city eligibility rules and fees on the official city page before applying.
What the City Requires Where Rentals Are Allowed
The city inspects areas that guests will use.
“Any areas to be used or accessed by short-term rental guests must be inspected and documented by the City to determine the presence of hazardous or unsafe conditions.”
Source: Inspection
What this means for you: The city inspects and documents all areas guests use or access. This inspection looks for hazardous or unsafe conditions.
The late-night messages guide is available for reading. The voice guide is available for reading. The tasks guide is available for reading.
Each registration runs for an annual term.
“The annual term of STR registration shall commence on the date of the City-issued registration number.”
Source: Registration term
What this means for you: The annual term starts on the date the city issues your number.
Operators must stay reachable and respond to complaints.
“The host/STR operator shall be available twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days a week or identify an emergency contact person who shall be available twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days a week”
Source: Emergency contact
The response deadline applies to complaints sent by the city or its agent.
“responding within one (1) hour to complaints forwarded from the City or its agent regarding the condition, operation, or conduct of the STR or its guests”
Source: One-hour response
What this means for you: You or your named emergency contact must be reachable day and night. Reachable means 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You or that contact must respond within one hour. That applies to complaints from the city or its agent. Those complaints concern the rental’s condition, operation, conduct or guests.
Advertising rules apply to every listing.
“All marketing and advertising of a registered STR, including any listing on a hosting platform, shall clearly list the City-issued STR registration number.”
Source: Advertising
What this means for you: All marketing and ads must clearly show the city-issued registration number. That includes any listing on a hosting platform.
Taxes
The city places the core tax duty on the operator.
“The host/STR operator shall be required to collect, report and pay a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on a monthly basis to the City.”
Source: TOT duty
What this means for you: Operators must collect, report and pay TOT monthly to the city.
The city describes when TOT applies and at what rate.
“TOT is a tax that hosts must charge to guests who rent a room for a temporary period of time, 30 days or less. TOT is required to be reported and paid monthly. The current TOT rate applied to applicable room rental fees is 13%.”
Source: TOT rate and period
What this means for you: Hosts must charge guests TOT for room stays of 30 days or less. You must report and pay the tax monthly. The current rate is 13% of applicable room rental fees.
Airbnb has a special arrangement with the city.
“Airbnb: The City has a voluntary collection agreement with Airbnb, and Airbnb is collecting TOT and remitting it to the City on behalf of STRs.”
Source: Airbnb collection
What this means for you: The city has a voluntary collection agreement with Airbnb. Airbnb collects and remits TOT to the city on your behalf. Check any other tax duties with the city.
The city portal requires a report even in empty months.
“If you did not rent your STR for that month you must still log in and report $0.00 for that month.”
Source: City portal and $0 reporting
What this means for you: You must still log in and report zero for empty months.
The city sets one due date for both filing steps.
“TOT reporting and payment is due on the 10th day of the month following the reporting month in question.”
Source: Due date
What this means for you: Both reporting and payment are due on the 10th day. That date falls in the month following the reporting month.
The platforms publish tax help pages.
| Platform | Tax details |
|---|---|
| Airbnb | “Long Beach Transient Occupancy Tax: 13% of the listing price including any cleaning fees, for reservations 30 nights and shorter. For detailed information, please visit the City of Long Beach Finance Department website.” (Source: Airbnb Long Beach tax) |
| Vrbo | “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 lists 13% of the listing price including any cleaning fees. That applies to reservations of 30 nights and shorter. The city text says 30 days; Airbnb says 30 nights. Vrbo says you collect and remit lodging taxes when it is not liable. The Airbnb page points to the city finance website. Keep records and check the current city instructions.
The accounting and tax software guide is available for reading.
If Your Address Qualifies: What BnBGenius Does
This section assumes you have checked your address and the current registration rules with the city. BnBGenius does not know local rules and does not issue licenses or permits. Registration, advertisements, tax work and the city’s local contact duties remain your 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 shared this experience:
“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 shared this experience:
“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 shared this experience:
“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.
Before accepting any stay, check it against the city rules for your registration type.
Airbnb and VRBO
| 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. | | Check-in details | BnBGenius sells gap nights, early check-in and late checkout. | BnBGenius sells gap nights, early check-in and late checkout. | | Listing details | Every listing must clearly show the City-issued STR registration number. | Every listing must clearly show the City-issued STR registration number. |
The Airbnb automated messages guide is available for reading. The Vrbo automated messages guide is available for reading. The reviews guide is available for reading. The Telegram guide is available for reading. The Airbnb PMS guide is available for reading.
How to Start
Rules and rates last checked on 23 October 2026.
