How to check if a Los Angeles Airbnb is legal
Booking a short term stay in the City of Los Angeles? The City requires hosts to register before listing a short term rental, and that rule is meant to be checkable by you. This guide follows the City Planning Department guidelines (second edition, revised September 28, 2026). Rules change, so confirm on the City site.
1. Find the registration number
Every listing and advertisement in the City must display the host's City Home-Sharing Registration Number. If you cannot find one, ask before you book. A pending number may be allowed for a short time, but it should still be disclosed.
2. Make sure it matches the address
A number only helps if it belongs to the address you are booking. The City keeps its own registration records, and the number should match that property.
3. Understand the limits
A host may home share only at their primary residence, the place they live more than six months of the year. A regular registration allows up to 120 days per calendar year, and hosts who want more need an extended registration. A listing available every night of the year deserves a question. Stays of 30 consecutive nights or more are not treated as short term rentals under the same rules.
4. Look at the property itself
Registration is one signal. Permit history, inspections and recorded work tell you more about the building you will sleep in.
What Deedlore does
Deedlore compiles public records for a City of Los Angeles address into one report. The Stay Check adds a manual review of the City registration for that address, emailed within 2 business days. Deedlore describes properties, not people. It does not check hosts or read booking sites, and it is not affiliated with Airbnb, Vrbo or any booking platform. A report is not legal advice or a guarantee.
Source: City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning, Home-Sharing Administrative Guidelines, Second Edition (issued July 14, 2026, revised September 28, 2026). Deedlore covers the City of Los Angeles only.
Know before you book!
Related guides
- How to check an Airbnb address for safety
- Red flags when booking an Airbnb in Los Angeles
- How to look up permits for a Los Angeles address
- Is an address in a hazard zone?
- How to check an Airbnb before you book, step by step
- Airbnb scams: what public records can and cannot catch
- How to check the area around an Airbnb
Common questions
Does Deedlore check the host?
No. Deedlore describes properties, not people. It does not show host names or run background checks.
Does a registered rental mean a safe stay?
No. A registration shows what the City has on file as of the date checked. It is not a finding that a stay will be safe or good.
Which addresses are covered?
Addresses in the City of Los Angeles only. Other cities, including Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, have their own rules.