Inglewood Short Term Rental Regulation: A Guide For Airbnb Hosts

What are short term rental (Airbnb, VRBO) regulations in Inglewood, California?

Inglewood requires hosts to obtain a short-term rental permit to offer accommodations for less than 30 days. There are three types of permits - hosted, unhosted, and vacation rental. Hosted rentals require the host to reside in the dwelling for 9 months out of the year. Unhosted do not have this requirement. Vacation rentals allow renting the entire property but have additional eligibility criteria1.To operate a short term rental in Inglewood, hosts must2:

• Apply for a Short Term Rental Permit
• Pay the permit fees ($500 for hosted, $600 for unhosted and vacation rentals)
• Provide proof of ownership and residency
• Add the STR license number to all listings

The application checklist requires3:

• Proof of ownership (deed, property tax bill)
• Proof of residency (ID, utility bill with address)
• Floor plan of the rental unit
• Photos of all bedrooms, kitchen, living room

In addition to permit fees, hosts must collect and remit transient occupancy tax (TOT) of 12% of the rental rate for stays of 30 days or less4.Some statewide regulations impacting Inglewood hosts include5:

• Complying with disability access laws
• Providing carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
• Maintaining guest records for 3 years
• Collecting and remitting TOT

Yes, Inglewood strictly enforces short term rental regulations. The city conducts proactive investigations and takes enforcement action against illegal operators. Fines can range from $100 to $1000 per day of violation. Compared to Los Angeles which has looser restrictions, Inglewood takes a stringent stance. Hosts are advised to fully comply with permitting rules before listing rentals.

Starting a Short Term Rental Business in Inglewood

Inglewood welcomes three types of short-term rental businesses – hosted, unhosted, and entire vacation home rentals.

With a hosted rental, owners reside on-site in the dwelling at least 9 months annually. Unhosted rentals mean the host lives elsewhere. Vacation rentals involve leasing an entire property to guests, with extra eligibility rules.

All hosts must first obtain a city permit before listing or renting out Inglewood accommodations for 30 days or less. Fees are $500 for hosted rentals and $600 for unhosted and vacation rentals.

The application process examines proof of ownership and residency requirements. Once the short-term rental permit is secured, hosts must prominently display the license number in all advertising.

During operations, Inglewood hosts must collect and file transient occupancy taxes on rental revenue. They must also adhere to all short-term rental regulations to avoid steep fines. Careful record-keeping aids compliance.

Overall the city strikes a fair balance between enabling short-term rental enterprises while also protecting housing stock and residential neighborhoods.

Short Term Rental Licensing Requirement in Inglewood

Inglewood has clear cut licensing and permitting requirements for hosts seeking to operate short term rental properties. Abiding by these regulations is crucial for maintaining compliance and avoiding steep fines.

As a prospective host, the first step is reviewing Inglewood's short term rental ordinance to understand the precise rules for your rental type. You can find the latest version on the city's website or by contacting the Short Term Rental Division.

All hosts must formally apply for one of three city-issued permits:

• Hosted Permit - For owner-occupied properties where the host resides on-site for at least 275 days per year
• Unhosted Permit - For non owner-occupied short term rental units
• Vacation Rental Permit - For renting an entire property with special eligibility criteria

The application process involves submitting documents that validate property ownership, residency status, floor plans, photos, and other administrative requirements.

Hosted permits are $500 per year, while unhosted and vacation rental permits cost $600.Once approved, the permit number must be clearly displayed on all online listings and advertising materials. Failure to register properly can warrant fines over $1000.

The city performs proactive monitoring for unlicensed operators.In addition to the permitting process, hosts must collect and remit transient occupancy taxes.

Proper handling of taxes and adherence to rules is imperative for smoothly running a short term rental business in Inglewood. Reach out to the Short Term Rental Division with any licensing or regulatory questions.

Required Documents for Inglewood Short Term Rentals

Here are the key documents to have ready for a seamless Inglewood short-term rental permit application:

• Proof of ownership establishes your rights to rent the property, whether a deed, current property tax bill, or other documentation showing your name and address.
• Proof of residency verifies you live at the rental property address at least 9 months annually, such as a driver's license, state ID, utility bill, vehicle registration, insurance bill, or tax return.
• A basic floor plan illustrates all bedrooms, living spaces, kitchen, bathrooms, exits - easily drawn by hand or with software.
• High-quality interior photos provide a visual tour of the rental, including every bedroom, kitchen, living room, and major areas.

Keeping these four critical documents organized in advance allows hosts to digitally upload and smoothly submit paperwork along with a completed permit application form. Meticulous records also support compliance during operations.

Inglewood Short Term Rental Taxes

As an Inglewood short-term rental host, collecting and remitting transient occupancy taxes (TOT) properly allows smooth business operations.

The city charges a 3% TOT on all revenue from stays 30 days or less. TOT must be filed and paid monthly. The payment deadline is the last day of the following month after earnings are collected.

For example, TOT from January 1-31 is due by February 28. Filing the TOT form and payment late leads to interest and penalties.

To streamline reporting, hosts use the Short-Term Rental TOT Assessment Form to log each month's rental earnings. This covers details like the number of rental nights, rates charged, taxes collected, and more.

In addition, hosts submit a Statement of Earnings tallying all revenue. With these two documents, Inglewood can accurately track TOT payments. Maintaining detailed records also helps hosts prove compliance during audits or permit renewals.

Connecting with the Short-Term Rental Division to understand the monthly process is key for hosts new to remitting TOT. Their team helps ensure taxes are handled correctly.

California Wide Short Term Rental Rules

Unlike other states, California has few overarching laws governing short-term rentals across the state. Rather, individual cities and counties enact their own ordinances tailored to local needs.

However, there are two key statewide regulations hosts must follow:

• Tax Collection - All hosts must collect and remit transient occupancy taxes (TOTs), typically ranging from 10-15%. Rates vary by municipality. TOTs apply to guests staying 30 consecutive days or less.
• Permit Numbers - If a jurisdiction requires hosts obtain a permit or license number to operate a short-term rental, hosts must display these registration IDs in all listings and ads. This allows regulators and prospective guests to quickly validate compliance.

So while statewide policies are limited, hosts must research hyperlocal rules plus remit taxes for their rental's physical address. Checking city and county sites to understand requirements is essential, as many levy hefty fines for violations.

Does Inglewood Strictly Enforce STR Rules?

Inglewood strictly enforces short-term rental regulations with proactive investigations and enforcement actions against illegal operators. Fines ranging from $100 to over $1000 per violation day demonstrate the city's stringent stance compared to more permissive cities like Los Angeles.

Hosts are strongly advised to fully comply with permitting rules before listing any rentals in order to avoid steep penalties. Attempting to operate an STR in Inglewood without proper licensing often prompts rapid crackdowns and large fines.

How to Start a Short Term Rental Business in Inglewood

Launching an Inglewood short-term rental takes 7 steps:

• Review ordinance 22-15 covering eligibility, permits, taxes.
• Obtain hosted, unhosted, or vacation rental permit application from Housing Protection Department.
• Compile proof of ownership, residency, ID, floor plans, photos.
• Complete application form, submit with $500-600 fee.
• Display permit number prominently across rental listings.
• Collect and remit 3% Transient Occupancy Tax.
• Renew $500-600 permit annually, update documents if changes.

Following this checklist allows hosts to get rental listings live quickly while remaining fully compliant. Planning ahead and understanding the licensing process enables smooth operations.

Who to Contact About Short Term Rental Regulations

Contact the Inglewood Housing Protection Department at 310-412-4299 or housingprotectionstr@cityofinglewood.org for questions on STR rules and permitting.

What do Airbnb hosts in Inglewood on Reddit and Bigger Pockets think about local regulations?

Inglewood hosts on Reddit and BiggerPockets offer mixed opinions on local short-term rental regulations. Most feel the rules are quite restrictive compared to neighboring Los Angeles. Key concerns include the 9-month annual residency mandate and extensive paperwork involved in licensing.

Hosts also voice frustration over steep fines up to $1000 per violation day for unpermitted rentals. However, they agree Inglewood strictly enforces the ordinance through proactive investigations. Overall the consensus is Inglewood imposes more limitations than ideal. Yet savvy hosts manage successful short-term rental businesses by fully complying with the stringent requirements. With careful adherence to the regulations, Inglewood remains reasonably viable market compared to cities banning vacation rentals outright.