The City Council of Anaheim passed an ordinance in June 2019 that updated its existing short term rental (STR) policy. The following is a complete guideline for Anaheim’s short term rental regulations so that anyone can be a responsible host when using platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and other similar services. This rundown should give you a good start in understanding your local laws.
Short Term Rental Policy
As of mid-2019, Anaheim has permitted 277 short term rentals to operate in the City. In general, the new policy reverses a 2016 short term rental prohibition and phase-out. The 2016 STR prohibition proved challenging to implement as short term rental owners sought decades of an ongoing operation to recuperate their investments. The new policy permits most STRs to operate in Anaheim while adhering to strict rules and good neighbor policies. However, the current policy still prohibits the operation of entirely new short term rentals.
In the City of Anaheim, a short term rental is the temporary renting of a residential dwelling unit for less than thirty consecutive days. Any owner or agent renting an STR residential property must obtain a Short Term Rental Permit and a Business License.
Short Term Rental Permit Application
To obtain a short term rental permit, property owners or agents must fill out the STR permit application and submit it to the City of Anaheim. They can also pick up the required application form from the Anaheim City Hall’s Planning Department. Property owners or agents must fill out an application and return it in person. The department is open Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They can also mail it to the address listed on the application. Each short term rental permit is valid for one year from the date of issue. The property owner shall be solely responsible for any failure to register.
Click Here for the Short Term Rental Permit Application.
Business License Application
Once property owners or agents have completed the permit process along with the regulatory permit for the short term rental, they will be issued a City of Anaheim Business Tax Certificate (Business License). The regulatory permit will include a unique permit number (REG#) that property owners or agents must use as a part of the STR program. The permit number enables the Code Enforcement to verify adherence to the stated guidelines.
Minimum Required Stay
Short term rental owners or agents must rent their residential units for a minimum of three nights. The City put this restriction in place to prevent further disturbances in residential neighborhoods caused by the incoming and outgoing of short term rental guests.
Other Regulations
As a responsible host, you must comprehend and abide by other vacation rental rules and regulations that bind you. These include leases, community rules, HOA rules, or other guidelines set up by tenant associations. Feel free to reach out to your landlord, housing authority, or community council to find out more. To get more information about other regulations, you can also visit Anaheim’s official website or contact us.