City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Malibu, CA
How Malibu regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here operate under a registration or permit system with ongoing operating rules.
- STR permit required citywide (Ord. No. 468) + TOT registration
- Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) operating permit / compliance agreement required (eff. Jan 1, 2023)
- Steep enforcement: $1,000/day or 2x daily rental rate for operating/advertising without a permit
- Supply constraints (onsite-host presence + primary-residence requirement in Ord. No. 472) were DENIED by the Coastal Commission and are NOT in force; entire city is in the coastal zone
Based on: Ordinance No. 468 — STR permit/registration program, effective Jan 15, 2021 (in force). Ordinance No. 472 — Hosted STR
Summary of the rule
STR permit required citywide; advertising or operating an STR without a permit is a violation (Ordinance No. 468, effective Jan 15, 2021).
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 9, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Malibu · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.