How do I start an Airbnb in Westminster, California?

Westminster prohibits short-term rental of residential dwellings for 30 days or fewer. Do not advertise or accept bookings for a home or room inside City limits.

Does Westminster issue residential short-term-rental permits?

No. The Citywide code prohibits residential short-term rentals rather than establishing a permit program for them.

Can I rent one room in my Westminster home?

Not for 30 days or fewer. The prohibition expressly covers a residential dwelling, dwelling unit, or room in a dwelling.

Can I advertise a Westminster residential STR?

No. Maintaining an advertisement for prohibited transient use is unlawful even before a booking occurs.

Do Westminster hosting platforms have restrictions?

Yes. Platforms may not complete booking transactions or collect booking and ancillary-service fees for residential property rentals covered by Chapter 9.74.

Are Westminster hotels covered by the residential STR ban?

Chapter 9.74 excludes hotels, motels, lodging houses, and other transient living quarters that are expressly permitted and operated in accordance with City code.

How often is Westminster transient occupancy tax filed?

Covered operators must file returns and remit collected tax by the fifteenth day of the following month, subject to current Finance instructions.

Who can help with Westminster STR due diligence?

Code Enforcement can address complaints and the prohibition, Planning can confirm zoning and jurisdiction, Finance can address lodging tax, and Business License and Building can address permits and inspections.

Westminster, CA Airbnb Guide

Decision point

Westminster STR Investment Decision

Westminster prohibits short-term rental use of residential dwellings. A purchase inside City limits should not depend on Airbnb or VRBO income from stays of 30 days or fewer.

Confirm the parcel is inside incorporated Westminster before applying City rules.
Treat whole-home, room, hosted, and unhosted residential stays of 30 days or fewer as prohibited.
Do not assume a business license, tax certificate, platform listing, or seller history authorizes a residential STR.
Review stays longer than 30 days and other lawful uses as separate operating models.
Keep acquisition contingencies open until City, title, private-use, and underwriting diligence is complete.

City scope

Westminster STR Zoning Prohibition

Westminster Municipal Code Section 17.200.020(G) prohibits short-term rental of residential dwelling units throughout the City.

The prohibition applies across the City rather than through a neighborhood permit system.
Chapter 9.74 covers single-family and multifamily dwelling units.
A room within a residential dwelling is covered along with the entire dwelling.
The City FAQ states that Westminster does not currently allow short-term rentals.
Midway City is unincorporated and requires a separate Orange County jurisdiction check.

Legal definition

Westminster Transient-Use Rules

Chapter 9.74 defines transient use as rental or lease of a single-family or multifamily dwelling unit for 30 days or fewer.

Offering a residential dwelling, unit, or room for transient use is unlawful.
Renting the space for compensation or other consideration is unlawful.
Occupying residential space under a transient rental arrangement is prohibited.
Maintaining an advertisement for prohibited transient use is also unlawful.
A 31-day or longer agreement is outside this Chapter 9.74 definition but remains subject to other laws and private restrictions.

Platform limits

Westminster Booking and Advertising Rules

The code regulates both residential operators and hosting platforms, so a listing or available booking flow is not evidence of legality.

Hosting platforms may not complete booking transactions for residential property.
Platforms may not collect booking fees for prohibited residential rentals.
The restriction also covers fees for ancillary services tied to the residential rental.
Owners may not maintain advertisements for prohibited transient use.
Save written City guidance before relying on any claimed exception or nonresidential lodging status.

Tax duties

Westminster Transient Occupancy Tax

Westminster Municipal Code Chapter 5.14 imposes an 8% transient occupancy tax on lawful hotel occupancy for 30 consecutive calendar days or fewer.

The tax applies to hotel rent, not as authorization for a prohibited residential STR.
Collect the 8% tax when rent is collected and state it separately from rent.
Register a covered hotel within 30 days after commencing business and post the registration certificate.
File returns and remit collected tax by the fifteenth day of the following month.
Keep records needed to determine tax liability for three years.

Compliance

Westminster STR Enforcement

Operating, occupying, or advertising a prohibited residential short-term rental can trigger City code enforcement.

Code Enforcement accepts complaints by phone, email, online, in person, or by mail.
A complaint should identify the full property address and describe the suspected violation.
The City may inspect and issue notices when it confirms a violation.
Continued noncompliance can lead to fines or legal action under the City enforcement process.
Do not treat platform availability or prior bookings as proof of lawful use.

Property review

Westminster Property Underwriting

Underwriting should reflect the Citywide residential STR prohibition rather than unsupported revenue, occupancy, ADR, appreciation, or return estimates.

Exclude residential short-term-rental income from the base case.
Model only a separately verified lawful use with realistic vacancy, maintenance, management, insurance, and reserves.
Review HOA, condominium, deed, lease, lender, and insurance restrictions separately.
Inspect the property and verify permits, unit legality, life-safety work, and deferred maintenance.
Price legal, tax, conversion, and enforcement risk before removing contingencies.

Lawful lodging

Westminster Hotel Exception and Costs

Chapter 9.74 does not apply to hotels, motels, lodging houses, or other transient living quarters expressly permitted and operated under the Westminster Municipal Code.

Do not apply the hotel exception to a residential dwelling without written City confirmation.
Verify zoning, entitlement, building, fire, business-license, and occupancy requirements for a lodging use.
Budget for professional review, inspections, insurance, repairs, utilities, management, and reserves.
Model the 8% TOT only for a lawful covered lodging operation.
Do not buy furnishings or accept reservations before lawful-use confirmation.

Local contacts

Westminster STR Contacts and Support

Use City departments for current, address-specific answers rather than relying on listings, sellers, or generalized market pages.

Contact Code Enforcement at (714) 548-3246 or codeenforcement@westminster-ca.gov for complaints and prohibition questions.
Contact Planning at (714) 548-3247 or planning@westminster-ca.gov for zoning and jurisdiction guidance.
Contact Finance at (714) 548-3186 for transient occupancy tax questions.
Contact Business License and Building at (714) 548-3254 for licensing, permits, and inspections.
Keep dated copies of City responses, tax records, permits, and supporting documents.

Primary sources

Westminster Official STR Sources

The controlling decision should rest on current City law, City guidance, parcel records, and written department responses.

Before waiving acquisition contingencies, plan a Westminster property strategy call to review the residential STR prohibition, jurisdiction, lawful alternatives, property condition, and underwriting inputs.

Westminster Airbnb Rules & Investment Guide (2026)

Westminster Rental Review