July 15, 2025 | By Boutique Property Management
Beverly Hills, one of the most iconic cities in the U.S. and home to the world famous 90210 ZIP code, is making headlines for a very different reason this summer. On July 1, the Beverly Hills City Council voted 4 to 1 to move forward with a sweeping proposal to ban short term rentals across the city, effectively ending platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo within its borders.
📜 What the New Policy Means
If finalized, the ordinance will completely outlaw short term rentals in Beverly Hills. Here’s what that could look like:
Single family homes: Only allowed to be leased for 12 months or longer.
Multifamily properties: Units would need to be leased for a minimum of six months within any 12 month period.
This is a major shift from past policies, which allowed shorter stays under limited rules.
Vice Mayor John Mirisch was the lone dissenter, questioning whether the ban goes too far. But the majority of the council pushed forward, citing growing frustrations from residents and persistent issues tied to short term rentals.
❓ Why the Ban Now?
Beverly Hills has struggled for years to regulate the short term rental market. Previous laws prohibited apartment rentals under 30 days and restricted single family rentals to six months or more. But in January 2024, those rules were temporarily loosened due to a housing emergency triggered by devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The result: more party houses, nuisance complaints, and neighborhood disruptions.
Councilmember Craig Corman admitted the city’s earlier approach had failed. “We were aware of the potential downsides of Airbnbs in the city, but we thought we’d give it a chance. Obviously, we were wrong,” he said. Corman cited not only the rise of “party houses” but also lost tax revenue and the erosion of business for traditional hotels.
🏡 The Housing Supply Factor
Councilmember Lester Friedman connected the ban to California’s wider housing crisis, saying the city needs to focus on long term housing stock instead of temporary rentals. With pressure from the state to add affordable housing, Beverly Hills has faced criticism for dragging its feet on approving large scale developments.
The city, with just over 31,000 residents and median home prices near $5 million, has resisted major affordable housing projects in the past. In 2024, state officials cited Beverly Hills for delaying a proposed 19 story mixed use building that would include 165 apartments, around three dozen of which would be affordable.
🏨 Airbnb Fires Back
Airbnb pushed back against the ban, arguing that home sharing provides critical income for residents. In a statement, the company noted that only 0.07% of California stays last year involved party complaints and emphasized that most hosts and guests are responsible.
🌎 A Regional Trend
Beverly Hills isn’t alone. Cities like Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and Long Beach have also imposed heavy restrictions or outright bans on short term rentals, all citing concerns over noise, transient traffic, and the loss of affordable housing.
🔮 What’s Next?
The city council will review the drafted ordinance on July 15, 2025 for final approval. If passed, the ban will make Beverly Hills part of a growing wave of California cities taking a hard line on short term rentals.
Whether the move will free up long term housing or simply push short term rentals to neighboring areas remains to be seen. But the message from Beverly Hills is clear: the glitz of Rodeo Drive may stay, but the era of Airbnb in 90210 could soon be over.