Hawthorne
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Short-Term Rental?
A Short-Term Rental is a dwelling unit, or any portion thereof, offered for rent for dwelling, lodging or sleeping, for no more than 30 consecutive days in the City, including single-family or multifamily housing, as limited by Title 17, of the City of Hawthorne’s Municipal Code.
Who needs to apply for a Short-Term Rental License?
Any owner renting a property for periods of no more than 30 consecutive days is required to apply for a Short-Term Rental License. It’s the responsibility of the owner to know and comply with all ordinances, resolutions and regulations that apply to short-term rentals within the City of Hawthorne.
Am I permitted to short-term rent my secondary residence located in the City of Hawthorne?
If the property is a “Secondary Residence” meaning it is a dwelling not occupied by the owner as a “Primary residence” but owned by person(s) whose primary residence is in the City of Hawthorne. No more than ten permits for a “Secondary Residence” will be issued by the City per year, on a first-come, first-served basis. No more than one permit shall be issued per property owner.
If the property is a “Secondary residence” but the property owner is NOT a resident of the City of Hawthorne, this secondary property is therefore defined as a “Vacation Rental” and is permitted to be utilized as a short-term rental for ONLY 90 DAYS per calendar year. Additionally, the property must be located within a residential zone.
What if I do not obtain a Short-Term Rental License?
Renting or advertising your home for rent on a short-term basis without a license is in violation of the City of Hawthorne’s Municipal Code.
What is theTransient Occupancy Tax?
This is a 12% tax on your gross short-term rents not already remitted by an intermediary. Hotels also pay this tax. Gross short-term rent includes all consideration received for occupancy including all non-optional fees (other than taxes) such as booking/reservation fees; cleaning fees; pet charges; fees for extra vehicles, people or beds; etc.; and any amounts received from Lodging intermediaries.
When is the Transient Occupancy Tax due?
Transient Occupancy Tax payments are due quarterly no later than the last day of the month following the end of the quarter. If there was no rental activity for the entire month, you are still required to submit the completed Transient Occupancy Tax form.
How is penalty and interest calculated on late payments?
PENALTIES: The penalty for a delinquent account is 12% of the tax due per month.
INTEREST: 0.5% of taxes due per month or portion of month beginning the first day of delinquency
Do I need to obtain a business license?
Yes. You need to obtain a business license to operate your business within the City of Hawthorne.
What is the cost of an STR License?
Please contact the Business License Division at 310-349-2935 to obtain information on business license tax.
Does my short-term rental license apply to multiple properties?
No. You are only allowed to short-term rent one dwelling unit per license in the City of Hawthorne.
Do I have to display my license?
Yes. The STR License, visitor emergency information, must all be posted in a conspicuous place within the short-term rental unit at all times.
Is the City working with Airbnb?
No. Airbnb does not collect or remit lodgers’ tax to the City of Hawthorne on behalf of property owners and/or authorized agents.
Is the City working with Vrbo?
No. Vrbo does not collect or remit lodgers’ tax to the City of Hawthorne on behalf of property owners and/or authorized agents.
Can I pay by credit card?
Yes! We are able to take Visa and Mastercard. The City of Hawthorne does assess a convenience fee of 3.75% with a minimum fee of $2.50.
Can I pay by e-check ?
No, the City is unable to process this transaction type at this time.
I need to close my account. What do I do?
Please email the city of Hawthorne atbuslic@cityofhawthorne.org. Please include the name on the account, the account number, the closure date and the reason you are closing the account.
What types of assistance can GovOS provide to me?
GovOS can assist you with all your system and account questions. Whether you have a question about your account or technical questions about how to do something in GovOS, please reach out to our support team. We can always reach out to the City on your behalf if we need their assistance with one of your questions. You can reach GovOS at blt.str.support@govos.com and by phone at (888) 751-1911.
Where are my tax forms? My Action Center is empty.
Your tax forms will be available on the 1st day of the month following the last day of the tax period. For example, the Quarter 1 (January-March) tax forms will be available in your Action Center on April 1. If you do not see the forms you expected, simply contact GovOS support for assistance.
Can I manage multiple properties with one login?
Yes - to do so, click Add accounts from your user login under Manage Your Account(s). You will need your 6 digit Account Number and the GovOS Activation Code to connect to an existing property record.
Can a property have more than one user?
Yes, each property can have an unlimited number of users. Each user is required to provide the 6 digit Account Number and the GovOS Activation code to be authorized to connect to an existing property record.
I did not receive or I misplaced the letter with my activation code. What do I do?
Contact GovOS blt.str.support@govos.com or by phone at (888) 751-1911 for assistance. You will need to confirm account details to be verified for the account. To protect the security on property accounts, you will need written (e-mail) permission from a registered owner or officer of the property for us to provide you with a new activation code.
Can I file a Zero File tax return through GovOS?
To file a zero file tax form, select your tax form from your Action Center. Then, complete the required information on the remittance, including Gross Rents and any deductions. You will be prompted to confirm your desire to complete the return as a Zero File return.
What payment types are accepted by the City through GovOS?
The City accepts the following major credit cards: Visa and Mastercard.
Can I schedule a payment in GovOS?
For your security, GovOS does not store any payment information in the system. You will need to enter your desired payment information each time you check out.
How do I change the User on a Property?
All users need to register, just as you did, by going to the home page for that jurisdiction (i.e. https://cityofhawthorne.munirevs.com). They will click on the "Go" button under "New Users". They will also need the 6 digit account number and Activation Code for the property.
I forgot my password. What do I do?
From the Log In page, click the “Forgot your password” link and follow the instructions that will be e-mailed to the User’s registered e-mail address.
Do I have to login to GovOS to see my alerts and reminders?
No. All alerts are e-mailed to your authenticated e-mail address. When you login to the system, you will also see any open alerts that need to be addressed in your Action Center.
For Assistance, Contact GovOS Support
blt.str.support@govos.com
(888) 751-1911
When contacting support, be sure to include the jurisdiction (City of Hawthorne) and your account number in all emails or voicemails. This will help us assist you as promptly as possible. Thanks!
