Airbnb Reports Spike In Searches For LA Area As Super Bowl Nears

LOS ANGELES, CA — Short-term rentals across Los Angeles County are expected to spike this week as out-of-towners arrive for the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and locals host Super Bowl parties. Short-term rental giant Airbnb expects the Super Bowl to generate millions in rental fees for local homeowners as the Bengals and Rams square off on Sunday.

The economic boon to the community, however, comes with some tension as Airbnb tries to prohibit parties and neighbors deal with the fallout of rulebreaking renters. A shooting at an Airbnb gathering in Inglewood in late January left four people dead and one injured, prompting calls for further regulation of short-term rentals as the Super Bowl nears.

“SoFi Stadium and other developments in Inglewood are transforming the city into a tourist attraction, fueling the growth of short-term rentals. These rentals sometimes run like unregulated hotels or nightclubs in the middle of residential neighborhoods, increasing noise, parking, and safety issues for residents," said Randy Renick of the community group Better Neighbors LA. "That is what we’ve tried to prevent in LA by regulating these vacation rentals.”

Los Angeles has long been a hot-spot for raucous parties at short-term rentals, and the company faced pressure from the city to rein in party houses that disrupt residential neighborhoods. In the past, the company has placed limitations on rentals to discourage parties on holidays such as New Year's Eve and the Fourth Of July.

A week of Super Bowl festivities leading up to the big game have already drawn crowds to the region.

According to Airbnb, Cincinnati Bengals fans immediately began searching for rentals when the team earned a Super Bowl beth.

Searches by Ohio-based guests for reservations in Los Angeles increased by more than 2,000% on Jan. 31, the day after the Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC championship game and earned a berth in the Super Bowl.

It's a trend that holds up each year in communities hosting the big game. When Atlanta was home to the Super Bowl in February 2019, and the New England Patriots defeated the Rams 13-3, local hosts earned nearly $3.5 million from more than 11,000 guests, Airbnb reported. There was $180 million in economic activity reportedly generated citywide, according to the company.

Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2021, new Airbnb hosts in California with only one listing reportedly earned more than $89 million.

While renting out space for out-of-town guests may seem like a quick way to make a buck, the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office warned Monday that there are rules to follow. The office noted that the municipal code makes it "unlawful to list or rent a short-term (for a period of 30 days or less) rental property without a valid city-issued home-sharing permit."

The City Attorney's Office also warned residents who may not be renting out homes or rooms, but plan to host Super Bowl parties. The office outlined the rules governing loud parties, noting that such gatherings can be deemed a public nuisance if any loud or unruly conduct occurs, "such as public intoxication, obstruction of streets, possession and service of alcohol to minors, sale or service of alcohol without a license, urinating in public."

City codes also bar "loud, unnecessary or unusual noise that interferes with someone's peace and quiet to an unreasonable degree," including loud noises from musical instruments, stereos or other amplified devices, noting that no sound-producing device should be audible more than 150 feet from the owner's property line.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.