Apartments for Rent in Sherman Oaks, CA
Ventura Boulevard walkability, the Sepulveda Basin at your back door, and Westside access at Valley prices.
What is it like to rent in Sherman Oaks?
By Jason Farone, Founder of 14ForRent · Updated August 2026
Quick Answer
Sherman Oaks apartments run roughly $1,800–$1,950 for a studio, $2,100–$2,300 for a one-bedroom, and $2,700–$3,150 for a two-bedroom in 2026 — about $900–$1,600 a month less than comparable units in West Hollywood. Because Sherman Oaks sits inside the City of Los Angeles, the LA Rent Stabilization Ordinance applies to qualifying buildings built on or before October 1, 1978, unlike neighboring independent cities such as Glendale or Beverly Hills. It suits renters who want Westside-adjacent access — Beverly Hills and Hollywood are a 10–15 minute drive over the hill — without Westside prices. Browse current listings below.
Sherman Oaks sits in the San Fernando Valley, inside the City of Los Angeles — unlike Glendale, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood, which are all separate incorporated cities with their own rent rules. That distinction matters here: because Sherman Oaks is part of the City of LA, buildings with a certificate of occupancy dated on or before October 1, 1978 fall under the LA Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), the same protections that cover Koreatown or Silver Lake. The neighborhood runs roughly from Beverly Glen Boulevard on the west to Coldwater Canyon Avenue on the east, bordered by Encino, Studio City, and Valley Village, with the Santa Monica Mountains — Mulholland Drive and the pass toward Beverly Hills and Bel-Air — along its southern edge.
Rent here is the strongest argument for living over the hill. In 2026, Sherman Oaks studios run roughly $1,800–$1,950, one-bedrooms $2,100–$2,300, and two-bedrooms $2,700–$3,150 — our own listings on Moorpark Street ($2,195 and $2,295 for one-bedrooms) and Kester Avenue ($2,750 for a two-bedroom) sit squarely in that range. Compare that to West Hollywood, where one-bedrooms run $2,600–$3,600 and two-bedrooms $3,600–$5,500: a Sherman Oaks one-bedroom saves roughly $900 a month, and a two-bedroom saves over $1,600, against a Westside neighborhood just a ten-minute drive over Coldwater Canyon. For renters priced out of the Westside, that gap buys real square footage.
Ventura Boulevard is the neighborhood's spine and its most walkable stretch. The Village at Sherman Oaks — the blocks of Ventura roughly between Van Nuys Boulevard and Woodman Avenue — concentrates restaurants, bars, gyms, and boutique shops into a genuinely pedestrian-friendly node, even though the surrounding residential streets are far less walkable. The Sherman Oaks Galleria, made famous by Fast Times at Ridgemont High and now a mixed office-retail complex, anchors the eastern end, while Westfield Fashion Square mall and a Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and multiple Ralph's locations along Ventura cover everyday errands without leaving the boulevard.
Commuting from Sherman Oaks means confronting the 101/405 interchange, which is among the busiest freeway interchanges in the country. Caltrans has carpool-lane and congestion-relief work underway through the Sepulveda Pass, but expect real delays at peak hours regardless. Many residents cut around the worst of it via Coldwater Canyon or Laurel Canyon, both of which climb over the hill to Beverly Hills and Hollywood in about ten to fifteen minutes outside rush hour. There is no direct Metro rail service in Sherman Oaks; Metro buses run along Ventura Boulevard and Van Nuys Boulevard, but this remains a drive-first neighborhood.
For green space, the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area sits just west of the neighborhood along the Los Angeles River — two public golf courses, a wildlife reserve, and the Japanese Garden's cherry-blossom-lined lake at Lake Balboa give Valley renters a genuine outdoor escape that most of central LA can't match, even if it takes a short drive rather than a walk. Closer to home, Ventura Boulevard's sidewalks support an active dog-walking and coffee-shop culture, and several of the side streets north and south of the boulevard are lined with mature trees that soften the Valley's summer heat more than the newer, treeless blocks further east.
Sherman Oaks falls under the Los Angeles Unified School District, and the area draws families in part for Sherman Oaks Elementary Charter and its proximity to well-regarded private options like Notre Dame High School. ZIP codes split the neighborhood's character: 91423 covers the Ventura corridor and the Galleria area, 91403 runs south toward the hills and tends to be quieter and more residential, and 91401 stretches north toward Van Nuys with the most affordable stock. Taken together, Sherman Oaks suits renters and families who want Westside-adjacent convenience — a short drive to Beverly Hills, Hollywood, or Studio City — without paying Westside rent, and who don't mind driving to get most places.
Why Rent in Sherman Oaks?
- • Ventura Boulevard's walkable restaurant and retail strip
- • The Village at Sherman Oaks and the Sherman Oaks Galleria
- • Rents run well below West Hollywood for comparable units
- • Sepulveda Basin golf, trails, and the Japanese Garden lake
- • 10–15 minutes from Beverly Hills and Hollywood via Coldwater or Laurel Canyon
- • LA Rent Stabilization Ordinance protection on qualifying pre-1978 buildings
Sherman Oaks Building & Neighborhood Amenities
Sherman Oaks Rent Compared to Nearby Neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | Transit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherman Oaks | $1,800–$1,950 | $2,100–$2,300 | $2,700–$3,150 | Car-centric — the 101/405 interchange nearby is among the busiest in the country; Metro buses run Ventura and Van Nuys Boulevards, but most residents drive. | Renters and families who want Westside-adjacent access at Valley prices, with more space per dollar. |
| Studio City | $1,700–$2,100 | $2,300–$3,000 | $2,900–$4,300 | Metro B Line at Universal City/Studio City station; Ventura Boulevard is walkable, but most of the neighborhood is car-dependent. | Entertainment-industry professionals, small families, and renters who want a walkable Valley main street. |
| Glendale | $1,700–$2,100 | $2,000–$2,600 | $2,600–$3,500 | Car-centric: the 134, 2, and 5 freeways, Metrolink at the Glendale Transportation Center, plus Metro bus and the Glendale Beeline shuttle. | Commuters and families who want a walkable downtown and good schools without paying Eastside-LA prices. |
| Hollywood Hills | $1,800–$2,400 | $2,300–$3,200 | $3,200–$5,500 | Car-dependent canyon roads; quick to the Sunset Strip and the Hollywood flats. Runyon Canyon trailheads within walking distance. | Renters who want quiet, views, and nature near the city — often entertainment-industry professionals. |
Frequently Asked Questions about Sherman Oaks
How much is rent in Sherman Oaks?
In 2026, Sherman Oaks studios run about $1,800–$1,950 per month, one-bedrooms $2,100–$2,300, and two-bedrooms $2,700–$3,150. Our own listings — one-bedrooms on Moorpark Street at $2,195 and $2,295, and a two-bedroom on Kester Avenue at $2,750 — sit right in that range. Older buildings set back from Ventura Boulevard tend toward the lower end, while newer construction near the Galleria and Van Nuys Boulevard commands a premium.
Does Sherman Oaks have rent control?
Yes, in a way most of its Westside neighbors don't. Sherman Oaks is part of the City of Los Angeles, so the LA Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) applies to units in buildings with a certificate of occupancy on or before October 1, 1978. Covered units are subject to an annual increase cap set by the city. Independent cities like Glendale and Beverly Hills run their own separate ordinances — Sherman Oaks renters should check ZIMAS (zimas.lacity.org) to confirm a specific building's RSO status.
What is the commute like from Sherman Oaks?
Realistically, you're driving. The 101/405 interchange nearby is among the busiest in the country, so peak-hour delays are routine. Many residents avoid the worst of it by cutting over Coldwater Canyon or Laurel Canyon, which reach Beverly Hills or Hollywood in 10–15 minutes off-peak. There's no direct Metro rail line here — Metro buses cover Ventura and Van Nuys Boulevards, but this is a car-first neighborhood.
How does Sherman Oaks compare to renting in West Hollywood?
Sherman Oaks one-bedrooms run roughly $900 a month less than West Hollywood's $2,600–$3,600 range, and two-bedrooms run about $1,600 less than West Hollywood's $3,600–$5,500. You give up WeHo's Sunset Strip walkability and nightlife density, but Sherman Oaks trades it for more square footage per dollar, quieter streets, and a drive over Coldwater or Laurel Canyon that puts you in West Hollywood in under 15 minutes when you want it.
Is Sherman Oaks walkable?
In pockets, yes. Ventura Boulevard through The Village at Sherman Oaks and around the Galleria is genuinely walkable, with restaurants, gyms, and shops reachable on foot. Step off Ventura onto the residential side streets, though, and walkability drops fast — most errands beyond that corridor mean a car. It's a hybrid: walkable for dining and daily coffee, car-dependent for everything else, including the Sepulveda Basin's parks and golf courses a short drive west.
Available Properties in Sherman Oaks
3 rentals available
Explore Nearby Neighborhoods
Studio City
Studios from $1,700–$2,100 · Metro B Line at Universal City/Studio City station; Ventura Boulevard is walkable
Glendale
Studios from $1,700–$2,100 · Car-centric: the 134
Hollywood Hills
Studios from $1,800–$2,400 · Car-dependent canyon roads; quick to the Sunset Strip and the Hollywood flats. Runyon Canyon trailheads within walking distance.