Are there rental limits in Joshua Tree?

A parcel less than 2 acres in size is limited to exactly one STR permit; parcels over 2 acres allow a maximum of two.

What violations should Joshua Tree hosts avoid?

The first administrative citation for any violation (noise, trash, parking) is a mandatory $1,000 fine.

What should Joshua Tree hosts know about rvs, tents, yurts, and un-permitted?

RVs, tents, yurts, and un-permitted conversion structures are strictly prohibited from being used as short-term rentals.

What are the key requirements for Joshua Tree hosts?

A local responsible contact must be available 24/7 and capable of responding to the property within 60 minutes or reside within 30 miles.

Joshua Tree

Moderate

California · Joshua Tree (Unincorporated San Bernardino County)Updated Mar 27, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 4, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Joshua Tree is an unincorporated community governed by San Bernardino County, which requires an annual short-term rental permit, mandatory inspections, and a 9% total transient tax.

Restriction level

Severity 10

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
No STR-specific permit required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

To host a short-term rental in Joshua Tree, you must apply for a permit through San Bernardino County's online portal and pay a $1,144 initial fee. The rules are strict: you must have a local contact available 24/7, parking is limited to one space per bedroom, and you cannot use RVs, tents, or un-permitted structures as rentals. Fines for violating these rules are high, starting at $1,000 for the first offense.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limit365/year

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$1,144

Max fine$5,000

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1A parcel less than 2 acres in size is limited to exactly one STR permit; parcels over 2 acres allow a maximum of two.
2The first administrative citation for any violation (noise, trash, parking) is a mandatory $1,000 fine.
3RVs, tents, yurts, and un-permitted conversion structures are strictly prohibited from being used as short-term rentals.
4A local responsible contact must be available 24/7 and capable of responding to the property within 60 minutes or reside within 30 miles.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Joshua Tree allows STRs in the following zones: Mountain Region, Desert Region.
Joshua Tree does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Joshua Tree does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.

Requirements8 rules

Joshua Tree requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: 500,000.
Joshua Tree STR warning: RVs, tents, yurts, and un-permitted conversion structures are strictly prohibited from being used as short-term rentals.
Joshua Tree STR warning: A parcel less than 2 acres in size is limited to exactly one STR permit; parcels over 2 acres allow a maximum of two.

Application process7 rules

Joshua Tree STR permit - Step 5: Permit Issuance and TOT Registration. Once the inspection passes and the 30-day appeal period concludes, the permit is issued. You must also register for a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate. Required documents: TOT Registration Form. Time: 30 days.

Fees & costs1 rule

San Bernardino County charges a registration fee of $1144 (annual).

Taxes1 rule

San Bernardino County charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.07%.

Limits & restrictions3 rules

Joshua Tree has a neighborhood cap of 1 STR permits.
San Bernardino County limits STRs to a maximum of 12 guests.
San Bernardino County limits STRs to 365 nights per year.

Safety requirements1 rule

Joshua Tree requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted emergency contact, parking, trash plan, noise restrictions (Quiet hours 10pm-7am; no amplified outdoor sound permitted at any time.).

Penalties1 rule

Joshua Tree enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First violation: $1,000 fine. Subsequent violations: $2,000 for second; $5,000 for third. Maximum fine: $5000.

Exemptions1 rule

Joshua Tree exempts the following from STR regulations: bed and breakfast establishments, hotels and motels, long-term stays (30+ days), Stays over 30 consecutive days.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Joshua Tree

0/5

steps completed

Step 1

Create EZOP Account

Register for an account on the San Bernardino County EZ Online Permitting (EZOP) system to begin the application process.

1 dayFree

Documents needed

Email address
Contact information

Official resource

Step 2

Prepare and Submit Documentation

Upload required documents including a detailed site/plot plan, internal floor plans, and a recorded grant deed to verify ownership.

1-2 weeks$1,144

Documents needed

Recorded Grant Deed
Plot Plan
Floor Plan
Owner Acknowledgement Form

Official resource

Step 3

Neighbor Notification Period

The county will mail notifications to all property owners within 300 feet. A 20-day public comment period must pass before the permit moves forward.

20 daysFree

Step 4

Pass Exterior Inspection

A Code Enforcement Officer will conduct an exterior inspection to verify parking, signage, and safety requirements. Owners must self-certify the interior using a checklist.

2-4 weeksFree

Documents needed

Interior Safety Checklist

Step 5

Permit Issuance and TOT Registration

Once the inspection passes and the 30-day appeal period concludes, the permit is issued. You must also register for a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate.

30 daysFree

Documents needed

TOT Registration Form

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Joshua Tree

Moderate

California · Joshua Tree (Unincorporated San Bernardino County)Updated Mar 27, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 4, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Joshua Tree is an unincorporated community governed by San Bernardino County, which requires an annual short-term rental permit, mandatory inspections, and a 9% total transient tax.

Restriction level

Severity 10

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
No STR-specific permit required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limit365/year

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$1,144

Max fine$5,000

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1A parcel less than 2 acres in size is limited to exactly one STR permit; parcels over 2 acres allow a maximum of two.
2The first administrative citation for any violation (noise, trash, parking) is a mandatory $1,000 fine.
3RVs, tents, yurts, and un-permitted conversion structures are strictly prohibited from being used as short-term rentals.
4A local responsible contact must be available 24/7 and capable of responding to the property within 60 minutes or reside within 30 miles.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Joshua Tree allows STRs in the following zones: Mountain Region, Desert Region.
Joshua Tree does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Joshua Tree does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.

Requirements8 rules

Joshua Tree requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: 500,000.
Joshua Tree STR warning: RVs, tents, yurts, and un-permitted conversion structures are strictly prohibited from being used as short-term rentals.
Joshua Tree STR warning: A parcel less than 2 acres in size is limited to exactly one STR permit; parcels over 2 acres allow a maximum of two.

Application process7 rules

Joshua Tree STR permit - Step 5: Permit Issuance and TOT Registration. Once the inspection passes and the 30-day appeal period concludes, the permit is issued. You must also register for a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate. Required documents: TOT Registration Form. Time: 30 days.

Fees & costs1 rule

San Bernardino County charges a registration fee of $1144 (annual).

Taxes1 rule

San Bernardino County charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.07%.

Limits & restrictions3 rules

Joshua Tree has a neighborhood cap of 1 STR permits.
San Bernardino County limits STRs to a maximum of 12 guests.
San Bernardino County limits STRs to 365 nights per year.

Safety requirements1 rule

Joshua Tree requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted emergency contact, parking, trash plan, noise restrictions (Quiet hours 10pm-7am; no amplified outdoor sound permitted at any time.).

Penalties1 rule

Joshua Tree enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First violation: $1,000 fine. Subsequent violations: $2,000 for second; $5,000 for third. Maximum fine: $5000.

Exemptions1 rule

Joshua Tree exempts the following from STR regulations: bed and breakfast establishments, hotels and motels, long-term stays (30+ days), Stays over 30 consecutive days.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Joshua Tree

0/5

steps completed

Step 1

Create EZOP Account

Register for an account on the San Bernardino County EZ Online Permitting (EZOP) system to begin the application process.

1 dayFree

Documents needed

Email address
Contact information

Official resource

Step 2

Prepare and Submit Documentation

Upload required documents including a detailed site/plot plan, internal floor plans, and a recorded grant deed to verify ownership.

1-2 weeks$1,144

Documents needed

Recorded Grant Deed
Plot Plan
Floor Plan
Owner Acknowledgement Form

Official resource

Step 3

Neighbor Notification Period

The county will mail notifications to all property owners within 300 feet. A 20-day public comment period must pass before the permit moves forward.

20 daysFree

Step 4

Pass Exterior Inspection

A Code Enforcement Officer will conduct an exterior inspection to verify parking, signage, and safety requirements. Owners must self-certify the interior using a checklist.

2-4 weeksFree

Documents needed

Interior Safety Checklist

Step 5

Permit Issuance and TOT Registration

Once the inspection passes and the 30-day appeal period concludes, the permit is issued. You must also register for a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate.

30 daysFree

Documents needed

TOT Registration Form

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Create EZOP Account

Prepare and Submit Documentation

Neighbor Notification Period

Pass Exterior Inspection

Permit Issuance and TOT Registration

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Joshua Tree?

2What are the parking and occupancy rules in Joshua Tree?

3What is the transient occupancy tax (TOT) in Joshua Tree?

4Are there night caps for rentals in Joshua Tree?

5What are the penalties for violating STR laws in Joshua Tree?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Create EZOP Account

Prepare and Submit Documentation

Neighbor Notification Period

Pass Exterior Inspection

Permit Issuance and TOT Registration

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Joshua Tree?

2What are the parking and occupancy rules in Joshua Tree?

3What is the transient occupancy tax (TOT) in Joshua Tree?

4Are there night caps for rentals in Joshua Tree?

5What are the penalties for violating STR laws in Joshua Tree?

Disclaimer