Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Palm Springs?

**Yes**, Palm Springs requires a Vacation Rental Registration Certificate for all short-term rentals. You need to obtain this certificate annually, and it costs $1052. The city also requires safety inspections to ensure the property meets all safety standards. Refer to Chapter 5.25 for full details.

What is the TOT tax rate in Palm Springs?

**11.5% TOT** is the current transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals in Palm Springs. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the city. Be sure to check with the city's finance department for the most up-to-date information and filing procedures.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Palm Springs?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Palm Springs but are strictly regulated. Unhosted rentals are capped at 36 guest stays per year. The city prohibits outdoor amplified music. Also, there is a limit of one property per owner to be used as a short-term rental. Refer to Chapter 5.25.

How much does an STR permit cost in Palm Springs?

**$1052** is the fee for the Vacation Rental Registration Certificate in Palm Springs. You must renew this certificate annually to legally operate a short-term rental. This fee covers the cost of registration and helps fund the city's enforcement of short-term rental regulations, per Chapter 5.25.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Palm Springs?

**No**, tenants are not allowed to host on Airbnb in Palm Springs. The regulations only allow property owners to operate short-term rentals. Renters are not permitted to sublease or rent out the property they are renting for short-term stays, according to the city's vacation rental ordinances.

Palm Springs

Strict

CaliforniaUpdated Apr 11, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

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

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

The City of Palm Springs strictly regulates vacation rentals under Chapter 5.25, requiring annual registration, safety inspections, and a one-property-per-owner limit. Unhosted rentals are capped at 36 guest stays per year, with a strict prohibition on outdoor amplified music.

Restriction level

Severity 48

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

High permit fee: $1052
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Palm Springs, you must first secure a Vacation Rental Registration Certificate. You are only allowed to own one short-term rental property in the city, and if you live in an apartment, hosting is prohibited. Be aware that the city has a 'no outdoor music' policy and a cap on how many times you can rent out the home each year. You must also collect 11.5% tax from your guests and pay it to the city yourself, as Airbnb does not do this for you here.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$1,052

Processing time30-45 days

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1NO OUTDOOR MUSIC: Amplified music is prohibited outside at all times; even low music can lead to a $500 fine.
236-STAY LIMIT: Unhosted rentals are limited to 36 guest stay contracts per calendar year.
3OWNER LIMIT: Natural persons are limited to owning/operating only ONE vacation rental permit.
4APARTMENT BAN: Short-term rentals are strictly prohibited in all apartment buildings.
5NO PLATFORM REMITTANCE: Hosts must manually collect and remit 11.5% TOT; Airbnb does NOT collect this in Palm Springs.
6ADU RESTRICTION: Accessory Dwelling Units (casitas) built after 2017 generally cannot be used as STRs.
7IN-PERSON CHECK-IN: Owners or agents must meet guests in person within 24 hours of arrival to explain rules.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility12 rules

Palm Springs: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Palm Springs limits hosts to a maximum of 1 STR properties per owner.
Palm Springs: APARTMENT BAN: Short-term rentals are strictly prohibited in all apartment buildings.

Requirements19 rules

Palm Springs: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
Palm Springs: IN-PERSON CHECK-IN: Owners or agents must meet guests in person within 24 hours of arrival to explain rules.
Palm Springs: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.

Application process10 rules

Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Palm Springs: Step 1: Submit Application - Apply via the Palm Springs Vacation Rental portal with the notarized compliance form and grant deed. Documents needed: Notarized Compliance Statement, Grant Deed. Estimated time: 1 week. Cost: 1052. More info: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/vacation-rentals-homestays/registration-renewal-and-forms Step 2: Pass Safety Inspection - Schedule and pass a city fire and safety inspection focusing on alarms, extinguishers, and pool safety. Estimated time: 2 weeks. Step 3: Obtain TOT Permit - Register for a Transient Occupancy Tax account with the Finance Department. Estimated time: 1 week. More info: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/finance/transient-occupancy-tax-tot

Fees & costs1 rule

Palm Springs charges a registration fee of $1052 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $526 (Fee for Homestays is lower ($526) than unhosted Vacation Rentals ($1,052). Safety inspection included.).

Taxes2 rules

Palm Springs charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 11.5%. This applies to stays under 28 days. Hosts are responsible for collecting and remitting this tax. Note: Palm Springs requires owners to remit TOT directly to the city; Airbnb does NOT collect TOT for Palm Springs.

Limits & restrictions10 rules

Palm Springs limits stays to a maximum of 28 nights.
Palm Springs enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM (Strictly enforced; no outdoor music at any time).
Palm Springs, CA occupancy calculation: 2 adults per bedroom. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Palm Springs: 36-STAY LIMIT: Unhosted rentals are limited to 36 guest stay contracts per calendar year.

Safety requirements1 rule

Palm Springs requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Pool safety gate/alarm, Posted 'Good Neighbor' brochure, Exterior lighting requirements.

Penalties6 rules

Palm Springs, CA: Operating an STR in a rent-controlled unit can result in permit denial and fines. Apartments are strictly prohibited from being used as vacation rentals per Section 5.25.070.
Palm Springs, CA: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions3 rules

Palm Springs: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Palm Springs exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

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

Palm Springs

Strict

CaliforniaUpdated Apr 11, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

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

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 48

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

High permit fee: $1052
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$1,052

Processing time30-45 days

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1NO OUTDOOR MUSIC: Amplified music is prohibited outside at all times; even low music can lead to a $500 fine.
236-STAY LIMIT: Unhosted rentals are limited to 36 guest stay contracts per calendar year.
3OWNER LIMIT: Natural persons are limited to owning/operating only ONE vacation rental permit.
4APARTMENT BAN: Short-term rentals are strictly prohibited in all apartment buildings.
5NO PLATFORM REMITTANCE: Hosts must manually collect and remit 11.5% TOT; Airbnb does NOT collect this in Palm Springs.
6ADU RESTRICTION: Accessory Dwelling Units (casitas) built after 2017 generally cannot be used as STRs.
7IN-PERSON CHECK-IN: Owners or agents must meet guests in person within 24 hours of arrival to explain rules.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility12 rules

Palm Springs: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Palm Springs limits hosts to a maximum of 1 STR properties per owner.
Palm Springs: APARTMENT BAN: Short-term rentals are strictly prohibited in all apartment buildings.

Requirements19 rules

Palm Springs: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
Palm Springs: IN-PERSON CHECK-IN: Owners or agents must meet guests in person within 24 hours of arrival to explain rules.
Palm Springs: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.

Application process10 rules

Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Palm Springs: Step 1: Submit Application - Apply via the Palm Springs Vacation Rental portal with the notarized compliance form and grant deed. Documents needed: Notarized Compliance Statement, Grant Deed. Estimated time: 1 week. Cost: 1052. More info: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/vacation-rentals-homestays/registration-renewal-and-forms Step 2: Pass Safety Inspection - Schedule and pass a city fire and safety inspection focusing on alarms, extinguishers, and pool safety. Estimated time: 2 weeks. Step 3: Obtain TOT Permit - Register for a Transient Occupancy Tax account with the Finance Department. Estimated time: 1 week. More info: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/finance/transient-occupancy-tax-tot

Fees & costs1 rule

Palm Springs charges a registration fee of $1052 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $526 (Fee for Homestays is lower ($526) than unhosted Vacation Rentals ($1,052). Safety inspection included.).

Taxes2 rules

Palm Springs charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 11.5%. This applies to stays under 28 days. Hosts are responsible for collecting and remitting this tax. Note: Palm Springs requires owners to remit TOT directly to the city; Airbnb does NOT collect TOT for Palm Springs.

Limits & restrictions10 rules

Palm Springs limits stays to a maximum of 28 nights.
Palm Springs enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM (Strictly enforced; no outdoor music at any time).
Palm Springs, CA occupancy calculation: 2 adults per bedroom. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Palm Springs: 36-STAY LIMIT: Unhosted rentals are limited to 36 guest stay contracts per calendar year.

Safety requirements1 rule

Palm Springs requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Pool safety gate/alarm, Posted 'Good Neighbor' brochure, Exterior lighting requirements.

Penalties6 rules

Palm Springs, CA: Operating an STR in a rent-controlled unit can result in permit denial and fines. Apartments are strictly prohibited from being used as vacation rentals per Section 5.25.070.
Palm Springs, CA: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions3 rules

Palm Springs: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Palm Springs exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

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

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Palm Springs?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Palm Springs?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Palm Springs?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Palm Springs?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Palm Springs?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Palm Springs?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Palm Springs?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Palm Springs?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Palm Springs?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Palm Springs?

Disclaimer