RuleGridCalifornia · Palm Springs
Palm Springs
Short-term / vacation rentals are legal in Palm Springs but only with a city-issued Vacation Rental Registration Certificate under Palm Springs Municipal Code (PSMC) Chapter 5.25 (Vacation Rentals), which was amended and restated by Ordinance No. 2075 (adopted November 28, 2022, terminating the October 2022 moratorium) and further amended through 2025 (most recently Ordinance No. 2118, adopted November 12, 2025). A "vacation rental" is a single-family dwelling (or portion) rented for 28 consecutive days or less without the owner present; owner-present rentals are separately regulated as "homesharing." Operating without a certificate exposes the operator to back TOT plus penalties/interest, a $5,000 administrative fine, and permanent ineligibility (rising to $10,000 for continued operation). Three certificate types exist: standard Vacation Rental Certificate (annual registration fee $1,046 effective December 1, 2025 per Resolution No. 25344), Junior Vacation Rental Certificate (annual registration fee $523 effective December 1, 2025; max 6 contracts/year), and Homesharing Certificate. New standard certificates are subject to a neighborhood density cap: the City will not issue new certificates in any organized neighborhood where vacation rentals already reach or exceed 20% of residential dwelling units (Junior certificates are exempt from the cap; a first-in-time waitlist applies when a neighborhood falls back below the cap). Occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom and eight persons total per unit (whichever is fewer), plus up to two additional minor children age 12 or under, with up to four additional daytime occupants. Operators must register for and file monthly Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) returns, carry at least $500,000 liability insurance, pass a building/fire/safety inspection, and maintain a 24/7 local contact who can respond by phone within 15 minutes and in person within 30 minutes. Rather than a nights-per-year cap, the City caps rental "contracts" per calendar year: 26 for new permittees (complete application filed after October 17, 2022), 36 for existing/legacy permittees (32 base plus up to 4 additional in the third quarter — preserved indefinitely by Ordinance No. 2118, Nov. 12, 2025), and 6 for Junior certificates. Lodging taxes: 11.5% city TOT plus a 1% Greater Palm Springs Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment (effective July 1, 2021) on stays under 28 days.
Not legal advice. Last verified 2026-07-15 · sources linked below.
Requirements checklist
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city Vacation Rental Registration Certificate Required
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city Junior Vacation Rental Registration Certificate Conditional
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city Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Registration Permit Required
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city Monthly TOT / TBID return filing Required
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city Liability insurance Required
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city Building / fire / safety inspection Required
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city 24/7 local contact person Required
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city Estate Home Land Use Permit Conditional
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Administered by | Airbnb remits | Vrbo remits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) | — | — | — | — |
| Greater Palm Springs Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment | — | — | — | — |
Operating rules
- Primary residence
- No
- Min stay (nights)
- —
- Max nights / year
- —
- Max occupancy
- No more than two persons per bedroom and no more than eight persons total per vacation rental unit (whichever is fewer); owner may allow up to two additional minor children age 12 or under, plus up to four additional daytime occupants. Bedroom count verified by inspection.
- Zoning-restricted
- Yes
- Cap on licenses
- Yes
Grandfathering: yes
Zoning: Vacation rentals are limited to single-family dwellings and are permitted only as an ancillary/secondary use of residential property. New standard certificates are barred in any organized neighborhood where vacation rentals already reach or exceed 20% of residential dwelling units (a 'first in time, first in right' waitlist applies when a neighborhood falls back below the cap). Junior Vacation Rental certificates are exempt from the neighborhood cap. Estate homes require a separate Land Use Permit.
- Rather than a nights-per-year cap, Palm Springs caps rental 'contracts' per calendar year: 26 for new permittees (complete application filed after October 17, 2022), 36 for existing/legacy permittees (32 base plus up to 4 additional in the third quarter), and 6 for Junior Vacation Rental certificates. One booking = one contract regardless of length.
- CORRECTION vs draft: existing/legacy permittee cap is 36 (not 32). Ordinance No. 2118, adopted November 12, 2025, preserved the legacy 36-contract cap indefinitely and removed the previously planned reduction to 26 for legacy holders.
- Neighborhood density cap = 20% of all residential dwelling units within a particular neighborhood; the City Council may modify the percentage by resolution.
- Grandfathering: properties permitted before the Oct. 17, 2022 new-permittee cutoff retain the higher (36) contract allowance.
- min_stay_nights left null: the '28 consecutive days or less' figure is the MAXIMUM that defines a 'vacation rental,' not a minimum stay; PSMC does not impose a minimum-night requirement.
Enforcement
- Active enforcement
- City actively cites and adjudicates violations through administrative citations and an Administrative Appeals Board.
- Fines
- —
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Frequently asked questions
Is Airbnb legal in Palm Springs?
Do I need a license or registration for a short-term rental in Palm Springs?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Palm Springs?
Official sources
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Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against the linked official sources.