Indio, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rental Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum rental term
- 31 days
- Applies to
- ADUs and JADUs citywide
- Governing code
- Indio UDC § 4.02.02(H)
- Distinct from
- Chapter 37 STR program
Summary
Indio prohibits renting an accessory dwelling unit for stays under 31 days, reserving ADUs for long-term housing rather than vacation rentals under the city's Unified Development Code.
Short-Term Rentals.ADUs shall not be used for short-term rentals for a term of less than 31 days.
I. Application — Owner Certification.An ADU may not be sold or otherwise conveyed separately from the primary residence except for as provided below (per Government Code Section 65852.26). As part of the building permit application process for an ADU, the owner of record shall submit a declaration, under penalty of perjury, stating that the ADU is not intended for sale separate from the primary residence, but may be rented. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to affect the legal status of an ADU built with a lawfully issued permit if the property is subsequently transferred or sold, or if the primary dwelling or ADU is subsequently rented or leased.
1. Exception.A local agency shall allow an accessory dwelling unit to be sold or conveyed separately from the primary residence to a qualified buyer in conformance with the requirements of Government Code Section 65852.26. These include an ADU constructed on a property developed by a Qualified Non-profit Corporation, where there is an enforceable restriction on the use of the land pursuant to a recorded contract between the qualified buyer and the qualified nonprofit corporation that satisfies all of the requirements specified in paragraph (10) of subdivision (a) of Section 402.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, or where the property is held pursuant to a recorded tenancy in common agreement.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4796010; v13 updated 2026-02-04; through 02-04-2026).
Full Breakdown
UDC § 4.02.02(H) states plainly that accessory dwelling units in the City of Indio, Riverside County, California cannot be used for short-term rentals let for less than 31 days: the standard threshold separating long-term housing from vacation rentals. The restriction applies to both ADUs and JADUs citywide, regardless of zone, and exists to keep the ADU program focused on adding long-term housing stock rather than short-term lodging capacity. It sits apart from Indio's separate short-term rental ordinance in Chapter 37, which regulates STRs operated out of primary dwellings; renting an ADU by the night or week is prohibited outright rather than merely permitted and regulated.
Violations & Fines
Advertising or renting an ADU for stays shorter than 31 days violates UDC § 4.02.02(H) and can trigger code enforcement separate from the Chapter 37 short-term rental program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent my Indio ADU on a nightly-rental site?
Does the 31-day minimum apply to junior ADUs too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Indio
California rules heatmap·Compare Indio to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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ADU Rental Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle adu rental restrictions.