Rental Property Rules in Palm Springs, CA

If you live in Palm Springs or are thinking about moving there, rental property rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Palm Springs has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of rental property rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Rental Registration

Palm Springs landlords covered by the city's Chapter 4.02 rent control ordinance must register each rental unit with the Rent Review Commission and pay a per-unit registration fee, from $10.50 to $11.50 depending on portfolio size, before they can lawfully raise rent. Coverage is limited to units renting under $450 a month as of September 1, 1979.

Key details: Registration required: With the Rent Review Commission, before any increase. Timing: At least 30 days before raising rent. Initial fee: $10.50 to $11.50 per unit, by portfolio size. Required disclosure: Base rent, current rent, date of last increase. Effective since: June 1, 1984.

A landlord who raises rent without first registering the unit at least 30 days earlier, giving the tenant written notice of the base and current rent, and paying the initial registration fee under Section 4.02.085 cannot lawfully collect the increase. The City Council may also set penalties by resolution for failing to complete a required renewal registration under subsection (d), and Section 4.02.090 lets a tenant sue to recover any rent collected above what the chapter allows plus a $300 civil penalty and attorney's fees.

Repairs & Habitability

Palm Springs adopts the International Property Maintenance Code as its habitability standard and requires air conditioning, not just heat, in every dwelling. Municipal Code § 8.04.036 amends IPMC § 602.2 to require AC capable of holding habitable rooms at 80 degrees Fahrenheit or below at all times, and landlords under § 602.3.1 must supply it continuously in every rented unit.

Key details: Max indoor temp: 80°F in all habitable rooms. Who must comply: Every landlord renting or leasing a dwelling/sleeping unit. Governing section: Municipal Code § 8.04.036, IPMC §§ 602.2, 602.3.1. Base code: 2024 International Property Maintenance Code. Duration: AC must run at all times, not seasonally.

A landlord who fails to supply working air conditioning capable of holding habitable rooms at 80 degrees Fahrenheit violates § 602.2 and § 602.3.1 and can be cited by code compliance staff under the Property Maintenance Code, the same enforcement track used for any other habitability defect. A tenant can report a non-functioning or undersized AC system to the city, and an owner who does not correct it after notice faces the standard Property Maintenance Code penalty and abatement process, which can include a compliance order followed by a misdemeanor citation for continued noncompliance.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Palm Springs actively enforces its repairs & habitability requirements.

Rent Increase Notice

Palm Springs' local rent control ordinance requires landlords of covered units to give at least 90 days' written notice before any rent increase takes effect, longer than typical state notice periods. Coverage is narrow: Chapter 4.02 only reaches residential units that rented for under $450 a month as of September 1, 1979, so it mainly touches legacy tenancies and mobile home spaces.

Key details: Minimum notice: 90 days' written notice before any increase. Dollar-amount follow-up: Supplemental notice needed 30 days ahead if amount omitted. Coverage: Only units under $450/month as of 9/1/1979. Tenant remedy: $300 civil penalty per violation, plus damages, attorney's fees. Enforcement body: Rent Review Commission and city courts.

A landlord who serves a rent increase notice that doesn't meet Section 4.02.080's requirements can't collect the increase until 90 days after a compliant notice is served. Charging or collecting rent above what the chapter allows exposes the landlord to a tenant lawsuit for the overage as damages plus a $300 civil penalty per violation and the tenant's attorney's fees under Section 4.02.090, and the city itself may sue for an injunction to stop the violation.

Just Cause Eviction

After 12 months of tenancy (or 24 months with multiple adults), California's AB 1482 requires landlords to have just cause to terminate tenancy. At-fault causes include nonpayment and lease violations; no-fault causes (owner move-in, withdrawal, substantial remodel) require relocation assistance of one month's rent.

Key details: Rental: Just cause after 12 months occupancy. Fault Fault: At-fault and no-fault categories. One Month: One month relocation for no-fault. Notice Required: 60-day notice required. Limits: Same exemptions as rent cap.

Compared to other cities, Palm Springs takes a harder line on just cause eviction. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Rent Control

Palm Springs has no local rent control beyond California's statewide Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482). AB 1482 caps annual rent increases at 5% plus local CPI (max 10%) for covered multifamily units over 15 years old. Single-family homes not owned by corporations and newer buildings are exempt.

Key details: Local Rent: No local rent control; AB 1482 applies. Limit: 5% + CPI cap, max 10% annually. One Increase: One increase per 12 months. Exemption: Exemption: SFH not owned by corp. Age Restriction: Exemption: buildings under 15 years old.

The Bottom Line

Palm Springs is tougher than many cities when it comes to rental property rules. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Palm Springs, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Palm Springs can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.