Short-Term Rentals in Cathedral City, CA (2026)

9 verified short-term rentals rules for Cathedral City, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

In Cathedral City, California, no one can use a qualifying dwelling as a short-term vacation rental without a valid STVR permit, and the owner must hold it before renting or advertising. The permit renews annually and is not renewed while code cases, city fines, fees or liens on the property remain unresolved.

Cathedral City Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit Requirement

Significant Restrictions

Cathedral City Municipal Code §§ 5.96.035, 5.96.040

A. All Permits. ... No person shall use any qualifying residential dwelling unit for a short-term vacation rental without a valid STVR permit issued pursuant to this chapter. ... A. The owner is required to submit an application signed by the owner and obtain a permit from the city, pursuant to the provisions of this section, before renting and/or advertising the availability of any short-term ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

In Cathedral City, California, no sound equipment can be used outside or be audible from outside a short-term vacation rental, indoor amplified music cannot be heard beyond the property line, and outdoor activities that create noise are prohibited between ten p.m. and eight a.m. These rules sit on top of the city's Chapter 11.96 noise standards.

Cathedral City Vacation Rental Noise and Quiet Hours

Significant Restrictions

Cathedral City Municipal Code § 5.96.050

E. In addition to the noise standards identified in Chapter 11.96 of the code, no radio receiver, musical instrument, phonograph, compact disk player, loudspeaker, karaoke machine, sound amplifier, or any machine, device or equipment that produces or reproduces any sound shall be used outside or be audible from the outside of any unit used for short-term vacation rental. Any machine, device or ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

In Cathedral City, California, the owner of a short-term vacation rental must follow every provision of Chapter 3.24 on transient occupancy tax, file a return every month even when the unit sat empty, and keep tax records for three years. Permit fees are set by City Council resolution.

Cathedral City Short-Term Vacation Rental Tax and Fees

Significant Restrictions

Cathedral City Municipal Code § 5.96.050

J. Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the owner of a short-term vacation rental unit and/or the owner's authorized agent or representative shall be subject to and shall comply with all provisions of Chapter 3.24 concerning transient occupancy taxes, including, but not limited to, submission of a monthly or alternative return, which shall be filed monthly even if the short-term vacation ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

In Cathedral City, a permitted short-term vacation rental is limited to a maximum of one vehicle per bedroom, counted across the garage, the driveway, and the street. Parking in front of any mailbox is prohibited. The owner or the owner's authorized agent must make sure guests follow every parking rule, and each listing must state the maximum number of cars allowed.

Cathedral City Short-Term Rental Parking Limit: One Vehicle Per Bedroom

Some Restrictions

Cathedral City Municipal Code § 5.96.050

N. A maximum of one vehicle per bedroom of the STVR is permitted to park in the garage and driveway of the STVR or property or on the street. Vehicle parking in front of any mailbox is prohibited. The owner or the owner's authorized agent or representative shall ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rule and regulations related to parking of vehicles. ... T. All short-term vacation rental...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

In Cathedral City, California, a short-term vacation rental or home share can hold 2 occupants as a studio, 2 with one bedroom, 4 with two, 6 with three, 8 with four, and 10 with five or more bedrooms. Children two years of age or younger do not count, and a special event permit under Chapter 9.68 allows exceeding the cap.

Cathedral City Vacation Rental Occupancy Limits

Some Restrictions

Cathedral City Municipal Code § 5.96.050

C. The number of occupants allowed to be present at any short-term vacation rental or home share shall be limited as follows: Number of Bedrooms Maximum Number of Occupants 0—Studio 2 1 2 2 4 3 6 4 8 5 or more 10 Children two years of age or younger are not counted towards the occupant maximum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the occupancy limits may be exceeded if the owner or authorized repres...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

In Cathedral City, California, an STVR owner must give the city proof of short-term vacation rental insurance at both initial and renewal permit issuance, keep it in force for the whole annual permit, and sign an indemnification agreement. Failing to maintain the insurance results in suspension of the permit. The city manager sets the coverage limits.

Cathedral City Vacation Rental Insurance Requirement

Some Restrictions

Cathedral City Municipal Code § 5.96.040

9. An executed indemnification and hold harmless agreement in a form approved by the city attorney; ... H. The owner must provide proof of short-term vacation rental insurance that covers the rental of the property as a short-term vacation rental with limits as may be established by the city manager and amended from time to time. Proof of insurance shall be provided at the time of both initial ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

In Cathedral City, California, the short-term rental that remains available to most owners is home sharing: renting part of the owner's primary residence, no more than fifty percent of the bedrooms, for thirty consecutive calendar days or less while an owner stays on the property. Home sharing is not permitted in any disqualified space.

Cathedral City Home Sharing: Primary Residence Rule

Significant Restrictions

Cathedral City Municipal Code § 5.96.020

"Home sharing"or "home share" means a form of short-term vacation rental of a privately owned qualifying residential unit located on property that is the primary residence of the owner(s), a portion of which, not exceeding fifty percent of the total bedrooms, is rented occasionally for occupancy, dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes for a period of thirty consecutive calendar days or less, c...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Repeat Violator Strikes

Cathedral City counts violations at each short-term vacation rental over a twelve-month period. A third notice of violation or administrative citation at the same property within twelve months requires the director of community development to suspend the permit for up to six months. The city manager can also suspend sooner on substantial evidence of a threat to public health, safety and general welfare.

Cathedral City Short-Term Rental Third-Violation Permit Suspension

Significant Restrictions

Cathedral City Municipal Code § 5.96.070

C. Suspension of a Short-Term Vacation Rental Unit Permit. 1. Upon the issuance of a third notice of violation and/or administrative citation within twelve months at the same short-term vacation rental property, the director of community development or designee shall suspend the permit for a period of time determined by the city, not exceeding six months. 2. The city manager or designee may sus...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Platform Liability

In Cathedral City, hosting platforms are prohibited from facilitating, advertising or processing transactions for any short-term vacation rental the city has not licensed and permitted. Platforms must display the city-assigned STVR permit number on each listing and give owners a required notice before listing. A platform violation carries an administrative citation of no less than one thousand dollars per violation per day.

Cathedral City Hosting Platform Liability for Unpermitted Short-Term Rentals

Significant Restrictions

Cathedral City Municipal Code § 5.96.080

B. Hosting platforms are prohibited from facilitating the short-term vacation rental of unlicensed, unpermitted, and illegal businesses. Hosting platforms shall not process transactions for properties that are not licensed and permitted by the city. Hosting platforms shall not facilitate the evading of relevant taxes and regulations by any short-term vacation rental. C. No hosting platform shal...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Looking for Riverside County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Cathedral City city rules.

Short-Term Rentals in Riverside County →