Business Licensing & Operations in Palm Desert, CA (2026)
3 verified business licensing & operations rules for Palm Desert, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
In the City of Palm Desert, California, an adult entertainment establishment can locate only in the SI Service Industrial district near Cook Street and Hovley Lane, at least 500 feet from residential zones, churches, schools, parks and other adult establishments, and not on a parcel fronting an arterial street. A city permit under Chapter 5.89 is also required.
Palm Desert Adult Entertainment Permit and Location Rules
Significant RestrictionsPalm Desert Municipal Code § 25.34.110
A. Location. ... No adult entertainment establishment shall be established in the locations listed below. The measure of reference distance in this section shall be a straight line from the nearest property line containing the adult entertainment establishment to the nearest property line of an affected use, without regard to intervening structures. 1. In any zone other than the SI (Service Ind...
Massage Establishments
In the City of Palm Desert, California, no establishment can provide massage unless it holds a city massage establishment business license and every individual giving massage is a state certified practitioner. Stand-alone establishments are confined to the C-1, PC2 and PC3 zones and must sit 1,000 feet apart. Licenses run two years under Palm Desert Municipal Code Chapter 5.87.
Palm Desert Massage Establishment Business License and Zoning
Significant RestrictionsPalm Desert Municipal Code § 5.87.040 (with §§ 5.87.060 and 5.87.110)
Within six months of passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter, it is unlawful for any establishment to provide massage services within the city unless the massage establishment has obtained a massage establishment business license from the city and all individuals providing massage at said massage establishment are state certified massage practitioners. Any non-conforming uses shall be...
Tobacco Retail License
In the City of Palm Desert, California, no one may act as a tobacco retailer without a valid tobacco retailer's license for each location. Licenses cover a fixed location only, run for a term of one year, and must be renewed no later than thirty days before expiration. Sales of electronic smoking devices are prohibited outright.
Palm Desert Tobacco Retailer License Requirements
Significant RestrictionsPalm Desert Municipal Code § 8.34.020
A. It is unlawful for any person to act as a tobacco retailer without first obtaining and maintaining a valid tobacco retailer's license pursuant to this chapter for each location at which that activity is to occur. No license may issue to authorize tobacco retailing at other than a fixed location. For example, tobacco retailing by persons on foot and tobacco retailing from vehicles are prohibi...
Looking for Riverside County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Palm Desert city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Riverside County →