Short-Term Rentals in Palm Desert, CA (2026)

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

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

In the City of Palm Desert, California, an owner, host or operator must hold an on-site or off-site short-term rental permit before advertising, renting or otherwise operating a short-term rental. The permit also serves as the transient occupancy registration permit, must be renewed annually, and is refused where code cases, fines or liens are unresolved.

Palm Desert Short-Term Rental Permit Requirements

Significant Restrictions

Palm Desert Municipal Code § 5.10.050

A. Short-Term Rental Permit Types. An owner, host, or operator must obtain one of the following short-term rental permit types to advertising, renting, or otherwise operating any short-term rental unit, and shall be responsible for complying with all requirements of this chapter: ... 2. Off-site short-term rental permit. B. Transient Occupancy Registration Permit. The permit type in subsection ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

In the City of Palm Desert, California, no sound-producing device can be used outside or be audible beyond the property boundaries of a short-term rental between ten p.m. and ten a.m. Hosts must give guests written notice of that rule, and Chapters 9.24 and 9.25 of the municipal code apply on top of it.

Palm Desert Short-Term Rental Noise and Party Rules

Some Restrictions

Palm Desert Municipal Code § 5.10.100

Prior to occupancy of a short-term rental unit, the host or operator shall: ... I. Provide the responsible person a copy of the PDMC, Chapter 9.24, Noise Control, and Chapter 9.25, Multiple Responses to Loud or Unruly Parties, Gatherings or Other Similar Events. J. Explain to the responsible person that the guests and owner may be cited or fined by the city in accordance with this chapter and/o...

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Taxes & Fees

In the City of Palm Desert, California, every short-term rental owes transient occupancy tax under Chapter 3.28, and the host or operator must file a monthly return even for a month with no bookings. If a hosting platform does not collect payment, the host collects and remits the tax directly to the city.

Palm Desert Short-Term Rental Occupancy Tax and Fees

Some Restrictions

Palm Desert Municipal Code § 5.10.090

M. Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the host or operator shall comply with all provisions of Chapter 3.28 of the PDMC concerning TOT, including, but not limited to, submission of a monthly TOT return in accordance with Section 3.28.070 of Chapter 3.28 of the PDMC, which shall be filed monthly even if the short-term rental unit was not rented during each such month. N. Transient occupa...

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Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

In the City of Palm Desert, California, all parking associated with a short-term rental unit must be entirely on site, in the garage, carport and driveway or otherwise off of the public street. The city manager can add conditions for secondary effects unique to a given unit.

Palm Desert Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Light Restrictions

Palm Desert Municipal Code § 5.10.090

J. All parking associated with a short-term rental unit shall be entirely on site, in the garage, carport, and driveway or otherwise off of the public street. K. The city manager shall have the authority to impose additional conditions on the use of any given short-term rental unit to ensure that any potential secondary effects unique to the subject short-term rental unit are avoided or adequat...

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Occupancy Limits

In the City of Palm Desert, California, overnight guests at a short-term rental cannot exceed two persons per bedroom. Daytime guests are allowed between seven a.m. and ten p.m. up to two more persons per bedroom, with a maximum of twenty guests for five bedrooms or more. The minimum stay is three days, two nights.

Palm Desert Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits

Some Restrictions

Palm Desert Municipal Code § 5.10.090

G. The maximum number of overnight guests for a short-term rental unit shall not exceed two persons per bedroom. Additional daytime guests are allowed between the hours of seven a.m. and ten p.m., with the additional maximum daytime guests not to exceed two persons per bedroom with a maximum of twenty guests allowed for five bedrooms or more. If the property is an on-site short-term rental, the...

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Host Presence Rule

In the City of Palm Desert, California, an on-site short-term rental permit is conditioned on the host proving regular and continuous owner-occupancy before and during each rental period. The host sleeps in a bedroom or casita on the property throughout the stay and must answer complaints within thirty minutes.

Palm Desert On-Site Short-Term Rental Host Presence Rule

Significant Restrictions

Palm Desert Municipal Code § 5.10.050

1. On-site short-term rental permit. As a condition of the permit, the host shall demonstrate regular occupancy, which may be by neighbor verification or other means sufficient, in the discretion of city manager, to show regular and continuous owner-occupancy prior to and during each rental period.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

In the City of Palm Desert, California, an on-site short-term rental must be at the host's primary residence, which the code verifies with at least two of four items: driver's license, voter registration, tax records or a utility bill. Off-site rentals without a resident host exist, but only in a shorter list of zones.

Palm Desert Primary Residence Rule for Short-Term Rentals

Significant Restrictions

Palm Desert Municipal Code § 5.10.030

"Off-site short-term rental"means a short-term rental where there is no host and the operator resides off-site during the guest's stay. "On-site short-term rental"means a short-term rental at a host's primary residence where the host remains on the property and resides in a bedroom or casita throughout the guest's stay, except during daytime or work hours. ... "Primary residence"means a person'...

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Repeat Violator Strikes

In the City of Palm Desert, California, short-term rental violations climb a three-strike ladder inside a twelve-month window: administrative fines up to $1,000, then up to $3,000, then up to $5,000 plus immediate revocation of the short-term rental permit for two years. Operating with no permit at all costs $5,000 per citation. The city manager runs the permit actions under Palm Desert Municipal Code § 5.10.120.

Palm Desert Short-Term Rental Violation Strikes and Permit Revocation

Significant Restrictions

Palm Desert Municipal Code § 5.10.120

D. Administrative Citation. The city may issue an administrative citation to the property owner(s) pursuant to Chapter 8.81 (Administrative Citations) of the municipal code if there is any violation of this chapter committed, caused or maintained. ... (1) an administrative fine in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars for the first citation; (2) an administrative fine in an amount not to...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Platform Liability

In the City of Palm Desert, California, the short-term rental code puts hosting platform duties on the host or operator. If a platform does not collect payment, the host or operator alone must collect and remit transient occupancy tax, and every host must authorize each platform to hand the city listing information.

Palm Desert Hosting Platform Rules for Short-Term Rentals

Some Restrictions

Palm Desert Municipal Code § 5.10.090

N. Transient occupancy taxes shall be collected on all short-term rentals pursuant to PDMC Chapter 3.28 (Transient Occupancy Tax). If a hosting platform does not collect payment for the rental, hosts or operators are solely responsible for the collection of all applicable TOT and remittance of the collected tax to the city in accordance with Chapter 3.28 (Transient Occupancy Tax). Upon complian...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Looking for Riverside County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Palm Desert city rules.

Short-Term Rentals in Riverside County →