Short-Term Rentals in Palm Springs, CA (2026)
10 verified short-term rentals rules for Palm Springs, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Renting a Palm Springs home for 28 days or less without a city registration certificate is prohibited outright. Municipal Code Sec. 5.25.040(a) requires the certificate before any vacation rental or homeshare use, owners may hold only one at a time, and Sec. 5.25.045 blocks new certificates once a neighborhood hits its 20% Vacation Rental Neighborhood Percentage Cap.
Palm Springs Vacation Rental Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsPalm Springs, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 5.25.030 (Definitions); Sec. 5.25.040(a), (b) (Registration Certificate Required); Sec. 5.25.045 (Caps on Certificates)
"VR neighborhood percentage cap" means the maximum VR Neighborhood percentage allowed by the city council in each neighborhood. The VR Neighborhood Percentage Cap is set at 20%. ... (a) The operation of a vacation rental or a homeshare interest without a vacation rental registration certificate is prohibited. ... An owner shall only be issued, and can only maintain, one vacation rental registra...
Noise Rules
Palm Springs requires vacation rental sound, radios, speakers and amplified music, to stay inside a fully enclosed unit and be inaudible at the property line under Section 5.25.070(g). Owners or their local contact must respond to a hotline noise complaint by phone within 15 minutes and in person within 30 minutes.
Palm Springs Vacation Rental Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Springs, CA, Municipal Code § 5.25.070(g)
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11.74.043, any radio receiver, musical instrument, phonograph, loudspeaker, sound amplifier, or any machine or device for the producing or reproducing of any sound shall be conducted within a fully enclosed vacation rental unit and shall not be audible at the property line of the vacation rental.
Taxes & Fees
Registering a Palm Springs vacation rental costs a city council-set fee capped at the city's actual administration cost under Sec. 5.25.060(b). Owners must also file a monthly transient occupancy tax return every month, rented or not, under Sec. 5.25.070(q), and late fees or charges under the chapter draw an added penalty plus interest.
Palm Springs Vacation Rental Fees
Some RestrictionsPalm Springs, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 5.25.060(b) (Registration Fee); Sec. 5.25.070(q) (Operational Requirements); Sec. 5.25.090(g) (Violations)
The registration of a vacation rental shall be accompanied by a fee established by resolution of the city council; provided, however, the fee shall be no greater than necessary to defer the cost incurred by the city in administering the provisions of this chapter. ... The owner shall comply with all provisions of Chapter 3.24 of the Municipal Code concerning transient occupancy taxes, including...
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Palm Springs caps vacation rental parking at one automobile per bedroom under Section 5.25.070(c) and bars advertising or renting units together as a cluster or compound. Every rental contract must also list each guest's vehicle and license plate under Section 5.25.070(h)(6).
Palm Springs Vacation Rental Parking Limit
Some RestrictionsPalm Springs, CA, Municipal Code §§ 5.25.070(c), 5.25.070(h)(6)
No more than one automobile per bedroom shall be allowed for each vacation rental. Advertising and/or renting one or more vacation rentals as part of a cluster or compound is prohibited. ... (6) the responsible person provides a list of all guests' vehicles, including license plate numbers.
Occupancy Limits
Palm Springs caps vacation rental overnight occupancy at two persons per bedroom and eight total, plus up to two children age 12 or under, under Section 5.25.070(c). Owners may also host four extra daytime guests, and estate homes can add two more bedrooms for up to 12 total guests under Section 5.25.070(d).
Palm Springs Vacation Rental Occupancy Caps
Some RestrictionsPalm Springs, CA, Municipal Code §§ 5.25.070(c), 5.25.070(d)
The owner shall limit overnight occupancy of the vacation rental unit to a specific number of occupants, with the maximum number of occupants as no more than two persons per bedroom within each vacation rental unit and a maximum of no more than eight persons total within the vacation rental unit, except that owner may allow up to two minor children, age 12 or under, to occupy the vacation renta...
Insurance Requirements
Palm Springs vacation rental owners must carry commercial insurance covering the short-term use of their property. Municipal Code Sec. 5.25.070(u) requires the owner to "procure, maintain, and pay premiums" for a policy meeting minimum limits the city manager sets, and proof of that coverage is a required part of the registration application under Sec. 5.25.060(a)(9).
Palm Springs Vacation Rental Insurance Rule
Some RestrictionsPalm Springs, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 5.25.060(a)(9) (Registration Requirements); Sec. 5.25.070(u) (Operational Requirements - Insurance)
Evidence of insurance coverage as required under Section 5.25.070(v) of this chapter. ... Owner shall procure, maintain, and pay premiums for commercial insurance policies that cover short term rental of property for each vacation rental with minimum limits as may be established by the city manager from time to time.
Night Caps
Palm Springs Municipal Code Section 5.25.070(b) limits how many rental contracts a vacation rental may sign in a calendar year: 26 for permits issued after Ordinance 2075 took effect, 32 for existing permittees (plus four bonus third-quarter contracts), and just six for junior vacation rental certificates. Any paid or unpaid occupancy by non-owner guests counts as a contract.
Palm Springs Vacation Rental Annual Contract Caps
Some RestrictionsPalm Springs, CA, Municipal Code § 5.25.070(b)
For new permittees, on and after the effective date of Ordinance No. 2075, no more than 26 contracts for vacation rental use of a property shall be allowed or provided in any calendar year. For existing permittees, no more than 32 contracts for vacation rental use of a property shall be allowed or provided in any calendar year; however, up to four additional contracts shall be allowed or provid...
Host Presence Rule
A Palm Springs homeshare owner must either live on-site or be able to respond to complaints within 30 minutes under Section 5.25.078(b). If neither condition is met, the unit is legally deemed a full vacation rental and must comply with all of Chapter 5.25, including the annual contract caps.
Palm Springs Homeshare Host Presence Rule
Some RestrictionsPalm Springs, CA, Municipal Code § 5.25.078(b)
In the event the owner of a homeshare interest does not live on-site, in the home, and is not able to respond within 30 minutes to complaints regarding the condition, operation, or conduct of occupants of the homesharing interest, the property shall be deemed a vacation rental and owner shall be required to fully comply with the provisions of this chapter relating to vacation rentals, including...
Repeat Violator Strikes
A third Chapter 5.25 violation within any 12-month period forces the Palm Springs city manager to suspend a vacation rental registration certificate for two years under Section 5.25.090(b). Unpaid transient occupancy tax after written notice draws its own separate 12-month suspension.
Palm Springs Vacation Rental Repeat Violator Rule
Significant RestrictionsPalm Springs, CA, Municipal Code § 5.25.090(a)-(b)
Any person who violates a provision of this chapter is subject to criminal sanctions and administrative penalties pursuant to Chapters 1.01 and 1.06 of this code and the specific penalties as provided in this chapter. ... An administrative citation issued pursuant to Chapter 1.06 for a first violation shall be $500.00 and each subsequent violation shall be $1,000.00. ... Upon the third violatio...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Palm Springs city rules.
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