Lake Elsinore, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Chapter 5.86 of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code, adopted by Ord. 1465 in 2022, makes it unlawful to own, establish, operate, or permit the establishment of a short-term rental within the City without first obtaining a short-term rental business license under the chapter's terms (§ 5.86.030). Short-term rentals, meaning dwellings rented for lodging for less than 30 consecutive days, are allowed in all residential zones subject to conditions: the owner must hold a general business license under Chapter 5.08, comply with transient occupancy tax registration under Chapter 3.32, use only the habitable interior portion of the unit, and never use a garage, tent, trailer, RV, shed or other exterior space as the rental; accessory dwelling units are barred outright from short-term rental use under § 17.415.110 (§ 5.86.040).

The application filed with the Director of Administrative Services must include the owner's contact information, the identity of any authorized agent, a 24-hour local contact person who can physically respond within 60 minutes, the bedroom count and proposed occupancy limit, and acknowledgment of the City's good neighbor brochure (§ 5.86.060). The Director may deny an application for false statements, noncompliance with the chapter or code, noncompliance with State law, or unpaid fees, and may impose added conditions to protect health, safety and welfare (§ 5.86.070).

An approved license expires December 31 of the year issued unless renewed annually, and it is a revocable privilege that creates no vested property right and is non-transferable to a new owner (§§ 5.86.070(A), (G), 5.86.080).