Short-term rental permit rules in Lake Elsinore, CA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Lake Elsinore allows short-term rentals in all residential zones but requires a short-term rental business license from the City before renting or advertising any dwelling for stays under 30 days, under LEMC Chapter 5.86 (Ordinance 1465, 2022).
Chapter 5.86 of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code, adopted by Ordinance 1465 in 2022, makes it unlawful to operate a short-term rental without a City business license (LEMC 5.86.030). Rentals are permitted in all residential zones if the owner gets a business license under Chapter 5.08, complies with the transient occupancy tax under Chapter 3.32, and obtains a TOT registration certificate under LEMC 3.32.060 (LEMC 5.86.040). Only the habitable interior may be rented; garages, tents, RVs, and sheds are prohibited, and ADUs may not be used as short-term rentals (LEMC 17.415.110; Gov Code 66323). The owner applies to the Director of Administrative Services (LEMC 5.86.060). The license is a revocable privilege and is not transferable.
Operating or advertising without a valid City business license violates LEMC 5.86.030 and 5.86.040. Under LEMC 5.86.140, fines reach $1,500 first, $3,000 second within a year, and $5,000 each additional, and may be charged as a misdemeanor or nuisance.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Riverside County.
See how other cities in Riverside County handle permit requirements.
See how Lake Elsinore's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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