Rialto, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Rialto, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- STR-specific permit
- None - no dedicated STR ordinance
- Business license
- Required - RMC Ch. 5.70 (Rental Income Property)
- TOT registration
- Required within 30 days - RMC 3.08.060
- New application admin fee
- $47.30 + $4.00 state fee
- Renewal admin fee
- $32.40 + $4.00 state fee
- Processing time
- 20 business days
Summary
Rialto has no short-term-rental-specific permit ordinance, but anyone renting rooms or dwellings on a transient basis must obtain a City business license under the Rental Income Property classification (Rialto Municipal Code Chapter 5.70) and register with the tax administrator for a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate under RMC 3.08.060.
RENTAL INCOME PROPERTY: Includes any person, firm, or corporation that rents or leases real property, whether such rental unit is an industrial building, warehouse, indoor or outdoor storage facility, commercial store, office, hotel, motel, or residential dwelling unit such as apartments or houses, in which two or more rooms or spaces within any dwelling unit are let, or unimproved land or other type of facility that derives from rental income. Application: Rental Income Property. Documents Required: ID; Articles of Incorporation and/or Fictitious Business Name Statement; Business License Questionnaire.
Full Breakdown
The Rialto Municipal Code contains no dedicated short-term rental chapter, and Title 18 (Zoning) has no STR-specific use regulations. Instead, short-term rental activity is captured by two general requirements. ' The City's published Business License Classifications and Requirements document places hotels, motels, and residential dwelling rentals under the Rental Income Property classification, requiring an ID, Articles of Incorporation and/or Fictitious Business Name Statement, and a Business License Questionnaire. 00 state fee, with the business license tax calculated per City fee schedule. 060 requires every operator renting occupancy to transients (stays of 30 consecutive days or less) to register with the tax administrator within 30 days of commencing business and to post a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate conspicuously on the premises. Applications are processed by the Business License Division, 150 S. Palm Avenue, with a stated 20-business-day review period.
Violations & Fines
Transacting rental business without the required business license is unlawful under RMC 5.70.020 and is punishable as a misdemeanor under RMC 1.16.010 (up to $1,000 fine and/or six months in jail), or as an infraction at the prosecutor's election ($100 first offense, $200 second, $500 each additional within two years). Failure to register for the TOT certificate is a misdemeanor under RMC 3.08.140. Administrative citations and daily fines may also be issued under RMC Chapter 1.10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rialto require a special short-term rental permit?
What documents do I need for a Rialto rental business license?
How fast can I get licensed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rialto
How Rialto compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare Rialto to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle short-term rental permits.