Rialto, CA Short-Term Rentals: Permit Requirements (2026)

Rialto regulates land uses through Title 18 (Zoning), with residential districts described in Chapter 18.06 and overall zoning administration in Chapter 18.03. The code does not define 'short-term rental,' 'vacation rental,' or 'transient occupancy residential' as a permitted, conditional, or accessory use in single-family or multi-family zones. Anyone conducting business in Rialto must also hold a current business license under Title 5, Chapter 5.04 (General Provisions for Business Licenses and Regulations), and pay applicable Transient Occupancy Tax under the state Revenue and Taxation Code framework (Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code §7280). Because Title 18 follows a permissive scheme (uses not expressly authorized are prohibited) and no STR chapter has been adopted, the practical effect is that STRs lack a clear permitting pathway in residential zones. Hotels, motels, and similar transient lodging are confined to commercial zoning districts under Chapter 18.06. Operators contemplating an STR should contact Rialto Planning Division (Community Development Department) before listing, as code enforcement under Title 1 may treat unpermitted STRs as zoning violations subject to administrative citation.