Riverside, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Riverside, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Local contacts required
- At least two persons
- Posting font size
- 14-point or 1/4-inch minimum
- Posting location
- Exterior of unit, public view
- Renter records retention
- 3 years after rental ends
- Penalty class
- Infraction
Summary
Riverside requires every short-term rental to designate at least two local contacts, one always reachable, and to post the on-call contact's name and phone number on the unit's exterior in large, bold type visible to the public.
(B)"Designated Local Contacts" means at least two persons, one of whom shall be available 24 hours per day, seven days per week... (E)The owner and, if applicable, the owner's authorized agent shall post the name and telephone number of the designated local contact who is on-call that day on the exterior of the unit in plain and conspicuous view for the public. The name and telephone number shall be typewritten in a bold and clearly readable type font which is either at least a 14-point font or at least one-quarter inch in height.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33).
Full Breakdown
" This is separate from the availability duty itself in subsection (D); (E) is specifically about registering and displaying who the public should contact. Owners must also keep renter registration records: under subsection (K), before occupancy the owner must obtain the renter's name, address, and phone number, provide the City's Good Neighbor Brochure with a signed acknowledgment, and get the renter's written acknowledgment of legal responsibility for compliance. Those records must be retained for three years after the rental period ends and produced to the City on request. 020(B) is that a City representative or neighbor can identify the responsible party within minutes of a problem.
Violations & Fines
Failing to post the required contact signage, keeping stale or missing signage, or failing to retain the three-year renter registration records violates RMC Section 5.55.050 and is an infraction under Section 5.55.060, subject to the penalties of Chapter 1.17. Enforcement is at the discretion of the Police Chief, Community and Economic Development Director, or Code Enforcement Manager, and repeated violations can factor into permit-condition decisions by the Community & Economic Development Director under subsection (O).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to post a contact number on my Riverside short-term rental?
How many local contacts does Riverside require for a short-term rental?
What renter information must a Riverside STR host keep on file?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside
How Riverside compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside 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 Riverside County handle short-term rental permits.