Riverside County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Registration Rules (2026)

Registration in unincorporated Riverside County has two parts. First, under Ordinance No. 927, Section 6-7, the operator files a Short Term Rental Certificate application with the Planning Department, pays the registration fee set by Ordinance No. 671, and completes a self-certification test demonstrating understanding of the rules. Second, under Section 12 and Ordinance No. 495 (the Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax Ordinance), the operator must register the property with the Treasurer-Tax Collector and obtain a transient occupancy tax registration certificate; for tax purposes an STR is treated as a 'hotel.' Within 10 days of certificate approval (Section 13), the operator must give written notice to surrounding owners-within 300 feet for properties under 5 acres, or within 600 feet for properties of 5 acres or more-including the operator's contact information, and must re-notify if that contact information changes. The certificate is valid one year, renews on the anniversary of issuance, and requires the self-certification test at each renewal. Certificates do not run with the land and expire automatically on a change of owner or responsible party, requiring a new initial application. If a certificate has been expired for 90 days or more, a new initial application and initial fee are required.