Every Palm Springs STR must register annually with the Finance Department, obtain a vacation rental permit under Ord. 1918, and post the permit number in all listings.
PSMC Chapter 5.25 (Ordinance 1918) requires every short-term rental to obtain a Vacation Rental Registration Certificate before accepting bookings. Applications go through the Finance Department and include ownership documentation, a site plan showing parking, occupancy calculation, insurance proof, a designated 24/7 local contact, and payment of annual registration and inspection fees. Permits are classified as Class A (owner-occupied) or Class B (absentee-owned) and must be renewed annually with updated documentation. The permit number must appear in every online listing (Airbnb, Vrbo, direct website). Palm Springs conducts compliance sweeps of platforms and issues citations for unregistered listings. Two strikes under the strike system suspend the permit; serious violations can result in permanent revocation and a moratorium on new permits at the property.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Palm Springs code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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