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Palm Springs, CA Short-Term Rentals: Repeat Violator Strikes (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

3rd violation in 12 months
2-year certificate suspension
Unpaid TOT after notice
12-month suspension
No certificate at all
$5,000 fine, then $10,000
Advertising/contract violations
$2,500 fine + 6-month suspension (1st)
Appeal path
Chapter 2.50 hearing process

Summary

A third Chapter 5.25 violation within any 12-month period forces the Palm Springs city manager to suspend a vacation rental registration certificate for two years under Section 5.25.090(b). Unpaid transient occupancy tax after written notice draws its own separate 12-month suspension.

Any person who violates a provision of this chapter is subject to criminal sanctions and administrative penalties pursuant to Chapters 1.01 and 1.06 of this code and the specific penalties as provided in this chapter. ... An administrative citation issued pursuant to Chapter 1.06 for a first violation shall be $500.00 and each subsequent violation shall be $1,000.00. ... Upon the third violation in any twelve month period, the city manager shall suspend the vacation registration certificate for two years. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, failure by any person who is responsible to remit to the city the city's transient occupancy tax pursuant to Chapter 3.24 following written notice to do so, shall result in a suspension for 12 months of that person's vacation registration certificate for the applicable property.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4923139; v14 updated 2026-06-24).

Full Breakdown

090 builds an escalating enforcement ladder for vacation rental violations. 090(a). 090(b) requires the city manager to suspend the vacation rental registration certificate for a full two years, with no discretion to impose a shorter penalty. 24 after written notice to do so, that alone results in a 12-month suspension of the certificate for that property. 090(c): a $5,000 administrative fine plus permanent ineligibility to ever operate a vacation rental in the city, rising to $10,000 for continued unpermitted operation. 090(d), doubling to $5,000 and outright revocation for a second offense. 090(i).

Violations & Fines

Three strikes in 12 months is a hard two-year suspension with no city manager discretion under Section 5.25.090(b); unpaid transient occupancy tax after notice draws a separate 12-month suspension. Each individual violation still carries its own misdemeanor exposure and a $500-to-$1,000 escalating administrative citation under Section 5.25.090(a), and owners can appeal any suspension through the Chapter 2.50 hearing process.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many violations before a Palm Springs vacation rental certificate is suspended?
Three violations within any 12-month period forces a mandatory two-year suspension under Section 5.25.090(b); the city manager has no discretion to reduce it. Each individual violation before that point still carries its own $500-to-$1,000 administrative citation under Section 5.25.090(a).
Does failing to pay transient occupancy tax count as one of the three strikes?
It's treated separately. Failing to remit transient occupancy tax under Chapter 3.24 after the city sends written notice results in its own 12-month suspension under Section 5.25.090(b), independent of the three-violation, two-year suspension track that applies to other Chapter 5.25 violations.
What's the penalty for operating a vacation rental with no registration certificate at all?
A $5,000 administrative fine and permanent ineligibility to ever operate a vacation rental in Palm Springs under Section 5.25.090(c); if operation continues after that, the fine rises to $10,000 and further violations escalate under a formula the city council sets by resolution.

Sources & Official References

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