Short-term rental rules
Running an Airbnb in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs regulates vacation rentals through a registration certificate and limits the number of rental contracts per year rather than nights, at 32 for existing permittees and 26 for those permitted after October 2022. Guests pay the city transient occupancy tax plus a tourism improvement district assessment.
The rules
Every field, with its source
Anything not confirmed on an official source shows as Verify with jurisdiction rather than a guess.
Not a night cap: the city limits contracts per year to 32 for existing permittees and 26 for permittees after 17 October 2022.
SourceCheck eligibility
Can you run each type of STR in Palm Springs?
A deterministic read of the cited rules for each common use type. When a governing rule is unknown, the verdict says so rather than guessing.
My primary residence (home-share)
Allowed with a permitShort-term rentals are allowed in Palm Springs once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.
- A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
- Register or apply here: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/special-program-compliance/vacation-rentals-1098
- Your permit or registration number must appear on the listing itself.
- Annual contract caps (32 existing / 26 new) limit activity; a 1 percent Tourism Business Improvement District assessment applies to stays of 27 days or less.
Confidence: high. You live there and rent it while away or rent a room.
A whole second home / investment property
Allowed with a permitShort-term rentals are allowed in Palm Springs once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.
- A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
- Register or apply here: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/special-program-compliance/vacation-rentals-1098
- Your permit or registration number must appear on the listing itself.
- Annual contract caps (32 existing / 26 new) limit activity; a 1 percent Tourism Business Improvement District assessment applies to stays of 27 days or less.
Confidence: high. A dedicated STR that is not your primary residence.
An ADU, basement or garage unit
Allowed with a permitShort-term rentals are allowed in Palm Springs once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.
- A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
- Register or apply here: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/special-program-compliance/vacation-rentals-1098
- Your permit or registration number must appear on the listing itself.
- Annual contract caps (32 existing / 26 new) limit activity; a 1 percent Tourism Business Improvement District assessment applies to stays of 27 days or less.
Confidence: high. An accessory dwelling on your property.
Unhosted, whole-unit, no owner on site
Allowed with a permitShort-term rentals are allowed in Palm Springs once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.
- A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
- Register or apply here: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/special-program-compliance/vacation-rentals-1098
- Your permit or registration number must appear on the listing itself.
- Annual contract caps (32 existing / 26 new) limit activity; a 1 percent Tourism Business Improvement District assessment applies to stays of 27 days or less.
Confidence: high. The strictest category in most cities.
LodgeDeck reports publicly available short-term rental rules and lodging tax rates and cites the source of each field. It is not legal or tax advice and it does not replace your own review. Ordinances and tax rates change often and automated collection can lag, so every field shows the source it came from and a confidence flag, and unconfirmed values are marked Unverified. Confirm with the jurisdiction before you rely on a rule or rate.
FAQ
Common questions about Palm Springs
Do I need a licence to run an Airbnb in Palm Springs?
Yes. Palm Springs requires a short-term rental licence or registration before you list. A vacation rental registration certificate is required.
Does a short-term rental have to be my primary residence in Palm Springs?
No. Palm Springs does not require the property to be your primary residence for all rental types. Non-owner-occupied vacation rentals are allowed subject to the annual contract cap.
Is there a night cap on short-term rentals in Palm Springs?
No annual night cap is confirmed for Palm Springs in our data. Verify with the jurisdiction.
Do I have to show my permit number on the listing in Palm Springs?
Yes. Palm Springs requires a valid permit or registration number to appear on the listing itself. The certificate number is required to be displayed on advertisements.
What lodging tax will my guest pay in Palm Springs?
A guest pays roughly 12.5 percent combined lodging tax in Palm Springs. See the full lodging-tax breakdown for the state and local components.
Track Palm Springs for rule changes
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