Palm Springs, CA short-term rental limits

What Palm Springs asks of you

• Palm Springs requires a Vacation Rental Registration Certificate, and no advertising may start until the department confirms it in writing.^[5]

• Vacation rentals are allowed in single-family homes and condominiums only. Apartments and multifamily units cannot be used.^[5]

• No more than 26 contracts are allowed in a calendar year, prorated for the first year of a certificate. The number of days is not restricted.^[5]

• Applications are returned in an Organized Neighborhood where vacation rentals reach 20% of residential households. You may ask to join the waiting list for that neighborhood.^[9]

• The city's main vacation rental page lists a $1,046 registration fee for a Vacation Rental, effective December 1, 2025 under Resolution 25344. It lists $523 for a Junior Vacation Rental and $261 for a Homeshare.^[4]

• The Vacation Rental Certificate page itself shows a fee of $1,072, plus a $25 Transient Occupancy Tax Permit.^[6]

• The Junior certificate page shows $642 where the main page says $523. A Junior certificate allows 6 rental contracts a year. Neighborhood percentage caps do not apply to it.^[7]

• The Homeshare page shows a $268 registration fee where the main page says $261. A Homeshare means the owner lives on-site for stays of 28 consecutive days or less.^[8]

• An owner may hold only one certificate. Business entities such as corporations cannot hold one.^[5]

• The six-digit Account number printed on the certificate must appear on all advertising.^[5]

• Owners carry a short-term rental insurance policy or a personal liability policy with a minimum limit of $500,000 per occurrence.^[5]

• Before each stay, a contract summary goes to the city. A nuisance complaint with no summary on file may bring a $2,500 citation and a 6-month suspension.^[5]

• The occupancy table allows 2 overnight guests in a one-bedroom and 8 in a four-bedroom home. One overnight guest vehicle is allowed per bedroom.^[5]

• The department conducts an annual safety inspection at a new application or renewal.^[5]

• The city FAQ dated August 13, 2026 describes a local contact who responds in person within thirty minutes.^[5]

• Ordinance 2133, adopted July 8, 2026, asks for a telephone response within fifteen minutes, then an in-person response within thirty minutes.^[10]

• The Good Neighbor Brochure allows no music outside at any time. Quiet time begins at 10pm. It lasts until 10am, and guests face a minimum fine of $500 per violation.^[11]

What California asks wherever you host

These rules apply at this address whatever the city decides.

• No state license exists for short-term rentals in California. The state's 2025 act on booking platforms says it does not preempt a local short-term rental ordinance.^[1]

• Since July 1, 2024, every mandatory fee has to sit inside the rate you advertise. Only government taxes and fees may be added later.^[2]

• State law caps city fines when a short-term rental violation threatens health or safety. The first ceiling is $1,500. A second violation within the year reaches $3,000, each later one $5,000.^[3]