Riverside County short-term rental laws (2026)
Riverside County's rules cover its unincorporated land only, from Idyllwild to Temecula Valley Wine Country. A new ordinance, No. 927.3, took effect on September 24, 2026. It ended the grace period for late renewals.[1]
Every rule below links to the official source it comes from, verified October 1, 2026.
Is Airbnb legal in Riverside County?
Legal, with a county certificate
Unincorporated land only. Idyllwild and Wine Country are capped. New certificates there go through a lottery.
8 official sources · verified October 1, 2026
Photo: Jim Witkowski on Unsplash
- PermitRequired · $740 new, 1 year
- Primary residenceNot required
- Number on listingRequired
- Night capNone in the ordinance
Riverside County short-term rental certificate
Riverside County requires an active Short Term Rental Certificate before you advertise or rent a home in its unincorporated areas. The Planning Department issues it for one year. The initial application costs $740 and renewal $540. Those fees rise to $1,077 and $775 in late October 2026. Idyllwild is capped at 500 rentals, and each Wine Country district has its own cap. A rental runs under 30 days, with a two-day minimum. Every home needs an exterior noise monitor and enough on-site parking. Fines are $1,500 for a first violation, $3,000 for a second and $5,000 after that.[2]
Every Riverside County rule, sorted by what it asks
Filter by topic. Each line carries the number of its official source, listed at the bottom of the page.
You must
- Hold an active certificate before you advertise or rent[2]
- Renew before the expiration date: there is no grace period[2][1]
- Pass the self-certification test, at application and at each renewal[2]
- Show the certificate number and the TOT certificate number in every ad[2]
- Notify neighbors within 300 feet in writing, within ten days of approval[2]
- Idyllwild and Wine Country: rent at least four times a year[2]
- Provide on-site parking for the approved occupancy[2]
- Post the two-square-foot identification sign[2]
- Stay reachable 24/7 for complaints[2]
- Check the guest's ID and have them sign the Good Neighbor Brochure[2]
- Keep quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM[2]
- Keep an exterior noise monitor running at all times[2]
- Register with the Treasurer-Tax Collector and file quarterly[7]
You must not
- Rent by the hour, or for less than two days and one night[2]
- Rent a tent, RV, treehouse or yurt[2]
- Let guests park off site[2]
- Take more than one booking at a time, unless it is a Hosted Stay[2]
- Rent to a guest under 21, or under 25 in Wine Country[2]
- Hold more than two certificates in Wine Country or in Idyllwild[2]
- Keep a fire burning outdoors after 10:00 p.m.[2]
What a new permit costs
County fees listed on the program page, before Ordinance 671.25 takes effect
$740first application
- Initial application$740
What other cases cost
- Annual renewal$540
- Initial application, from late October 2026$1,077
- Annual renewal, from late October 2026$775
The county's page dates the new fees to October 25, 2026. The Clerk of the Board's copy says October 23, 2026.[4]
How to apply in Riverside County
Official name: Short Term Rental Certificate
- 1
Register with the County Treasurer-Tax Collector to obtain a transient occupancy tax certificate.[7]
- 2
Submit the application through the county's Application Submittal Portal, with the deed and the signed forms.[1]
- 3
Install the exterior sign and the noise monitor, then contact Code Enforcement for the exterior inspection.[1]
- 4
In Idyllwild or Wine Country, wait for a certificate to open up. The county reviews the caps each January and July, then holds a lottery.[2]
Five jurisdictions, same questions
The Riverside County column comes from the official sources on this page. The other columns show the headline rule from each WonderGuest page. Open a page for the full detail.
| Question | Riverside County | Los Angeles | San Bernardino County | Palm Desert | Indio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit | Required$740 new, 1 year | Required$441 base fee, adjusted each year | Required$1,144 new, 1 year | Required$29 | Required$1,633 |
| Primary residence | Not required | Required | Not required | Varies | Not published |
| Night cap | None in the ordinance | 120 days a year unless Extended | None published | None published by the city | None published by the city |
| Number on listing | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Occupancy tax | 10% county TOT, Airbnb collects | 14% city TOT, Airbnb collects | 7% county TOT, Airbnb collects | 12% | 14% |
| Los Angeles short-term rental rules | San Bernardino County short-term rental rules | Palm Desert short-term rental rules | Indio short-term rental rules |
Coming up
What's changing
Effective October 23, 2026
Ordinance 671.25 raises the initial application fee from $740 to $1,077 and the renewal fee from $540 to $775. The Clerk of the Board's copy gives October 23, 2026, and the county's page October 25, 2026.[4]
FAQ
Riverside County short-term rental questions
Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Riverside County?
How much does a Riverside County short-term rental certificate cost?
Can I get a new short-term rental certificate in Idyllwild?
How many short-term rentals are allowed in Temecula Valley Wine Country?
What happens if my Riverside County certificate expires?
Sources
- Short-term rental program, Riverside County Planning Department, read on October 1, 2026
- Ordinance No. 927.3 (adopted August 25, 2026), Riverside County Board of Supervisors, read on October 1, 2026
- Ordinance No. 671.25, registration fees, Riverside County Board of Supervisors, read on October 1, 2026
- Ordinance No. 671.25, Clerk of the Board copy, Riverside County Clerk of the Board, read on October 1, 2026
- Board report on Ordinances 927.3 and 671.25 (August 25, 2026), Riverside County Board of Supervisors, read on October 1, 2026
- Short-term rental program Tier 2 notice (August to September 2026), Riverside County Planning Department, read on October 1, 2026
- Transient occupancy tax, Riverside County Treasurer-Tax Collector, read on October 1, 2026
- Ordinance No. 495, uniform transient occupancy tax, Riverside County Clerk of the Board, read on October 1, 2026
This page is not legal advice. It summarizes the official sources listed on this page as they read on October 1, 2026. Rules can change after that date, so check with the issuing office before you apply or publish a listing.
Before you list
Free tools for new hosts
Short-term rental agreement generator
Parties, dates, rent, deposit checked against your state's cap, and the house rules clauses you enforce. A signed-ready PDF for direct and Vrbo bookings.
Airbnb host fee calculator
What Airbnb takes on a booking under the 15.5% host-only fee or the old split fee, what the guest pays on top, and the payout that reaches you.
Airbnb profit calculator
Nightly rate, occupancy, Airbnb fee, management, mortgage, taxes and depreciation. You get cash flow, cash-on-cash return and what is left after the IRS.
Airbnb house rules
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