San Bernardino County short-term rental laws (2026)
Short-term rentals are legal in San Bernardino County, but only in its Mountain and Desert Regions, on unincorporated land outside city limits. That covers the county's high desert and its mountain lake country. Any home rented there for 30 consecutive days or less needs a county Short-Term Rental Permit. The county sets no primary-residence rule and no yearly night cap, but it issues only one permit per parcel under 2 acres. Renting without a permit carries a $1,000 fine per violation per day, and the county can add up to six months in jail.[1]
Every rule below links to the official source it comes from, verified September 16, 2026.
Is Airbnb legal in San Bernardino County?
Legal, with a county permit
Only in the Mountain and Desert Regions. Anywhere else in unincorporated county land, short-term rentals are not allowed.
9 official sources · verified September 16, 2026
Photo: Cody Moore on Unsplash
- PermitRequired · $1,144 new, 1 year
- Primary residenceNot required
- Number on listingRequired
- Night capNone published
Every San Bernardino 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 one permit per dwelling unit you rent[1]
- Own the property when you apply[1]
- Pass the county's exterior inspection[3]
- Show the county permit number on every listing[4][8]
- Renew every year, or the permit closes 45 days after expiry[1]
- Keep all guest vehicles on the property[1]
- Post the permit, Good Neighbor brochure and evacuation map inside[1][4]
- State max occupants and vehicles in every ad[4]
- Answer 24/7, make contact in 30 min, be on site in 1 hour[5]
- Keep a written log of complaints and how you resolved them[4]
- Notify neighbors again when the manager, contact or occupancy changes ($259)[6]
- Comply with the California Fire and Building Codes[4]
- Mountain Region: keep hot tubs covered and locked when unused[4]
- Hold a TOT registration certificate[8]
You must not
- Operate outside the Mountain and Desert Regions[2]
- Rent an apartment in a multi-family building[2]
- Rent an RV, travel trailer, tent, yurt or recreation cabin[1]
- Hold more than 1 permit on a parcel under 2 acres, or 2 on 2 acres or more[1]
- Rely on on-street parking for guests[1]
- Advertise more guests than the permit allows[1]
- Host weddings, retreats, filming or parties without another permit[4]
- Mountain Region: use outdoor wood fireplaces, chimineas, barbecues or fire pits[4]
- Transfer the permit to a new owner or property[1]
- Reapply within 12 months of a final revocation[4]
What a new permit costs
Fees in force since July 1, 2026, per dwelling unit
$1,144first application
- Application$600
- Permit$285
- Neighbor notification$259
- Renewal, no changes$550
- Renewal, manager or occupancy change$859
- Renewal, physical change and inspection$885
- Renewal, both changes$1,144
One-time $150 credit if you install an outdoor noise monitor. A late renewal carries a delinquent fee.[1]
How to apply in San Bernardino County
Official name: Short-Term Rental Permit
- 1
Confirm the home is an allowed structure in the Mountain or Desert Region, such as a house, duplex, guest house or condominium.[2]
- 2
Register on the county's EZ Online Permitting site and submit the application with the owner acknowledgement form, a plot plan and the Transient Occupancy Tax form.[3]
- 3
Staff review the application in about a week and email you when the fees are ready to pay.[3]
- 4
The county notifies surrounding owners, who have 20 calendar days to comment.[4]
- 5
Pass the county's exterior inspection.[3]
- 6
The permit takes effect after a 30-day appeal period, and the county permit number then goes on every listing.[4]
Four jurisdictions, same questions
The San Bernardino 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 | San Bernardino County | Los Angeles | San Diego | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit | Required$1,144 new, 1 year | Required$441 base fee, adjusted each year | Required$226 to $1,170 by tier, 2 years | Required$925 application, 2 years |
| Primary residence | Not required | Required | Varies | Required |
| Night cap | None published | 120 days a year unless Extended | 20 days a year on Tier 1 | 90 nights a year when unhosted |
| Number on listing | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Where allowed | Mountain and Desert Regions only | Your primary residence only | All zones, ADUs excluded | Your primary residence only |
| Occupancy tax | 7% county TOT, Airbnb collects | 14% city TOT, Airbnb collects | 11.75 to 13.75% TOT, Airbnb collects | 14% TOT, Airbnb collects |
| Fine without permit | $1,000 per violation per day | $500 a day, or 2x nightly if higher | Not published | From $484 per day per unit |
| Los Angeles rules | San Diego rules | San Francisco rules |
Coming up
What's changing
No change with an effective date appears in the official sources on this page as of September 16, 2026.
FAQ
San Bernardino County short-term rental questions
Do I need a permit to host on Airbnb in San Bernardino County?
How do I get a short-term rental permit in San Bernardino County?
How much does the permit cost and how often do I renew?
Can I get a permit for a yurt, RV or tent?
Sources
- Short-term rentals FAQs, San Bernardino County Code Enforcement, read on September 16, 2026
- About short-term rentals, San Bernardino County Code Enforcement, read on September 16, 2026
- Getting started, San Bernardino County Code Enforcement, read on September 16, 2026
- Ordinance No. 4439 amending County Code chapter 84.28 (June 28, 2022), San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, read on September 14, 2026
- Guide for short-term rental owners and operators (May 2024), San Bernardino County Code Enforcement, read on September 14, 2026
- Changes requiring notification, San Bernardino County Code Enforcement, read on September 14, 2026
- Board report on the Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax (July 23, 2024), San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, read on September 14, 2026
- San Bernardino County, CA, Airbnb Help Center, read on September 16, 2026
- Short-term rentals program, San Bernardino County Code Enforcement, read on September 16, 2026
This page is not legal advice. It summarizes the official sources listed on this page as they read on September 16, 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 house rules
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Rental arbitrage calculator
Rent, deposit, furnishing, nightly rate and occupancy. You get monthly cash flow, the occupancy you break even at, and how long the setup takes to pay back.
Check-in instructions
The message a guest reads before getting in: access, keys, WiFi, parking, contact. English or bilingual output.