San Bernardino County short-term rental laws (2026)
San Bernardino County allows short-term rentals only in its mountain and desert regions, on unincorporated land. That covers the high desert and the mountain lake country. A home rented there needs a county Short-Term Rental Permit.[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
San Bernardino County short-term rental permit
San Bernardino County issues its short-term rental permit in two places only: the Mountain Region and the Desert Region, on unincorporated land outside city limits. Elsewhere in the unincorporated county, short-term rentals are not allowed. Any home rented for 30 consecutive days or less needs the permit. A new application costs $1,144. There is no primary-residence rule and no yearly night cap. One permit per parcel under 2 acres is the limit. Rent without a permit and the fine is $1,000 per violation per day, with up to six months in jail on top.[1]
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 expiration[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
What other cases cost
- 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 acknowledgment 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]
Five 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 | Big Bear Lake | Twentynine Palms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit | Required$1,144 new, 1 year | Required$441 base fee, adjusted each year | Required$226 to $1,170 by tier, 2 years | Required$635 | Required$345.87 |
| Primary residence | Not required | Required | Varies | Not published | Not required |
| Night cap | None published | 120 days a year unless Extended | 20 days a year on Tier 1 | None published by the city | None, with at least one rented day a year |
| Number on listing | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Occupancy tax | 7% county TOT, Airbnb collects | 14% city TOT, Airbnb collects | 11.75 to 13.75% TOT, Airbnb collects | 13% | 10.5% |
| Los Angeles short-term rental rules | San Diego short-term rental rules | Big Bear Lake short-term rental rules | Twentynine Palms short-term rental 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.
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Airbnb house rules
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