Where short-term rentals are allowed in Temecula, CA
Temecula says short-term rentals were always prohibited inside the city, so its 2020 vote changed no rule. The City Council reaffirmed the prohibition on January 14, 2020. An address lookup app linked by the city shows whether a property sits within city limits.[4]
Every rule below links to the official source it comes from, verified October 1, 2026.
Can you rent short term in Temecula?
Your zoning decides
- Seasonal homes
- 197
- Housing units
- 37,813
- Residents
- 111,167
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates
- City ruleAllowed by zone
- City feeNone published
- Tax on each staySet locally
- Seasonal homes5 per 1,000
Temecula short-term rental ban
Temecula prohibits short-term rentals under Municipal Code section 17.06.030, and no city permit makes one legal. Its definition covers a dwelling unit shared, in whole or in part, for up to 30 consecutive days. It reaches every unit listed on Airbnb, VRBO and other platforms, down to a single room. Fines run up to $1,000 a day. Operators who keep going may face legal action. Temecula Wine Country, De Luz and other unincorporated areas follow Riverside County's rules instead.[4]
What Temecula asks of you
Municipal Code section 17.06.030 is the provision the city cites for its prohibition on short-term rentals.[4]
A short-term rental is a dwelling unit shared, in whole or in part, for temporary occupancy of up to 30 consecutive days.[4]
The City Council voted on January 14, 2020 to reaffirm the prohibition. It also voted to increase the fine on prohibited rentals to $1,000 per day.[4]
The city reports a multi-year outreach campaign with multiple hearings before the new fines were implemented.[4]
Accessory dwelling units fall under the same prohibition, as do junior accessory dwelling units.[5]
Because the use is prohibited, the city lists no short-term rental permit to apply for.[4]
Riverside County regulates Temecula Wine Country, De Luz and other unincorporated areas.[4]
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]
What a guest pays on top of your nightly rate in Temecula
Each layer is set by a different authority, and not all of them are collected by the platform.
| Layer | Rate | Remitted to |
|---|---|---|
| Temecula transient occupancy tax[6] | Not published | The city |
The city's transient occupancy tax page says hotels remit the tax to the City of Temecula monthly. It states no rate. The short-term rentals page publishes no tax information.[6]
Airbnb taxes for hostsWhat the census counts
How much of Temecula is already a second home
The Census Bureau counts 197 of Temecula's 37,813 homes as vacant for seasonal, recreational or occasional use. That is 5 out of every 1,000. It ranks Temecula 34th of the 37 California cities on this site for the share of its housing stock kept for part-year use.
- Rank in the state
- 34th of 37
- Share of housing
- 5 per 1,000
- Median home value
- $679,700
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, tables B25004, B25001, B01003 and B25077.
Nearby and comparable
Where Temecula sits among its neighbors
Riverside County, CA
Permit required
Unincorporated land only. Idyllwild and Wine Country are capped. New certificates there go through a lottery.
Riverside County short-term rental rulesIndio, CA
Permit required
3,987 seasonal homes, 107 per 1,000 housing units.
Indio short-term rental rulesCathedral City, CA
Allowed by zone
2,843 seasonal homes, 126 per 1,000 housing units.
Cathedral City short-term rental rulesSacramento, CA
Permit required
1,080 seasonal homes, 5 per 1,000 housing units.
Sacramento short-term rental rulesFAQ
Temecula short-term rental questions
Can I rent a room in my Temecula house on Airbnb?
Can I use my ADU as a short-term rental in Temecula?
Are short-term rentals legal in Temecula Wine Country?
How much is the fine for an illegal short-term rental in Temecula?
Sources
- Short-Term Rental Facilitator Act of 2025 (SB 346), Government Code sections 50990 to 50996, California Legislative Information, read on October 1, 2026
- Business and Professions Code section 17568.6, lodging price display, California Legislative Information, read on October 1, 2026
- Government Code section 36900, fines for city ordinance violations, California Legislative Information, read on October 1, 2026
- Short-term Rentals, City of Temecula, read on October 1, 2026
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) & Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs), City of Temecula, read on October 1, 2026
- Transient Occupancy Tax, City of Temecula, 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 cleaning checklist generator
Build a printable turnover checklist by room, with restock, photos to take and a place for the cleaner to sign. Free PDF, no sign-up.
Check-in instructions
The message a guest reads before getting in: access, keys, WiFi, parking, contact. English or bilingual output.