Desert Hot Springs

Permit types and fees

A general permit covers a rental where the owner does not live on site.[3] The city lists non-refundable fees of $675.65 for a general permit, $506.74 for a primary residence permit and $337.83 for a homeshare permit.[4]

Who applies

The applicant is the owner or the owner's agent, and an owner who lives 35 driving miles or more away must hire an agent with a separate business license.[3] An agent applies with a notarized letter from the owner, and the owner stays responsible for compliance.[3, 4] A tenant is not the owner of record, so the owner or the owner's agent must be the one on the permit.[3]

If you are the tenant

The code lets the owner's agent apply, so ask the owner to name you in a notarized letter and put you on the permit.[3, 4] Managing a rental for an owner for pay may need a California real estate license, since the state defines a broker as someone who leases, rents or collects rents from real property for another for compensation.[5]

Insurance and paperwork

You need a city business license, a city transient occupancy registration certificate and proof of $1,000,000 combined single limit liability insurance.[3, 4] Platform insurance does not count.[4]

Inspection, training and the cap

New permits need an inspection of the whole structure and exterior before issuance,[3] and since February 19, 2026 owners and agents must finish a city-certified training program first.[1] If the city is at or above the 4% cap it issues no permits, closes applications and reopens them once a year, and waitlisted applicants have ten business days to apply when emailed.[2]

Spacing and HOAs

Permits are rejected within 250 feet of another vacation rental in most areas, and within 500 feet in Rolling Hills, DHS 41 and Hacienda Heights.[1] The city code site still shows 500 feet citywide, and a property whose HOA bans vacation rentals gets no permit.[3]

Occupancy and parking

Overnight limits run from 2 guests for a studio to 12 for five or more bedrooms, with a higher daytime limit.[3] Overnight vehicles can't exceed the designated on-site parking spaces.[3]

Noise and response

Install a noise monitoring system that alerts you to noise above 70 decibels.[3] After a complaint you must contact the guest right away and reach the occupant within 30 minutes, and the emergency contact must be reachable 24 hours a day.[3]

Guest rules and advertising

Before each stay, collect the responsible person's ID, vehicle details and a signed acknowledgment, and post the permit and house rules inside.[3] Every ad must show the permit number in the first line of the description, plus maximum occupancy, car limit, the tax rate and a front photo.[3]

Pools and ADUs

Pools and spas need a posted "swim at your own risk" sign, a rescue pole, door exit alarms and two of the listed drowning-prevention features.[3] Accessory dwelling units can't be used as short-term rentals.[2]

City tax

The city transient occupancy tax is 12% of the rent charged by the operator.[2] You must file the monthly return even in a month with no bookings.[3]

Tourism district assessment

Owners must also remit a 1% Greater Palm Springs Tourism Business Improvement District assessment on gross rental revenue of stays of 28 days or less, in effect since July 1, 2021.[2]

Booking platforms

A platform that books stays in the city must collect and remit the tax and assessment in place of the owner, and it can't complete a booking without a valid permit number.[3] Failing to pay the tax or assessment is a ground to deny or revoke your permit.[3]

State platform law

California's SB 346, approved October 13, 2025, lets a city require platforms to report each rental's address and to show the local license number and tax certificate in listings.[6] The law states it does not stop a city from adopting different rules.[6]

No permit

Operating without a valid permit costs $5,000, and the city collects past transient occupancy tax for the period state law allows.[3]

Violations of the rules

Occupancy, noise and parking violations cost $1,000 for the first, $2,000 for the second and $3,000 for the third.[3] A separate offense occurs for each day a violation continues.[3]

Suspension

Two complaints that lead to administrative citations for the same property trigger an immediate six-month summary suspension.[3] Hazardous conditions or criminal activity can also trigger one, and you have 10 days to ask for a hearing.[3]

Denial and revocation

The city can revoke a permit for exceeding the cap or spacing rule, legal violations, unpaid tax or assessment, a public nuisance or zoning violations.[3] A denial can be appealed within 15 calendar days, with a filing fee.[2, 3]

Platform takedowns

Platforms must remove a listing within 24 hours of city notice that its permit is invalid, expired or revoked.[3]