Palm Springs

Owner only

Only the owner of record can hold a vacation rental registration certificate. The code counts a family trust, or a partnership or LLC made up solely of natural persons, up to four of them, as the owner, but not a business entity.[1] An owner can be issued and keep only one certificate at a time, and a financial interest includes any arrangement that gives you a share of the rental revenue.[1]

Single-family homes only

A vacation rental is a single-family dwelling, or part of one, rented for 28 consecutive days or less while the owner isn't present.[1] No one may offer an apartment for rent for 28 consecutive days or less.[1]

Neighborhood cap

The city can't issue a new vacation rental certificate, other than a junior certificate, in a neighborhood where the share of homes with certificates is over the 20% cap.[1] If the share falls below the cap, waiting applications are served first in time, first in right.[1] A junior certificate allows no more than six contracts a year.[1]

Application

Register before first use and every year after.[1] The application needs evidence of a valid transient occupancy registration certificate, proof of commercial short-term rental insurance, a completed building, fire and safety inspection and a local contact who can reach the home within 30 minutes.[1] You must also acknowledge that no CC&Rs or deed restrictions bar the use, and each applicant must pass a city test every year before a certificate is issued or renewed.[1]

Registration fee

The city lists $1,046 for a new or annual vacation rental registration and $523 for a junior one, effective Dec 1, 2025.[2]

Agents and sales

An owner can retain an agent under an exclusive listing arrangement, a written deal giving the agent the sole right to rent the home, or a representative to help with registration, management and tax collection.[1] When the property changes owners, the certificate expires, and the new owner must be issued one before using the home as a vacation rental.[1]

Contract limits

New permittees can have no more than 26 contracts a calendar year, and existing permittees no more than 32 plus up to four contracts that fall entirely in the third quarter.[1] A contract counts any occupancy while the owner isn't present, even if no one pays.[1]

Occupancy and parking

Allow no more than two persons per bedroom and eight in total, plus up to two children age 12 or under.[1] Estate homes with five or more bedrooms can have up to 12 guests plus two children.[1] Overnight, allow no more than one guest vehicle per bedroom.[1]

Local contact

Name a local contact who is available 24 hours, answers complaints by phone within 15 minutes and responds in person within 30 minutes if the problem isn't fixed.[1]

Noise and trash

Sound can't be audible at the property line, and sound devices must be used inside a fully enclosed unit.[1] Keep trash in proper containers out of public view, except on collection days between 5 AM and 8 PM.[1]

Display and insurance

Show your registration certificate and the maximum number of guests inside the unit and on all advertising, and put your city account number on all web-based advertising.[1] Carry commercial insurance that covers short-term rental, at the minimum limits the city manager sets.[1]

City tax rate

Palm Springs imposes a transient occupancy tax of 11.5% of the rent charged to hotel guests,[3] and a transient is anyone staying 28 consecutive calendar days or less.[3] The code leaves out a single-family home rented only occasionally from its definition of hotel.[3]

Registration

You need a valid transient occupancy registration certificate to apply for a vacation rental certificate.[1] The tax registration fee is $25, and the permit must be posted conspicuously.[3]

Collecting and paying

You collect the tax from each guest when you collect the rent, and you must show it separately from the rent.[3] It's due when you collect it and goes delinquent if the city hasn't received it by the last working day of the following month.[3] A late payment carries the greater of $50 or 10% of the tax, plus interest of 1% per month.[3]

Booking platforms

Platforms the code calls short-term rental facilitators must report the address of each rental to the city every month and show your city account number in every listing.[3] They can't complete a booking for a vacation rental that isn't on the city's registry.[3] The code's history note dates this section to Ordinance 2133, 7/8/2026.[3]

Citations

A first administrative citation is $500, and later ones are $1,000.[1] A third violation in any 12-month period means a two-year suspension of the certificate.[1]

No certificate

Operating without a certificate brings a $5,000 administrative fine and permanent ineligibility to operate a vacation rental.[1] Continued operation brings a $10,000 fine.[1]

Advertising and contracts

Advertising without the certificate, operating without a contract or a contract summary to the city, or paying the monthly tax late brings a $2,500 fine and a six-month suspension for a first offense.[1] A second offense is $5,000 and revocation.[1]

Tax and police orders

Failing to remit transient occupancy tax after written notice means a 12-month suspension.[1] Failing to follow police orders means revocation of the certificate.[1]

Audits and appeals

Owners and their agents must give enforcement officials access to the property and records during normal business hours.[1] A denied certificate can be appealed under Chapter 2.50.[1]