STR Rule Watch

Can I Airbnb in Palm Springs, CA? (2026)

Yes, but with real restrictionsRestricted

Short-term rentals (stays of 28 nights or less) are legal in Palm Springs only with a city Vacation Rental Registration Certificate ($1,046 per year as of December 1, 2025, plus a one-time $25 TOT permit), and each owner may hold just one certificate. The biggest restrictions are the annual contract caps β€” 26 rental contracts per calendar year for post-October 17, 2022 permittees (grandfathered 'existing permittees' keep 32 plus 4 third-quarter contracts after Ordinance 2118 cancelled a planned 2026 reduction) β€” and a 20% per-neighborhood certificate cap under which new applications are refused in neighborhoods at or above the limit. Rentals are limited to single-family dwellings (prohibited in apartments), and hosts remit 11.5% city TOT plus a 1% TBID monthly. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

What’s required: a Vacation Rental Registration Certificate ($1,046) is required; occupancy taxes apply; renew annual.

Check a specific address

Rules can vary by zone and parcel. Resolve any California street address to its jurisdiction and see the verified rules that apply.

Related

Verified July 10, 2026. Informational only β€” not legal, tax, or financial advice. Also check HOA/condo rules and your lease, which can prohibit short-term rentals even where the city allows them.