Palm Springs vs San Diego: Short-Term Rental Rules Compared (2026)
Palm Springs is currently "restricted" while San Diego is "allowed with permit". On cost, Palm Springs is the cheaper market to license ($1,046 vs $1,170). Full verified details for both markets below — always confirm current requirements with each jurisdiction.
Side by side
| Rule | Palm Springs, CA | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Restricted | Allowed with permit |
| Permit required | Yes | Yes |
| Permit name | Vacation Rental Registration Certificate | Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) License (Tiers 1-4) |
| Permit fee | $1,046 | $1,170 |
| Renewal | Annual | Biennial |
| Primary residence only | No | No |
| Owner occupancy required | No | No |
| Night cap / year | None found | None found |
| Minimum stay | None found | 2 night(s) |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~12.5% | ~13.75% |
| Last verified | July 10, 2026 | July 10, 2026 |
Compare guest tax loads
Switch between the two markets to see itemized occupancy taxes on the same stay.
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| City of Palm Springs Transient Occupancy Tax (vacation rentals / 'all other hotels' rate) (11.5%)· host remits | $51.75 |
| Greater Palm Springs Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment (1%)· collection varies | $4.50 |
| Total tax (12.5%) | $56.25 |
| Guest pays | $506.25 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Palm Springs, CA
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 — 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) — 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.
Full Palm Springsrules, playbook & sources →San Diego, CA
Short-term rentals (under one month) are legal in San Diego but every host needs a Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) license, issued in four tiers; a whole-home Tier 3 license costs $1,170 total ($41 application + $1,129 license, valid two years), while part-time and home-share tiers cost $226-$317. The biggest restriction is that each host may hold only one license and operate only one dwelling unit citywide, and whole-home licenses are capped (1% of the city's housing stock for Tier 3; Mission Beach Tier 4 is fully allocated with a frozen waitlist). Guests also pay 11.75%-13.75% transient occupancy tax depending on zone. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Full San Diegorules, playbook & sources →Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change frequently in both markets; verify current requirements with each jurisdiction before operating.