Palm Springs vs Scottsdale: Short-Term Rental Rules Compared (2026)
Palm Springs is currently "restricted" while Scottsdale is "allowed with permit". On cost, Scottsdale is the cheaper market to license ($250 vs $1,046). Full verified details for both markets below — always confirm current requirements with each jurisdiction.
Side by side
| Rule | Palm Springs, CA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Restricted | Allowed with permit |
| Permit required | Yes | Yes |
| Permit name | Vacation Rental Registration Certificate | Vacation Rental License (Short-Term/Vacation Rental License) |
| Permit fee | $1,046 | $250 |
| Renewal | Annual | Annual |
| Primary residence only | No | No |
| Owner occupancy required | No | No |
| Night cap / year | None found | None found |
| Minimum stay | None found | None found |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~12.5% | ~13.97% |
| 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 →Scottsdale, AZ
Short-term rentals are legal throughout Scottsdale (Arizona state law bars cities from prohibiting them), but every property rented for less than 30 days must hold an annual City of Scottsdale vacation rental license ($250 per property per year), plus a state TPT license and Maricopa County rental registration. There are no owner-occupancy, night-cap, or per-owner limits; the biggest restrictions are strict operational rules — $500,000 liability insurance, neighbor notification, sex-offender checks on booking guests, and a ban on commercial/event-center use that was significantly strengthened by Ordinance 4719 effective July 23, 2026. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Full Scottsdalerules, playbook & sources →Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change frequently in both markets; verify current requirements with each jurisdiction before operating.