STR Rule Watch

Short-Term Rental Laws in Riverside, CA (2026)

Permit requiredAllowed with permit

The City of Riverside allows short-term rentals (stays of 30 consecutive days or less) citywide in any legally permitted dwelling unit under Municipal Code Chapter 5.55, adopted August 6, 2024. Hosts must obtain a City Business Tax Certificate before renting or advertising, ensure the city's 13% transient occupancy tax is remitted, designate two local contacts able to respond within 30 minutes, and cap overnight occupancy at two people per bedroom plus one per unit. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no cap on units per owner, and no annual night limit.

✓ Last verified July 21, 2026 · 6 official sources

Reviewed by the STR Rule Watch research team against 6 official sources. How we verify data

Riverside STR rules at a glance

Key short-term rental facts for Riverside
Legal statusAllowed with permit
Permit requiredYes
Permit nameBusiness Tax Certificate
RenewalAnnual
Owner occupancy requiredNo
Primary residence onlyNo
Total occupancy taxes~13% of gross revenue
EnforcementEnforcement is at the discretion of the Police Chief, Community and Economic Development Director, Code Enforcement Manager, or their designees.
Current rules effective2024-08-06

What will guests pay in taxes on a Riverside stay?

Itemized occupancy taxes for Riverside, CA — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.

Riverside occupancy tax calculator

Gross rent$450.00
City of Riverside Transient Occupancy Tax (RMC Chapter 5.32) (13%)· collection varies$58.50
Total tax (13%)$58.50
Guest pays$508.50

Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.

Permits & licensing

Riverside requires Business Tax Certificate to operate a short-term rental, renewed annually.

RMC 5.55.040 requires a Business Tax Certificate (RMC Chapter 5.04) before renting or advertising an STR, and TOT registration with the Finance Department's Business Tax Office. The city publishes no flat STR permit fee: business tax is calculated per business type 'utilizing a minimum tax plus additional increments,' and owners with more than one residential rental unit pay tax based on gross rental receipts. Chapter 5.55 also references a 'short-term residential rental permit' with initial and renewal processes, but the city has not published a separate STR permit application or fee schedule as of 2026-07-20.

Zoning & location rules

No zone-based restrictions or overlay districts: Chapter 5.55 permits short-term rental of 'any legally permitted dwelling unit,' or portions of one, citywide. STRs are prohibited in dwelling units deed-restricted for affordable housing or otherwise restricted by government-imposed conditions. Use as an event venue contrary to the code is prohibited (RMC 19.150.020.A and 5.80.010), overnight occupancy is capped at two people per bedroom plus one per unit, and on-site parking is limited to approved driveway, garage, and/or carport areas.

Taxes

TaxRateWho collects
City of Riverside Transient Occupancy Tax (RMC Chapter 5.32)13% of rent since July 1, 2014. RMC 5.55.050(A) gives a broker (platform) that collects any rental revenue 'primary responsibility' for collecting and remitting TOT to the city, but Airbnb's published California collection list does not include the incorporated City of Riverside, so operators must register with the city's Business Tax Office and file monthly returns (due by the 15th of the following month) to ensure remittance. California has no state lodging tax, and state/local sales tax does not apply to short-term lodging.13%varies

Enforcement & penalties

Enforcement is at the discretion of the Police Chief, Community and Economic Development Director, Code Enforcement Manager, or their designees. Two Designated Local Contacts are required, one available 24/7 and able to respond on-site within 30 minutes of a complaint; the local contact's name and phone number must be posted on the exterior of the unit. Renter records must be kept for three years and produced on request. The owner, agent, or renter can be billed the cost of any police response to an event at the unit (RMC Chapter 9.60), and the Community & Economic Development Director may impose additional unit-specific conditions.

Violations of Chapter 5.55 are infractions subject to Chapter 1.17 remedies: administrative citation fines of $100 (first), $200 (second), and $500 (third and subsequent occurrence of the same violation), plus administrative civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day per violation, capped at $100,000 per parcel. Late TOT payments incur penalties of 10% (first day late), 25% (30th day), and 50% (60th day) plus 1% monthly interest; knowing or willful failure to remit TOT is a misdemeanor.

⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

Getting legal in Riverside: the playbook

Generated from this market's verified rules — each step traces to the sources at the bottom of this page.

  1. 1

    Verify your zoning

    Location rules apply: 55 permits short-term rental of 'any legally permitted dwelling unit,' or portions of one, citywide. STRs are prohibited in dwelling units deed-restricted for affordable housing or otherwise restricted by government-imposed conditions. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the city before applying — the full zoning rules are detailed above.

  2. 2

    Check the covenant layer

    HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

  3. 3

    Apply for the Business Tax Certificate

    04) before renting or advertising an STR, and TOT registration with the Finance Department's Business Tax Office. Apply through the city — the official application page is linked in the sources below.

  4. 4

    Set up tax collection & remittance

    Platforms don't collect everything here: City of Riverside Transient Occupancy Tax (RMC Chapter 5.32) (13%) is remitted by the host in at least some cases. Register with the taxing authority before your first booking and calendar the filing deadlines.

  5. 5

    Calendar the renewal before you forget it

    This permit renews annually. Most cities take weeks to process renewals and don't send reminders — our Host plan emails you at 60/30/7 days out.

  6. 6

    Know the cost of getting it wrong

    17 remedies: administrative citation fines of $100 (first), $200 (second), and $500 (third and subsequent occurrence of the same violation), plus administrative civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day per violation, capped at $100,000 per parcel. Late TOT payments incur penalties of 10% (first day late), 25% (30th day), and 50% (60th day) plus 1% monthly interest; knowing or willful failure to remit TOT is a misdemeanor. Full enforcement details and penalties are covered above.

Recent rule changes in Riverside

  1. March 10, 2026

    Ordinance 7757 amends STR operational requirements (RMC 5.55.050)

    Omnibus Ordinance No. 7757, Section 108, amended Section 5.55.050 (Operational requirements); the code is codified through this ordinance. The substantive requirements (local contacts, occupancy cap, parking, TOT, event-venue prohibition) remain in place.

    Official source →

  2. August 6, 2024material

    Ordinance 7678 adds Chapter 5.55 - Short-Term Residential Rentals

    The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 7678, Section 1 (Exhibit A), adding sections 5.55.010 through 5.55.070 to the Riverside Municipal Code — the city's first dedicated short-term rental chapter, requiring a Business Tax Certificate, TOT compliance, designated local contacts, occupancy limits, and good-neighbor acknowledgments.

    Official source →

Frequently asked questions

›Is Airbnb legal in Riverside?

Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in Riverside, CA, but you must obtain a Business Tax Certificate before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Riverside?

Yes. Riverside requires a Business Tax Certificate to operate a short-term rental and must be renewed annually. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Riverside?

Yes — Riverside does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Riverside?

Hosts in Riverside are subject to: City of Riverside Transient Occupancy Tax (RMC Chapter 5.32) (13%) — roughly 13% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.

›Does Airbnb collect taxes automatically in Riverside?

No — in Riverside hosts are responsible for registering, collecting, and remitting the listed occupancy taxes themselves. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Riverside?

17 remedies: administrative citation fines of $100 (first), $200 (second), and $500 (third and subsequent occurrence of the same violation), plus administrative civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day per violation, capped at $100,000 per parcel. Late TOT payments incur penalties of 10% (first day late), 25% (30th day), and 50% (60th day) plus 1% monthly interest; knowing or willful failure to remit TOT is a misdemeanor. See the enforcement section on this page for full details.

›When did Riverside's current short-term rental rules take effect?

The current ordinance took effect on August 6, 2024. See the change timeline on this page for amendments since, and the sources section for the official text.

Riverside's STR rules changed 1 time recently.

Get an email the moment Riverside changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.

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This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Riverside and a qualified professional before operating.

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