STR Rule Watch

Short-Term Rental Laws in San Bernardino County, CA (2026)

Permit requiredAllowed with permit

Short-term rentals (30 days or less) are legal in unincorporated San Bernardino County — including Joshua Tree and the unincorporated Big Bear area — but only in the county's Mountain and Desert regions, and every unit needs a Short-Term Residential Rental Permit from Code Enforcement ($1,144 new application under the fee schedule effective July 1, 2025; renewed annually, $550 if nothing changes). The biggest restrictions are hard caps: a maximum of 12 overnight occupants per unit, no more than 2 STR permits per person, and only 1 permit per parcel under 2 acres (2 on parcels of 2+ acres); operating without a permit draws fines of $1,000 per violation per day. Always confirm current requirements with the county before operating.

✓ Last verified July 12, 2026 · 11 official sources

San Bernardino County STR rules at a glance

Key short-term rental facts for San Bernardino County
Legal statusAllowed with permit
Permit requiredYes
Permit nameShort-Term Residential Rental Permit
Permit fee$1,144
RenewalAnnual
Owner occupancy requiredNo
Primary residence onlyNo
Max units per owner2
Total occupancy taxes~7% of gross revenue
EnforcementPermits are administered and enforced by County Code Enforcement (Land Use Services). The county runs a 24/7 STR complaint hotline (1-833-SBC-STR1 / 1-833-722-7871). Exterior inspection by Code Enforcement is required before permit issuance, plus an interior self-inspection checklist; surrounding property owners get a 20-day comment period and there is a 30-day appeal period before issuance. All advertising must display the county permit number and maximum occupancy. Owner/agent must be reachable 24 hours, make contact within 30 minutes, and be physically present at the property within 1 hour of a complaint; failure to respond can lead to permit revocation.
Current rules effective2025-07-01

What will guests pay in taxes on a San Bernardino County stay?

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

San Bernardino County occupancy tax calculator

Gross rent$450.00
San Bernardino County Transient Occupancy Tax (unincorporated areas) (7%)· collection varies$31.50
Total tax (7%)$31.50
Guest pays$481.50

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

Permits & licensing

San Bernardino County requires Short-Term Residential Rental Permit to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $1,144, renewed annual.

Fee schedule effective July 1, 2025: NEW application $1,144 total ($600 application fee + $285 permit fee + $259 surrounding property owner notification fee). Renewal with no changes $550; renewal with physical changes (requires inspection) $885; renewal with property management/occupancy changes (requires notification) $859; renewal with both $1,144. A $150 one-time credit is offered for installing an outdoor noise monitoring device.

Zoning & location rules

STR permits are issued only in the Mountain and Desert regions of unincorporated San Bernardino County (Joshua Tree, Morongo Valley, unincorporated Big Bear area, etc.); STRs are not permitted in the Valley region. Eligible structures: single-family dwellings, duplexes, individual rooms, guest houses, condominiums, and some ADUs; units in multi-family apartment projects, yurts, travel trailers and RVs are not eligible. Max 1 STR permit per parcel under 2 acres, 2 permits per parcel of 2+ acres, and occupancy is capped at 12 overnight guests based on dwelling size. Incorporated cities (Big Bear Lake, Yucca Valley, Twentynine Palms, etc.) have their own separate STR rules.

Taxes

TaxRateWho collects
San Bernardino County Transient Occupancy Tax (unincorporated areas)7% TOT on stays of 30 nights or less in unincorporated areas (County Code 14.0203). Airbnb collects and remits the 7% TOT on behalf of hosts for its bookings; hosts must still register for a TOT Certificate with the County Tax Collector and remit TOT themselves for direct bookings or platforms that do not collect. California has no statewide lodging tax. Incorporated cities levy their own TOT at different rates.7%varies

Enforcement & penalties

Permits are administered and enforced by County Code Enforcement (Land Use Services). The county runs a 24/7 STR complaint hotline (1-833-SBC-STR1 / 1-833-722-7871). Exterior inspection by Code Enforcement is required before permit issuance, plus an interior self-inspection checklist; surrounding property owners get a 20-day comment period and there is a 30-day appeal period before issuance. All advertising must display the county permit number and maximum occupancy. Owner/agent must be reachable 24 hours, make contact within 30 minutes, and be physically present at the property within 1 hour of a complaint; failure to respond can lead to permit revocation.

Operating an STR without a valid permit is punishable by an administrative fine of $1,000 per violation per day, or up to six months in county jail, or both. Conviction fines escalate: $1,000 (first), $2,000 (second), $5,000 (third) — raised from $100/$200/$500 in the June 2022 reform. Occupants themselves can be cited (penalties around $1,000) for noise, parking, and nuisance violations. Renewal payments more than 45 days late result in closure of the permit.

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

Getting legal in San Bernardino County: 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: STR permits are issued only in the Mountain and Desert regions of unincorporated San Bernardino County (Joshua Tree, Morongo Valley, unincorporated Big Bear area, etc.); STRs are not permitted in the Valley region. Eligible structures: single-family dwellings, duplexes, individual rooms, guest houses, condominiums, and some ADUs; units in multi-family apartment projects, yurts, travel trailers and RVs are not eligible. Max 1 STR permit per parcel under 2 acres, 2 permits per parcel of 2+ acres, and occupancy is capped at 12 overnight guests based on dwelling size. Incorporated cities (Big Bear Lake, Yucca Valley, Twentynine Palms, etc.) have their own separate STR rules. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the county before applying.

  2. 2

    Check the covenant layer

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

  3. 3

    Apply for the Short-Term Residential Rental Permit

    Budget $1,144 (annual renewal). Fee schedule effective July 1, 2025: NEW application $1,144 total ($600 application fee + $285 permit fee + $259 surrounding property owner notification fee). Renewal with no changes $550; renewal with physical changes (requires inspection) $885; renewal with property management/occupancy changes (requires notification) $859; renewal with both $1,144. A $150 one-time credit is offered for installing an outdoor noise monitoring device. Apply through the county — the official application page is linked in the sources below.

  4. 4

    Set up tax collection & remittance

    Platforms don't collect everything here: San Bernardino County Transient Occupancy Tax (unincorporated areas) (7%) 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

    Configure your listing to the operating limits

    Set your calendar and listing rules to respect the 2-unit-per-owner limit — platform delisting and fines in this market typically start with listings that visibly violate these limits.

  6. 6

    Calendar the renewal before you forget it

    This permit renews annual (budget $1,144 again). Most cities take weeks to process renewals and don't send reminders — our Host plan emails you at 60/30/7 days out.

  7. 7

    Know the cost of getting it wrong

    Operating an STR without a valid permit is punishable by an administrative fine of $1,000 per violation per day, or up to six months in county jail, or both. Conviction fines escalate: $1,000 (first), $2,000 (second), $5,000 (third) — raised from $100/$200/$500 in the June 2022 reform. Occupants themselves can be cited (penalties around $1,000) for noise, parking, and nuisance violations. Renewal payments more than 45 days late result in closure of the permit. Permits are administered and enforced by County Code Enforcement (Land Use Services). The county runs a 24/7 STR complaint hotline (1-833-SBC-STR1 / 1-833-722-7871). Exterior inspection by Code Enforcement is required before permit issuance, plus an interior self-inspection checklist; surrounding property owners get a 20-day comment period and there is a 30-day appeal period before issuance. All advertising must display the county permit number and maximum occupancy. Owner/agent must be reachable 24 hours, make contact within 30 minutes, and be physically present at the property within 1 hour of a complaint; failure to respond can lead to permit revocation.

Recent rule changes in San Bernardino County

  1. July 1, 2025material

    New STR permit fee schedule takes effect

    San Bernardino County updated its STR fee schedule effective July 1, 2025: new applications now total $1,144 ($600 application + $285 permit + $259 neighbor notification), renewals with no changes cost $550 (renewals with physical or management/occupancy changes cost $885/$859/$1,144), and a $150 one-time credit is available for installing an outdoor noise monitoring device.

    Official source →

  2. June 11, 2024

    Housing Element Program 4 STR study presented to Board of Supervisors

    The county completed a study of the current and projected impact of short-term rentals on housing supply in unincorporated areas and on motel/hotel businesses in the Mountain and Desert regions, presented at the June 11, 2024 Board meeting; the Board received the report. No new permit cap ordinance was identified as adopted from it as of mid-2026, but the study was created to inform potential future caps under Housing Element Program 4.

    Official source →

Frequently asked questions

›Is Airbnb legal in San Bernardino County?

Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in San Bernardino County, CA, but you must obtain a Short-Term Residential Rental Permit before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in San Bernardino County?

Yes. San Bernardino County requires a Short-Term Residential Rental Permit to operate a short-term rental, which costs $1,144 and must be renewed every year. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›How much does a San Bernardino County short-term rental permit cost?

The Short-Term Residential Rental Permit costs $1,144 (annual renewal). Fee schedule effective July 1, 2025: NEW application $1,144 total ($600 application fee + $285 permit fee + $259 surrounding property owner notification fee). Renewal with no changes $550; renewal with physical changes (requires inspection) $885; renewal with property management/occupancy changes (requires notification) $859; renewal with both $1,144. A $150 one-time credit is offered for installing an outdoor noise monitoring device.

›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in San Bernardino County?

Yes — San Bernardino County does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences, although each owner is capped at 2 units. 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 San Bernardino County?

Hosts in San Bernardino County are subject to: San Bernardino County Transient Occupancy Tax (unincorporated areas) (7%) — roughly 7% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.

›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in San Bernardino County?

Operating an STR without a valid permit is punishable by an administrative fine of $1,000 per violation per day, or up to six months in county jail, or both. Conviction fines escalate: $1,000 (first), $2,000 (second), $5,000 (third) — raised from $100/$200/$500 in the June 2022 reform. Occupants themselves can be cited (penalties around $1,000) for noise, parking, and nuisance violations. Renewal payments more than 45 days late result in closure of the permit. Permits are administered and enforced by County Code Enforcement (Land Use Services). The county runs a 24/7 STR complaint hotline (1-833-SBC-STR1 / 1-833-722-7871). Exterior inspection by Code Enforcement is required before permit issuance, plus an interior self-inspection checklist; surrounding property owners get a 20-day comment period and there is a 30-day appeal period before issuance. All advertising must display the county permit number and maximum occupancy. Owner/agent must be reachable 24 hours, make contact within 30 minutes, and be physically present at the property within 1 hour of a complaint; failure to respond can lead to permit revocation.

San Bernardino County's STR rules changed 1 time recently.

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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 San Bernardino County and a qualified professional before operating.

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