Short-Term Rental Laws in Yucca Valley, CA (2026)
Short-term rentals are legal in all zoning districts of the Town of Yucca Valley but require a Temporary Short-Term Vacation Rental (TSTVR) Permit under Ordinance 312 (adopted March 5, 2024), plus a business registration and a transient occupancy tax certificate; the permit fee is $973 every four years and the total initial application package is $1,425. The biggest restriction is a townwide cap: permits may never exceed 10% of the Town's official inventory of detached single-family homes (about 148 openings remained as of April 21, 2026), and only detached single-family dwellings qualify — one permit per parcel. Guests pay a 12% Town transient occupancy tax, which Airbnb collects for hosts but other platforms do not. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
⏳ Verification in progress — data compiled July 10, 2026, human review pending
Yucca Valley STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Allowed with permit |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | Temporary Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit (TSTVRP) |
| Permit fee | $973 |
| Owner occupancy required | No |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~12% of gross revenue |
| Insurance | Yes — the permit application must include documentation of insurance coverage for the structure as a short-term vacation rental (a Certificate of Insurance 'showing coverage for the structure as a short-term vacation rental, vacation rental, hosting, or similar wording'). No minimum coverage amount is specified in Chapter 5.40. |
| Enforcement | The Town contracts a 24/7 complaint hotline ((435) 787-4357 / 'Make a Complaint 24-7') and employs a code compliance technician for STVR compliance. Hosts must install NoiseAware (or equivalent) noise-monitoring hardware/software before operating and make its data available to the Town on request. A designated local contact must respond to complaints within 15 minutes by phone/text and be physically on site within 30 minutes, 24/7. Outdoor amplified sound is prohibited 10 PM-7 AM; parking is on-site only; the permit number must appear in all advertising. Verified complaints can trigger a mandatory Director's meeting (neighbors within 300 feet are invited; owner attendance is mandatory), and violations can lead to added conditions, suspension, or revocation, with final decisions by the Town Manager. |
| Current rules effective | 2024-03-05 |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Yucca Valley stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Yucca Valley, CA — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Yucca Valley occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Town of Yucca Valley Transient Occupancy Tax (Municipal Code Ch. 3.24, increased by voter-approved Measure K) (12%)· collection varies | $54.00 |
| Total tax (12%) | $54.00 |
| Guest pays | $504.00 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
Yucca Valley requires Temporary Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit (TSTVRP) to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $973.
Permit fee is $973.00, paid every 4 years (the permit is valid for a maximum 4-year period). Total fees due at initial application are $1,425.00: $973 permit fee + $350 compliance monitoring fee (every 4 years) + $74 business registration ($51 annual renewal thereafter) + $28 transient occupancy tax permit. Applications must be filed in person by appointment only (scheduled at least 30 days in advance). The 4-year renewal cycle does not fit the annual/biennial enum, so renewal_frequency is left null.
Zoning & location rules
STVRs are allowed in all zoning districts on the Yucca Valley Zoning Map, but eligibility is limited to legal detached single-family residential dwelling units (and habitable residential accessory structures); duplexes, condominiums, tents, RVs, and similar structures do not qualify. Only one TSTVR permit is allowed per parcel (or per group of contiguous commonly owned parcels), even if multiple habitable structures exist. A townwide cap limits permits to 10% of the Town's official inventory of detached single-family dwellings (inventory adopted each January); once reached, completed applications go on a waiting list in the order received. As of April 21, 2026 the cap had not been reached (148 openings). Neighbors within 300 feet receive notice of each approval, including the local contact's name and phone number.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Yucca Valley Transient Occupancy Tax (Municipal Code Ch. 3.24, increased by voter-approved Measure K)Rate raised from 7% to 12% by Measure K (approved Nov 8, 2022; effective Jan 1, 2023). Airbnb collects and remits under a Voluntary Collection Agreement — per Town guidance it is currently the ONLY platform with such an agreement; hosts renting through Vrbo or any other platform must collect and remit themselves via quarterly returns (due 30 days after quarter end). Hosts renting exclusively through Airbnb may elect annual filing. Returns must be filed even for periods with no rental activity. California has no statewide lodging tax, and the county 7% TOT applies only in unincorporated areas, not inside the Town. | 12% | varies |
Enforcement & penalties
The Town contracts a 24/7 complaint hotline ((435) 787-4357 / 'Make a Complaint 24-7') and employs a code compliance technician for STVR compliance. Hosts must install NoiseAware (or equivalent) noise-monitoring hardware/software before operating and make its data available to the Town on request. A designated local contact must respond to complaints within 15 minutes by phone/text and be physically on site within 30 minutes, 24/7. Outdoor amplified sound is prohibited 10 PM-7 AM; parking is on-site only; the permit number must appear in all advertising. Verified complaints can trigger a mandatory Director's meeting (neighbors within 300 feet are invited; owner attendance is mandatory), and violations can lead to added conditions, suspension, or revocation, with final decisions by the Town Manager.
Verified operational violations carry escalating minimum fines: $1,500 for the first violation, $3,500 for a second within 12 months, and $5,000 for a third within 12 months, plus possible added permit conditions, suspension, or revocation. A permit revoked within the past 12 months is grounds to deny a new application for the same unit. Operating without required permits/TOT compliance can be prosecuted under the Town Code (TOT violations punishable as a misdemeanor or felony per the Town's TOT guidelines).
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Recent rule changes in Yucca Valley
April 21, 2026
Permit cap still open — 148 openings for new applicants
The Town's Planning Applications page states that as of April 21, 2026 the Temporary Short-Term Vacation Rental Cap has not been reached and new applications are being accepted through the standard appointment process, with 148 openings for new applicants. The official housing inventory underpinning the 10% cap is re-adopted each January.
Official source →March 5, 2024material
Ordinance 312 adopted — comprehensive rewrite of the STVR program (Chapter 5.40)
Ordinance 312 re-enacted the Town's STVR rules as Municipal Code Chapter 5.40: permit validity extended to a maximum of four years (previously two), applications accepted in person by appointment only (booked 30+ days ahead), mandatory nuisance response plans, 300-foot neighbor notification, NoiseAware-type noise monitoring, one permit per parcel, 10% cap with formal waiting-list procedure, escalating $1,500/$3,500/$5,000 fines, and permit expiration upon change of ownership.
Official source →January 1, 2023material
Transient occupancy tax increased from 7% to 12% (Measure K)
Voters approved Measure K on November 8, 2022, amending Municipal Code § 3.24.030 to raise the TOT on hotels and short-term vacation rentals from 7% to 12%, effective January 1, 2023. Airbnb collects the 12% tax at booking for Yucca Valley listings; hosts on other platforms must collect and remit it themselves.
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Yucca Valley?
Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in Yucca Valley, CA, but you must obtain a Temporary Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit (TSTVRP) before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Yucca Valley?
Yes. Yucca Valley requires a Temporary Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit (TSTVRP) to operate a short-term rental, which costs $973. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Yucca Valley short-term rental permit cost?
The Temporary Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit (TSTVRP) costs $973. Permit fee is $973.00, paid every 4 years (the permit is valid for a maximum 4-year period). Total fees due at initial application are $1,425.00: $973 permit fee + $350 compliance monitoring fee (every 4 years) + $74 business registration ($51 annual renewal thereafter) + $28 transient occupancy tax permit. Applications must be filed in person by appointment only (scheduled at least 30 days in advance). The 4-year renewal cycle does not fit the annual/biennial enum, so renewal_frequency is left null.
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Yucca Valley?
Yes — Yucca Valley 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 Yucca Valley?
Hosts in Yucca Valley are subject to: Town of Yucca Valley Transient Occupancy Tax (Municipal Code Ch. 3.24, increased by voter-approved Measure K) (12%) — roughly 12% 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 Yucca Valley?
Verified operational violations carry escalating minimum fines: $1,500 for the first violation, $3,500 for a second within 12 months, and $5,000 for a third within 12 months, plus possible added permit conditions, suspension, or revocation. A permit revoked within the past 12 months is grounds to deny a new application for the same unit. Operating without required permits/TOT compliance can be prosecuted under the Town Code (TOT violations punishable as a misdemeanor or felony per the Town's TOT guidelines). The Town contracts a 24/7 complaint hotline ((435) 787-4357 / 'Make a Complaint 24-7') and employs a code compliance technician for STVR compliance. Hosts must install NoiseAware (or equivalent) noise-monitoring hardware/software before operating and make its data available to the Town on request. A designated local contact must respond to complaints within 15 minutes by phone/text and be physically on site within 30 minutes, 24/7. Outdoor amplified sound is prohibited 10 PM-7 AM; parking is on-site only; the permit number must appear in all advertising. Verified complaints can trigger a mandatory Director's meeting (neighbors within 300 feet are invited; owner attendance is mandatory), and violations can lead to added conditions, suspension, or revocation, with final decisions by the Town Manager.
Yucca Valley's STR rules changed 1 time recently.
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Related
Nearby covered cities
- Palm Springs, CARestricted
- Big Bear Lake, CAPermit required
- Los Angeles, CAPrimary residence only
- San Diego, CAPermit required
- Las Vegas, NVPrimary residence only
Sources
- Town of Yucca Valley — Short-Term Vacation Rental (official program page)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Town of Yucca Valley — Planning Applications (TSTVR cap status and application process)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Town of Yucca Valley — TSTVR Application and Information Outline (fees, insurance, TOT guidelines)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Yucca Valley Municipal Code, Chapter 5.40 Temporary Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit (Ord. 312, 3-5-2024)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Yucca Valley Municipal Code § 5.40.060 Operational Requirements and Standard Conditionsretrieved July 10, 2026
- Yucca Valley Municipal Code § 5.40.090 Maximum Number of TSTVR Permits (10% cap)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Measure K ordinance amending Municipal Code § 3.24.030 — TOT increased to 12% (San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters filing)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Airbnb Help Center — Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Californiaretrieved July 10, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Yucca Valley and a qualified professional before operating.