Short-Term Rental Laws in Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs is the most STR-friendly major California market — no primary-residence requirement, no annual night cap, and STR is permitted in nearly all residential zones (R-1 single-family, R-2 multi-family, R-3 medium-density, RC resort commercial) plus all resort/commercial overlays. The 2017 ordinance added registration, life-safety inspection, and a "good neighbor" certification but explicitly preserved investor-owned whole-home STR as the default. Some specific historic-district overlays add restrictions; some HOA-governed neighborhoods restrict STRs by covenant — confirm at the HOA level separately. The city's economy is heavily tourism-dependent and the ordinance reflects that.

Operators must hold a short-term rental permit before listing. See the official permit portal.

Palm Springs Finance Department + Code Compliance administer. Annual $100 permit fee. Application requires a designated 24/7 local contact, proof of property insurance ($500K liability minimum), safety inspection (smoke + CO + fire extinguisher + posted occupancy + parking plan), and a "good neighbor" briefing the operator certifies they've provided to guests. Persistent noise/nuisance complaints can trigger license review. Operating unregistered: $1,000+ fines per violation.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Palm Springs is approximately 13.500% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

California State (lodging exempt) + Palm Springs Transient Occupancy Tax 11.5% + Tourism Business Improvement District 2.0% — combined ~13.5% on transient lodging

Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.