Riverside County · checked 2026-09-13
Can you BnB it in Indian Wells?
RestrictedIndian Wells issues short-term residential rental permits, but each rental must run at least 29 consecutive nights unless the home is in an HOA community that has voted to allow shorter stays, or during the tennis tournament week when seven night rentals are allowed. The permit is void when the property sells, so a buyer applies for a new one under the same limits.
The rules, with their sources
Permit or licenseA permit or license is required before operating.L15.20.040(a) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Hosted onlyThe code does not limit rentals to hosted stays.L1IWMC Chapter 5.20, sections 5.20.020, 5.20.030, 5.20.040, 5.20.120, 5.20.140, 5.20.170, 5.20.190, 5.20.200, 5.20.210, 5.20.220, 5.20.240; Ord. 653 § 7 (2011), Ord. 685 § 1 (2015), Ord. 689 (2015, added 5.20.220), Ord. 710 § 1 (2018, added 5.20.190 to 5.20.210), Ord. 721 (2019), Ord. 725 § 5 (2020), Ord. 731 § 7 (2020, added 5.20.240), Ord. 732 § 3 (2022) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Primary residenceThe code does not require the rental to be the operator's primary residence.L1IWMC Chapter 5.20, sections 5.20.020, 5.20.030, 5.20.040, 5.20.120, 5.20.140, 5.20.170, 5.20.190, 5.20.200, 5.20.210, 5.20.220, 5.20.240; Ord. 653 § 7 (2011), Ord. 685 § 1 (2015), Ord. 689 (2015, added 5.20.220), Ord. 710 § 1 (2018, added 5.20.190 to 5.20.210), Ord. 721 (2019), Ord. 725 § 5 (2020), Ord. 731 § 7 (2020, added 5.20.240), Ord. 732 § 3 (2022) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Caps and limitsNo numeric cap and no non issuance language in Chapter 5.20. The operative limit is the 29 consecutive night minimum in 5.20.140 (28 nights when the rental covers February in a non leap year). Exceptions: a common interest development of four or more adjoining parcels may, by a recorded majority vote of members voting and a certification filed with the Community Development Director, allow any shorter minimum (5.20.210(a)); a master association may do the same under 5.20.190; a new development approved under 5.20.030(e) may allow short-term rentals under its conditional use permit or development agreement (5.20.200); any registered owner may rent for no less than seven consecutive nights from one week before to three days after the annual professional tennis tournament at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden (5.20.220). Rentals are permitted only in the very low, low, medium and medium high density residential zones (5.20.030(a)); multiple rentals are prohibited (5.20.030(c)).L15.20.210(a)(4) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Transfer when the home sells5.20.030(d): a short-term rental business license and/or permit are void on sale of registered property. No exception for heirs, family, trusts or entity membership changes appears in the chapter; owner is defined as any person or entity having fee title ownership or appearing on the last equalized assessment roll (5.20.020). A buyer may apply for a new permit and business license under 5.20.040 and 5.20.050 (the chapter contains no non issuance rule), but the new permit carries the 29 night minimum unless the property is in a common interest development or master association that has filed a vote allowing shorter stays, or a new development approved for them. 5.20.240 requires home sale agreements to include a disclosure of the short-term rental ordinance.L15.20.030(d) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Read the code text →
In the city's own words
5.20.140“shall be for a minimum of 29 consecutive nights (28 consecutive nights if the rental covers the month of February during a non-leap year) during which time there shall be no overlapping leases or rental of the premises.” source
5.20.040(a)“It is unlawful for any person to engage in the business of short-term residential rentals without first obtaining and maintaining both: (1) a valid business license pursuant to Chapter 5.01 of this Code; and (2) a short-term residential rental permit.” source
5.20.030(d)“a short-term rental business license and/or permit are void on sale of registered property” source
5.20.210(a)(4)“Upon filing a certification with the City that the proposal was approved, short-term residential rentals within the common interest development shall not be restricted by the minimum duration of rental as set forth in Section 5.20.140, but may be operated for any minimum duration established by the above described vote.” source
Citation: IWMC Chapter 5.20, sections 5.20.020, 5.20.030, 5.20.040, 5.20.120, 5.20.140, 5.20.170, 5.20.190, 5.20.200, 5.20.210, 5.20.220, 5.20.240; Ord. 653 § 7 (2011), Ord. 685 § 1 (2015), Ord. 689 (2015, added 5.20.220), Ord. 710 § 1 (2018, added 5.20.190 to 5.20.210), Ord. 721 (2019), Ord. 725 § 5 (2020), Ord. 731 § 7 (2020, added 5.20.240), Ord. 732 § 3 (2022)
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Verified from the municipal code (level 1), checked on 2026-09-13 by the CanIBnB research desk. Research is AI assisted and human reviewed; the method, the level system, and the re-check schedule are on the How we verify page. If anything here is wrong, report it and it goes in the public corrections log.