Riverside County · checked 2026-09-13
Can you BnB it in La Quinta?
BannedLa Quinta has not issued new general short-term vacation rental permits since May 20, 2021, except in named exempt areas such as the SilverRock Resort and tourist commercial zones, on single lots of 25,000 square feet or more with council approval, or as homeshare permits where the owner lives on site during every stay. An existing permit does not pass to a buyer at sale; it continues only for transfers to the same owners' entity or trust or to listed family heirs on the owner's death.
The rules, with their sources
Permit or licenseNone available: short-term rentals are prohibited, so there is no permit to apply for.L13.25.055(A) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Caps and limitsNo numeric cap. Citywide non-issuance of new permits since 2021-05-20 (3.25.055(A)) with these exceptions: residential dwellings in the CT Tourist Commercial District; the VC Village Commercial District; projects with development agreements or conditions of approval allowing STVRs where the CC&Rs authorize them; the SilverRock Resort and Estates at Griffin Lake specific plans; dwellings adjacent to the CT district in a defined area west of Avenida Obregon, south of Avenida Fernando, east of Calle Mazatlan and north of the Tennis Villas and Tennis Condos driveway (list as summarized by our read of 3.25.055). Homeshare permit applications and renewals of existing permits are not subject to the non-issuance (3.25.055(C)). Single parcels of at least 25,000 square feet may apply for a new permit through a city council public hearing (3.25.057). Section 3.25.055 may only be amended by a four-fifths council vote (3.25.055(E), effective 2024-01-04).L13.25.055(C) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Transfer when the home sells3.25.050(B)(2): a new owner of a property (or a new person or entity that comes to own or control an entity such as an LLC that owns the property) may not renew the previous owner's permit and must apply for a new permit if the STVR use is to continue; under 3.25.055 that new application is not issued outside the exempt areas. Exceptions that are not treated as a transfer to a new owner: (a) transfers to an entity such as an LLC or trust whose members or beneficiaries are the same owners with the same proportionate interests; (b) transfers taking effect on the death of an owner to a designated heir who is a surviving spouse or domestic partner, a sibling by blood or in law including step siblings, a parent or grandparent by blood or in law including step relations, or a child or grandchild by blood or in law including step relations; (c) transfers to a trust whose beneficiaries are heirs of those classes. No transfer application window or grace period is stated. A voluntary opt out or declaration of non-use closes the permit and requires a 12 month wait before a new application (3.25.050(G)).L13.25.050(B)(2) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Read the code text →
In the city's own words
3.25.050(A)“The owner is required to obtain a short-term vacation rental permit and a business license from the city before the owner or the owner's authorized agent or representative may rent or advertise a short-term vacation rental unit.” source
3.25.055(A)“Commencing May 20, 2021, which is the effective date of Ordinance No. 596 which added this section, there shall be no processing of, or issuance for, any applications for a new short-term vacation rental permit [...]” source
3.25.055(C)“This section shall not apply to applications for a homeshare short-term vacation rental permit or applications for a renewal of an existing short-term vacation rental permit.” source
3.25.055(E)“Commencing on January 4, 2024, which is the effective date of Ordinance No. 607 adding this subsection (E), this section may not be amended by the city council, except by no less than four-fifths majority vote of the city council.” source
Citation: LQMC Chapter 3.25. 3.25.050 (Ord. 619 Exh. A, 12-17-2024; Ord. 611, 3-19-2024; Ord. 607 Exh. A, 12-5-2023; Ord. 595, 6-15-2021; Ord. 590, 3-16-2021; Ord. 586, 12-15-2020; Ord. 577, 2019; Ord. 572, 2018; Ord. 563, 2017; Ord. 501, 2012). 3.25.055 (Ord. 619, 12-17-2024; Ord. 607, 12-5-2023; Ord. 596, 2021; Ord. 595, 6-15-2021; Ord. 591, 4-20-2021). 3.25.057 (Ord. 619, 12-17-2024; Ord. 607, 12-5-2023). 3.25.030 (Ord. 631, 4-7-2026; Ord. 619, 12-17-2024; Ord. 607, 12-5-2023).
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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.