Riverside County · checked 2026-09-13
Can you BnB it in Palm Springs?
AllowedPalm Springs allows vacation rentals with a city Vacation Rental Registration Certificate, but no new standard certificates are issued in any neighborhood at or above 20 percent vacation rental density, and yearly contract counts are capped. The certificate expires when the home changes hands, so a buyer must apply for a new one subject to the neighborhood cap.
The rules, with their sources
Permit or licenseA permit or license is required before operating.L15.25.040 · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Hosted onlyThe code does not limit rentals to hosted stays.L1PSMC Chapter 5.25, sections 5.25.030, 5.25.040, 5.25.045, 5.25.060, 5.25.070, 5.25.085, 5.25.090; Ord. 1748 § 1 (2008), Ord. 1848 § 2 (2014), Ord. 1891 and 1902 (2016), Ord. 1918 § 1 (2017), Ord. 2075 § 1 (2022, created 5.25.045 and the 20 percent cap), Ord. 2118 (2025-11-12, 5.25.070), Ord. 2133 (adopted 2026-07-08, amends 5.25.030, 5.25.060, 5.25.070, 5.25.078, 5.25.090 and adds 3.24.085) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Primary residenceThe code does not require the rental to be the operator's primary residence.L1PSMC Chapter 5.25, sections 5.25.030, 5.25.040, 5.25.045, 5.25.060, 5.25.070, 5.25.085, 5.25.090; Ord. 1748 § 1 (2008), Ord. 1848 § 2 (2014), Ord. 1891 and 1902 (2016), Ord. 1918 § 1 (2017), Ord. 2075 § 1 (2022, created 5.25.045 and the 20 percent cap), Ord. 2118 (2025-11-12, 5.25.070), Ord. 2133 (adopted 2026-07-08, amends 5.25.030, 5.25.060, 5.25.070, 5.25.078, 5.25.090 and adds 3.24.085) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Caps and limitsNeighborhood cap: the city shall not issue any new vacation rental registration certificate, other than junior certificates, in any city recognized neighborhood (Chapter 2.55) where the VR Neighborhood Percentage Cap of 20 percent has been exceeded or would be exceeded (5.25.045, definition in 5.25.030); when the cap is exceeded, applications are handled first in time, first in right by filing date. Contract caps per 5.25.070(b): no more than 26 contracts per calendar year for new permittees, 32 for existing permittees plus up to four additional contracts in the third quarter, and no more than six contracts for junior certificates. Ord. 2133 (adopted 2026-07-08) exempts homeshares from annual contract limits. Estate homes (five or more bedrooms) need a separate land use permit per the fee schedule.L15.25.045 · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Transfer when the home sells5.25.060(d): upon change of property ownership the registration certificate expires and the property may not be used as a vacation rental until the new or successor owner is issued a certificate. 5.25.060(e): the owner or listing agent must cancel the certificate within seven days of the sale. The new owner applies fresh and is subject to the 20 percent neighborhood cap and the first in time order in 5.25.045. The codified text contains no exception for heirs, spouses, family members, trusts, or LLC membership changes. Ord. 2133 (adopted 2026-07-08, not yet codified) adds 5.25.060(a)(12): when title is held by a legal entity established by a natural person for estate or tax planning purposes, the city deems that natural person the applicant, which lets a trust or LLC owner hold a certificate but does not create a transfer right. Ord. 2133 5.25.060(b)(4) charges a transfer fee only when a certificate moves between owner operated and agency managed status, not on sale. 5.25.085 requires business entities, LLCs, and trusts owning vacation rentals to disclose the natural persons behind them, and required entities to transfer vacation rentals to natural persons by June 1, 2018.L15.25.060(d) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Read the code text →
In the city's own words
5.25.040“The operation of a vacation rental or a homeshare interest without a vacation rental registration certificate is prohibited.” source
5.25.045“The city shall not issue any new vacation rental registration certificate, other than junior vacation rental registration certificates, in any neighborhood in which the VR Neighborhood Percentage Cap has been exceeded or would, with the issuance of any such certificate, be exceeded.” source
5.25.030“The VR Neighborhood Percentage Cap is set at 20%. This VR Neighborhood Percentage Cap may be adjusted by the city council by ordinance or resolution.” source
5.25.060(d)“Upon change of property ownership, the registration certificate shall expire and the property shall not be used as a vacation rental until the new or successor owner is issued a vacation registration certificate for the property.” source
Citation: PSMC Chapter 5.25, sections 5.25.030, 5.25.040, 5.25.045, 5.25.060, 5.25.070, 5.25.085, 5.25.090; Ord. 1748 § 1 (2008), Ord. 1848 § 2 (2014), Ord. 1891 and 1902 (2016), Ord. 1918 § 1 (2017), Ord. 2075 § 1 (2022, created 5.25.045 and the 20 percent cap), Ord. 2118 (2025-11-12, 5.25.070), Ord. 2133 (adopted 2026-07-08, amends 5.25.030, 5.25.060, 5.25.070, 5.25.078, 5.25.090 and adds 3.24.085)
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How this page was verified
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.