Is Airbnb Legal in Palm Desert? 2026 Rules, Permits & Taxes

Permit required

Yes

Taxes on a stay

12%

Fine for hosting without a permit

$5,000

Listings showing a permit number

20%

Next rule change

Dec 31, 2026

Listing figures: AirROI, 12 months to October 2026. A number on a listing doesn't prove the permit or license is valid, and a missing one doesn't prove there is none.

The rules in brief

Who needs it

Any property owner who rents a house, condo or townhome for 27 consecutive nights or fewer, whether the owner or a property manager runs the rental. Each property needs its own permit.^1,5

Issued by

City of Palm Desert Planning Department, applied for through the Deckard online portal

Valid for

One year, renewed annually. The city asks for the renewal application at least 30 days before the permit expires, and a permit not renewed within 30 days after it expires is terminated. A permit is not renewed if the home was rented 18 days or fewer in the prior calendar year, and it does not transfer to a new owner or property manager.

On listings

The number must appear on every listing

Platform checks

Hosts must authorize every platform they list on to give the city their listing information, and the city runs a public portal where anyone can check whether a property holds an active permit. Airbnb remits the city's hotel tax under a contract in place since August 1, 2016.

Fees

Who qualifies

• The owner of a house, condo or townhome; apartments, accessory dwelling units, junior accessory dwelling units and timeshares are not eligible, and an on-site permit needs a home with more than one bedroom.
• On-site permit: the home is the owner's primary residence (shown by two of driver's license, voter registration, tax records or a utility bill), and the owner stays in a bedroom or casita on the property throughout each rental.
• Off-site permit (owner away): only in the Estate Residential (RE), multifamily (R-3), Downtown, Downtown Edge and Downtown Edge Transition Overlay zones, or in a Planned Residential (PR) or Hillside Planned Residential (HPR) community whose functioning homeowners association permits short-term rentals. New off-site permits in HPR are not issued.
• Homes in a homeowners association community need a current approval letter from the association each year.
• No unresolved code compliance cases, unpaid city fines or fees, or liens on the property.
• Property management companies handling three or more short-term rentals need a city business license first.

How to apply

1. 1 Confirm the home's zone and whether an on-site or off-site permit is available, using the city's zoning map; in a homeowners association community, get the association's approval letter dated this year.
2. 2 Create an account on the city's Deckard Rentalscape portal and start an application for the property, listing the owner and operator contacts, the address, the number of bedrooms and occupancy limit, and confirming receipt of the Good Neighbor Brochure.
3. 3 Pay the $29 fee; the city may inspect the home before issuing a new or renewed permit.
4. 4 Once the permit number is issued, post it in every advertisement and display the permit and brochure inside the home, then file the monthly hotel tax and tourism assessment return through the same portal.

Permit rules

Permit required before advertising or renting

An owner, host or operator must hold a city short-term rental permit before advertising, renting or operating a short-term rental unit. The same permit serves as the hotel tax registration.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

Applies to stays of 27 nights or fewer

A short-term rental unit is a home offered to guests for 27 consecutive nights or fewer; longer stays fall outside the permit and the city's hotel tax.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

Permit renewed every year

The permit must be renewed annually, and renewals follow the rules in force at renewal time, so a home that no longer qualifies is turned down.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

Permit not renewed if the home sat idle

A permit is not renewed if the home was not actively operating in the prior calendar year, meaning rented or occupied for more than 18 days; the owner can reapply for a new permit.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

New owner must apply again

When a property changes hands the new owner has 30 days to apply and pay for a new permit and may not keep renting until it is issued.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

No permit with open cases, fines or liens

The city will not issue or renew a permit while the property has unresolved code compliance cases, unpaid city fines or fees, or liens.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

Permit number and occupancy on every ad

The permit number must appear in every advertisement, together with the maximum overnight occupancy, the noise rules and a statement that guests must respect neighbors.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

Platforms may share your listing data with the city

Hosts must authorize each hosting platform they use to give the city their listing and other information to show compliance.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

On-site permit: you live there during the stay

An on-site rental is at the owner's primary residence, with the owner staying in a bedroom or casita on the property throughout the guests' stay, apart from daytime or work hours.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

Primary residence proved with two documents

A primary residence is shown by at least two of a driver's license, voter registration, tax records or a utility bill, and the city can ask for neighbor verification of regular owner occupancy before and during rentals.¹ Applies to: On-site permit holders · In force since October 24, 2024

Off-site rentals limited to set zones

An owner who is away may hold an off-site permit only in the Estate Residential (RE), multifamily (R-3) and downtown zones, or in a Planned Residential or Hillside Planned Residential community whose functioning homeowners association permits short-term rentals. In R-1, R-1M and R-2 neighborhoods only on-site permits are available.^1,5 Applies to: Off-site permit holders · In force since October 24, 2024

Apartments, ADUs and one-bedroom homes excluded

Palm Desert does not issue on-site permits for apartments, accessory dwelling units, junior accessory dwelling units or homes with one bedroom or less, and does not issue off-site permits for apartments or accessory dwelling units.^1,5 In force since October 24, 2024

HPR off-site permits end December 31, 2026

The city issues no new off-site permits in the Hillside Planned Residential zone, and existing ones may be renewed but all end by December 31, 2026.^1,5 Applies to: Hillside Planned Residential (HPR) zone · Takes effect December 31, 2026

Homeowners association rules still apply

A home in a homeowners or condominium association must follow that association's rules, and the city does not override them. The city asks for a current approval letter from the association each year confirming that short-term rentals are allowed.^1,5 Applies to: HOA and condominium homes · In force since October 24, 2024

City may inspect before issuing a permit

The city may inspect the home before it issues any new or renewed permit.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

Minimum stay of three days and two nights

Rentals shorter than three days and two nights are prohibited.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

Two overnight guests per bedroom

Overnight guests may not exceed two per bedroom. In an on-site rental the owner counts as occupying one bedroom, which reduces the number available to guests.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

Daytime guests capped at 20

Extra daytime guests are allowed only between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., up to two more per bedroom and no more than 20 guests in total for homes of five bedrooms or more.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

A bedroom needs a window, closet and bathroom access

Only a room with a code-compliant emergency escape window, a built-in closet and bathroom access that does not pass through another bedroom counts as a bedroom, which sets the guest limit.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

A responsible guest aged 25 or older

Before check-in the host or operator meets the responsible guest, who must be at least 25, collects government identification and a signed acknowledgment, and gives them the Good Neighbor Brochure and the city's rules.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

24-hour contact who answers within 30 minutes

While the home is rented, the host or operator must be reachable around the clock and respond to complaints within 30 minutes, or risk losing the permit.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

No outdoor or audible sound from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m.

Hosts must tell guests in writing that music and sound equipment may not be used outside or be audible beyond the property line between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

Parking must stay on the property

All parking for a short-term rental must be on site, in the garage, carport or driveway, and not on the public street.¹ In force since October 24, 2024

Management companies need a business license

A property management company that manages three or more short-term rentals must hold an active city business license before it applies for or renews permits.⁵ Applies to: Property management companies

Median nightly rate, booked nights

$325

Taxes on that night (12%)

$39

Guest pays, before Airbnb and cleaning fees

$364

What the host still handles

• The short-term rental permit doubles as the city's transient occupancy tax registration; no separate hotel tax account is needed.
• A monthly return through the city's Deckard portal, filed even for months with no bookings or only stays of 28 nights or more, and including Airbnb nights so the 1% tourism assessment can be paid.
• Payment of the 1% Greater Palm Springs tourism assessment, which Airbnb does not collect, and of the 11% hotel tax plus the 1% assessment on bookings through any other platform.
• A city business license, for property management companies that manage three or more short-term rentals.^2,5,8,9

• Operating a short-term rental without a valid permit: a fine of $5,000 for the first citation and for each additional citation, and the city may refuse any new or renewed permit for that property or for that host anywhere in the city.^1,5
• Other violations of the rules, such as too many guests, street parking, trash in view, noise or not answering a complaint within 30 minutes: administrative fines up to $1,000 for a first citation, $3,000 for a second within 12 months and $5,000 for a third, which also revokes the permit for two years.^1,5
• Court infraction citations for the same violations carry fines of up to $1,000, $3,000 and $5,000 for a first, second and third conviction within 12 months.¹
• Any violation by the owner, operator or guests is grounds to modify, suspend or revoke the permit, and the owner remains responsible for guests' and managers' violations.¹
• Paying the hotel tax late draws a penalty of 10% of the tax plus interest of 1% a month.²

1. December 31, 2026 Upcoming
   Off-site permits in the Hillside Planned Residential zone end

   All existing off-site short-term rental permits in the HPR zone terminate on December 31, 2026; no new off-site permits are issued there, and on-site permits are not affected.^1,5

2. October 24, 2024
   Ordinance 1417 restates the short-term rental chapter

   The city's code dates the current text of Chapter 5.10, including its permit types, permitted zones, operating rules and fines, to Ordinance 1417 of October 24, 2024.¹

3. July 1, 2021
   Tourism assessment extends to short-term rentals

   From July 1, 2021 short-term rentals in Palm Desert pay a 1% Greater Palm Springs Tourism Business Improvement District assessment on gross rent, collected by the city with the hotel tax.^5,9

Estimate what a Palm Desert home could earn

1. 1. Chapter 5.10: Short-Term Rentals · City of Palm Desert Municipal Code (eCode360)
2. 2. Chapter 3.28: Transient Occupancy Tax · City of Palm Desert Municipal Code (eCode360)
3. 3. California Revenue and Taxation Code section 7280 - Occupancy taxes · California Legislative Information
4. 4. 16 CFR Part 464 - Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees · Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
5. 5. Short-Term Rentals · City of Palm Desert
6. 6. SB 478 - Hidden Fees (Honest Pricing Law) · California Attorney General
7. 7. The Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees: Frequently Asked Questions · Federal Trade Commission
8. 8. Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in California · Airbnb Help Center
9. 9. TBID Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) · Visit Greater Palm Springs
10. 10. 2021-2031 Greater Palm Springs Tourism Business Improvement District Management District Plan · Visit Greater Palm Springs