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Is short-term rental allowed in Palm Springs?
Yes, in single-family homes with a Vacation Rental Registration Certificate, subject to neighborhood caps. Palm Springs Municipal Code Chapter 5.25 allows vacation rentals and homeshares only as ancillary and secondary uses of residential property, limits them to single-family homes, and prohibits them in apartments.
This page covers the City of Palm Springs only. Other cities and unincorporated areas have their own rules.
The rules at a glance
| Where allowed | Single-family homes only. Not in apartments. |
|---|---|
| Registration | A Vacation Rental Registration Certificate, which the city calls a privilege, not a right |
| Neighborhood cap | Certificates capped at 20% of the total residential units in each Organized Neighborhood (Ordinance 2075). The city publishes a percentage table and map. |
| Recent change | Ordinance No. 2133, adopted July 8, 2026, amended Chapter 5.25 |
Fees (effective December 1, 2025)
- Vacation Rental, new or annual registration: $1,046.
- Junior Vacation Rental, new or annual registration: $523.
- Homeshare, new or annual registration: $261.
Lodging tax
The transient occupancy tax (TOT) for vacation rentals is 11.5%, the same as hotels other than group-meeting hotels (13.5%). A Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment is also filed with the TOT. Check the current TBID rate with the city. A TOT return is due every month, even if the home wasn't rented.
What this means for your numbers
In Palm Springs, check the neighborhood cap first. If your neighborhood is at the cap, the short-term option may not be available. Our Rental Strategy Comparison shows a long-term lease and a short-term rental side by side for your address, with the city's lodging tax and rental rules looked up for each order. In a city with a minimum stay, the short-term column is based on that minimum.
Compare long-term and short-term for your home, $39
Official sources
- City of Palm Springs: Vacation Rentals (Special Program Compliance)
- City of Palm Springs: Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)
Last checked: October 17, 2026. Rules and fees change. Confirm with the City of Palm Springs Department of Special Program Compliance, and with any HOA or lease, before you list. General information, not legal advice.