Short-Term Rentals (STR) are prohibited within the R1 and R2 zones, excluding On-Site Owner STR Permits. STRs are allowed in the following zones:

• DEO (Downtown Edge Transition Overlay): Contact City staff to confirm eligibility.
• RE (Residential Zone): Eligible for On-site or Off-site Owners.
• HPR (Hillside Planned Residential): Requires an HOA approval letter or must be an On-site Owner.
• PR (Planned Residential): Requires an HOA approval letter or must be an On-site Owner.
• R1 and R2: Must be On-site Owner.
• R3 (Residential Multiple Family): Eligible for On-site or Off-site Owners.

To determine your residential zone, please use this interactive map. 

Prior to occupancy of an STR unit, the operator must comply with the following:

• Meet and greet the renter on-site and obtain his or her name, address, and a copy of a valid government-issued identification.
• Provide the renter with a copy of the Good Neighbor Brochure.
• Provide the renter with information about the STR regulations.
• Require the renter to execute a formal acknowledgment in the form acceptable by the City that he or she is legally responsible for compliance of all occupants of the STR unit and their guests, with all applicable laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the use and occupancy of the STR unit. Provide the Responsible Person with the Operator’s 24-hour availability information.

For more information regarding Short-Term Rental permits, please contact:

• Planning Department
• (760) 862-6905
• strpermit@palmdesert.gov

To report a Short-Term Rental concern, please contact:

• Code Compliance Division
• (760) 776-6360
• codehotline@palmdesert.gov

To find the status of a STR application or renewal permit, please visit this webpage.

The City of Palm Desert continues to receive reports of homes being listed for sale that do not comply with California Building Codes, which the City is required to enforce. To clarify, a bedroom must have a properly sized window or door that opens directly to a public street, alley, yard, or court. Rooms that do not meet this requirement, such as those adjacent to enclosed atriums, are considered “dens” and cannot be marketed as bedrooms.

We strongly urge all realtors to accurately disclose the correct bedroom count when selling properties. The City is actively monitoring short-term rental listings online and may issue administrative fines or deny STR permit application if listings inaccurately represent bedroom counts.

All Property Management Companies managing three or more short-term rental properties are required to have an active business license before applying for new or renewing their STR permits.

Business licenses are processed through an online business license portal, supported by the company HdL. For information on Palm Desert business licenses please click here and to apply for or renew a business license visit our City's HDL portal at: palmdesert.hdlgov.com.

Fines for Operating or Advertising a Short-Term Rental Without a Permit:

• An owner must obtain a short term rental permit prior to advertising or renting any privately-owned residential dwelling for a period of less than twenty-seven consecutive days.
• Fines for operating an STR without a valid permit is $5,000 for the first citation and each additional citation for every day the property is being rented or advertised. The City has the right to refuse the issuance of any new or renewed STR permit for the cited property and/or to the cited owner and/or operator anywhere else within the City.  

Operational Violations

• Exceeding the maximum number of occupants
• Parking on a public street
• Trash and refuse left in public view
• Noise related complaints
• Owner/operator failing to respond to a complaint within 30 minutes
• Failing to post the current short-term rental permit number on any advertisement that promotes the availability of the property.

Fines for Operational Violations

• First citation is $1,000.
• Second citation for the same offense within a 12-month period of the date of the first offense is $3,000.
• Third citation within a 12-month period of the date of the first offense is $5,000 and an immediate revocation of the STR permit for a period of two years. 

Tax Obligations:

• Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and Greater Palm Springs Tourism Business Improvement District (GPSTBID/TBID) return and remittance must be completed and submitted by the last day of each calendar month whether your property was rented or not.

• TOT and TBID are only collected for stays that are 27 consecutive nights or less. TOT and TBID are not collected for any stays that are over 27 consecutive nights or more.

• Anyone operating an STR or a property management company assisting in STR operations must pay a monthly 11% TOT on the gross rent which includes:

  • Labor and/or cleaning fees
  • Resort, reservation, and cancellation fees
  • Late check-out, admin/processing, and convenience fees
  • Rollaway beds, cribs, extra person or pet fees
  • Energy surcharges and pool heating fees
  • Damage waiver fees and non-refundable deposits

• Beginning July 1, 2021, STRs must also pay a monthly 1% assessment fee on the gross rent for the GPSTBID.  This tax is assessed by GPS, not the City, but for convenience, will be collected as part of your remittance to the City and the City will remit payment to GPS. Click here for Visit Greater Palm Springs TBID webpage.

If you have any questions specifically on how to submit payment for your STR TOT or anything related to this subject, please call the Transient Occupancy Tax phone number (760) 862-6910 or email staff at strtot@palmdesert.gov.

File Your STR TOT Here:

• Click here for Deckard portal: https://cityofpalmdesert-str.deckard.com/

Airbnb and Other Platform Information:

• Airbnb remits the 11% TOT on your behalf; you are still responsible for remitting the 1% GPSTBID assessment each month. Airbnb will not collect the 1% TBID assessment for you, even if they remit the 11% TOT on your behalf. 

• For all other platforms, such as VRBO, Booking.com, etc., it is your responsibility to submit both the 11% TOT and 1% GPSTBID. Click here to learn more about GPSTBID.

• Please remember when filing through Deckard that Airbnb stays are on the left and all other platforms (VRBO, Booking.com, FlipKey, etc.) are on the right.

Other Important Information:

• STR Ordinance
• TOT Ordinance

Frequently Asked Questions About TOT

• I Know I File Monthly, But When do I Remit Payment?
  Monthly tax returns and remittance are due by the last day of each calendar month. That means you must submit payment before the first day of the second month following close of the reporting period. For example: January submission is due February 28th. If payment is received past this date, then penalties and interest will accumulate. 

• What are the Penalties and Interest When Failing to Pay by the Due Date?
  When payment becomes delinquent on the first day of the second month following close of the reporting period: Add 10% of the tax plus interest of 1% per month, with accumulative penalties and interest compounded monthly, provided the amount of penalties shall not exceed 50% of the tax due and interest shall not exceed 12% of the tax due.

• What If I had no Rental Income this Month? How do I File a Zero TOT Return?
  If you did not rent out your property you still need to submit your TOT return. In the City's effort to go green, reduce carbon footprint and data server space, we will no longer be accepting $0 TOT hard copy forms and ask that you submit your $0 earning through your Deckard portal.

• What If my Guest Stayed for 28 Consecutive Days or More?
  Even though long-term stays are an exemption (deduction) you still need to submit your TOT return. In the City's effort to go green, reduce carbon footprint and data server space, we will no longer be accepting long-term stay TOT hard copy forms and ask that you submit your long-term stay earning through your Deckard portal.

• Airbnb Files My 11% TOT for Me, Do I Still Need to Submit the 1% GSPTBID?
  Yes! Airbnb is the only platform the City of Palm Desert has a contract with to collect the 11% TOT on your behalf, therefore, it is your responsibility to submit the 1% GSPTBID to the City since Airbnb does not collect it for you. Please visit the GSP website for more information.

December Tax Due - 1/31/26

January Tax Due - 2/28/26

February Tax Due - 3/31/26

March Tax Due - 4/30/26

April Tax Due - 5/31/26

May Tax Due - 6/30/26

June Tax Due - 7/31/26

July Tax Due - 8/31/26

August Tax Due - 9/30/26

September Tax Due - 10/31/26

October Tax Due - 11/30/26

November Tax Due - 12/31/26

As of August 1st, 2016 the City of Palm Desert has entered into an agreement with Airbnb for the collection and remittance of ONLY the 11% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on behalf of the rental unit(s) owners that utilize the Airbnb platform to rent their units within Palm Desert city limits. Airbnb is the only company we have a contract with to collect the 11% TOT on your behalf, there is an additional 1% TBID due that Airbnb does not collect and needs remittance from your behalf. The following are required for Airbnb platform users:

• An annual short-term rental permit is required for registration of the property for rent.
• It is the responsibility of the permit holder to submit the completed TOT return form for the month applicable that Airbnb paid since the 1% TBID fee is still needed. Due to Airbnb citing confidentiality issues they will not submit the completed a TOT Return form for the homeowner.
• Property Management Companies are required to submit a TOT Return for the company's in house bookings that identify gross rent, additional fees and tax due. Regarding Airbnb only bookings and to assure proper accounting practices are followed, we are asking for cooperation in submitting a separate document, spreadsheet or a TOT Return for those Airbnb only bookings which identify gross rent, additional fees and tax.
• If any other platform, company, website to include in-house company portal other than Airbnb is used to book and pay for the rental of property, you are required to collect and remit the required Transient Occupancy Tax per Palm Desert for the non-Airbnb booked nights.
• It is your responsibility to ensure accurate accounting records are kept and submitted with TOT Returns if using Airbnb for any short-term rentals. Any errors will only be corrected and/or refunded with appropriate documentation as per PD Municipal Code 3.28 of the overpayment and may be subject to review by an independent audit.
• Failure to register, collect, and remit these taxes, will subject the property owner's fines, penalties and interest.
• If your short-term rental property was not rented for a particular month or if you hosted a long-term stay of 28 consecutive days or more, you are still required to submit through Deckard your monthly TOT Return per PD Municipal Code 5.10.090.

If you have any question please call 760-862-6910 or email staff at strtot@palmdesert.gov.

City staff are available to provide educational presentations on Palm Desert’s Short-Term Rental Program. Presentations can be hosted onsite at your HOA community or virtually via Zoom to best accommodate your members. To schedule a presentation, please contact us at (760) 862-6905 or strpermit@palmdesert.gov.

What is a Short-Term Rental?

• A short-term rental unit means a privately-owned residential dwelling unit, or portion thereof unless otherwise prohibited, including a casita, that is offered or provided to a guest by an operator for twenty-seven consecutive nights or less. 

Can I apply for a Short-Term Rental Permit now?

• Through the City’s online portal, Deckard Rentalscape, link: https://portal.deckard.com/ca-riverside-city_of_palm_desert-str-portal/

Who needs to apply for a Short-Term Rental Permit?

• Any property owner who wishes to rent a residential property for less than twenty-seven consecutive nights or less, must apply for a Short-Term Rental Permit. Failure to register will be the property owner's sole responsibility, and administrative fines will be issued.

How much does a STR Permit cost?

• The cost is $29.00 for new and renewed STR permits. The permit is renewed annually.

Can I pay by credit card?

• Yes, a bank processor fee is assessed on all payments processed through the online portal. This processing fee is not a city fee; it is collected directly by the merchant services provider to cover the cost of online ACH and credit/debit card processing.

• STRIPE collects the fees, and the amounts are calculated for you and broken down:

• Fee for credit card payments is 2.9% + $.30.
• The fee for ACH payments is .8% with a $5.00 cap.

Does my STR Permit apply to all my properties?

• No. You must obtain a separate permit for each property.

Do I have to obtain a letter of approval from my HOA every year?”

• Yes. The approval letter must include the current date, the owner's name, and the property address, along with a statement confirming that short-term rentals are permitted in the community. Each year, the HOA letter must be updated with the current date to verify that no changes have been made to the CC&Rs.

What is an “On-Site Owner?”

• “On-Site Owner” means a short-term rental unit where an owner who is living and present within the main unit during the rental duration rents one or more bedrooms (s). This is their primary residence.

When do I need to renew my STR Permit?

• A STR permit shall be valid for one (1) year and must be renewed annually to remain valid. Renewal of a STR permit shall be submitted 30 calendar days before the permit’s expiration date. Failure to submit a renewal application at least 30 days before the permit’s expiration date may result in the short-term vacation rental permit being terminated.

What if I do not get a STR Permit?

• Operating a STR without a valid STR Permit with the City of Palm Desert will result in a fine of $5,000 for the first violation and each additional citation (PDMC 5.10).  The city has the right to refuse to issue any new or renewed short-term rental permit for the cited property and/or to the owner and operator anywhere within the city.

What is Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)?

The City's Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) is 12%.

• 11% for lodging stays of certain lengths including residential short-term rentals (STR).
• 1% goes toward Greater Palm Springs Tourism Business Improvement District (GPSTBID).

• Beginning July 1, 2021, STRs will be included in the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Business Improvement District (GPSTBID). There is a 1% assessment (in addition to the City's 11% TOT tax) on gross rental revenue of short-term stays. The GPSTBID, not the City, assesses this tax, but for convenience, it will be collected as part of your remittance to the City with the TOT tax return.

• The City will then remit payment to the GPSTBID. Currently, platforms like Airbnb or VRBO, will not collect it for you, even if they remit the 11% TOT directly to the City on your behalf.

When is the TOT due?

• The tax imposed under Section 3.28.030 is due and payable to the tax administrator on the first day of the month following the close of each calendar month and becomes delinquent on the first day of the second succeeding calendar month following the close of each calendar month.

Do I still have to file a monthly TOT report even if I did not rent my property?

• If your short-term rental property was not rented for a particular month, you must submit your monthly TOT Return. If a long-term stay occurred, 28 consecutive nights or more, both the TOT Return form and Exemption report are required for monthly submittal.

Does the online portal allow for TOT bulk submittal for online payment and reporting?

• Yes.

Is my STR permit transferable to another property manager, or if I sell my property to a new owner?

• No. The new property manager and/or property owner must submit a new application.

Do I have to display my permit, STR rules, and the Good Neighbor brochure, and when?

• The STR permit and the Good Neighbor Brochure must always be posted conspicuously within the STR unit.

Can I rent my Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)/Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) as a short-term rental?

• No. If your ADU/JADU contains full living amenities, including a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and entrances separate from the primary home, the property cannot be rented for STR.

Can I rent my apartment as a short-term rental?

• No.  

Can I use my timeshare as a short-term rental?

• No.
  

What is the minimum number of days and nights for my property?

• The minimum duration of a short-term rental unit is three days and two nights.

Once I obtain my STR permit, can I be issued admin fines?

• Yes. Please make sure you review the City’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance and become familiar with the rules. Starting fines are $1,000.

How many people can stay in my rental?

• The maximum number of overnight guests and residents for a short-term rental unit shall not exceed two persons per bedroom. Additional daytime guests are allowed between the hours of seven a.m. and ten p.m., with the additional maximum daytime guests not to exceed two persons per bedroom with a maximum of twenty guests allowed for five bedrooms or more. The following table illustrates the maximum number of occupants. If the use is on-site owner short-term rental, the owner shall be deemed to occupy at least one bedroom, which shall reduce the number of bedrooms for overnight guests.

I need to close my account. What do I do?

• Please email a statement confirming you will no longer operate a short-term rental, and include the property address and your contact information. Send it to: strpermit@palmdesert.gov.

How do I change the User Email Address or Phone Number on a Property?

• Log into Deckard’s online portal, portal.deckard.com/ca-riverside-city_of_palm_desert-str-portal/and select “Update Permit Information” to update the email address and phone number.
• If you do not remember the email address associated with the STR Permit or property address, email staff at strpermit@palmdesert.gov to assist you in obtaining the email address.  Staff will not update email addresses through the phones.