Current permit-cap status, minimum-stay requirements, owner-occupancy rules, and jurisdiction breakdown for short-term rentals in Palm Springs. Every field is cited to a primary source below. Always verify the specific parcel with the operating jurisdiction before writing an offer.
Palm Springs caps vacation-rental certificates at 20% of dwelling units per Organized Neighborhood; existing holders are grandfathered but no new certificates issue in over-cap neighborhoods.
Have a specific property in mind? Analyze it with a $99 report →Palm Springs is a well-managed but constrained STR market. Under Municipal Code Chapter 5.25 (as amended by Ord. 2075 in 2022 and Ord. 2133 adopted July 8, 2026), a vacation rental is defined as a single-family dwelling occupied without the owner present for 28 consecutive days or less. Certificates are capped at 20% of dwelling units per Organized Neighborhood on a first-in-time basis. Existing pre-November 2022 permit holders were grandfathered but as of January 1, 2026 their annual contract allowance dropped to 26 rental contracts per year. New buyers should confirm the specific neighborhood's cap status before writing offers. The Junior Vacation Rental Certificate (6 contracts/year, half fee, not counted toward cap) is an option for occasional-use owners.
Short-term rentals in Palm Springs are classified as restricted as of 2026-08-16. Palm Springs caps vacation-rental certificates at 20% of dwelling units per Organized Neighborhood; existing holders are grandfathered but no new certificates issue in over-cap neighborhoods.
Yes. Municipal Code Ch. 5.25: 20% cap on vacation-rental certificates per Organized Neighborhood (Ord. 2075). Junior Vacation Rental Certificate (added Ord. 2075) allows max 6 rental contracts per year and is exempt from the neighborhood cap.
The primary source does not specify a minimum stay for short-term rentals.
Palm Springs does not require owner-occupancy for short-term rental operators as of 2026-08-16. Verify the specific parcel with the operating jurisdiction before offering, as owner-occupancy rules interact with zoning overlays.
Contact the operating jurisdiction directly using the primary-source links published on this page. Zoning, HOA restrictions, and pending regulatory changes are parcel-specific and can override the citywide profile above. DepreciMax's $99 property report separately sizes the Year-1 §168(k) bonus depreciation deduction for a specific address, once regulatory clearance is confirmed.
Once you've verified the regulatory profile of a listing you're considering, run a $99 DepreciMax property report to size the actual Year-1 §168(k) bonus depreciation deduction. The report analyzes the listing photos to classify finishes as 5-year personal property, 15-year land improvements, or 39-year structural — producing a line-item estimate closely calibrated to a formal cost seg study.
Use the DepreciMax STR Regulations Database for the full top-50 market fleet — every market cited to a primary jurisdiction source, updated quarterly.
Not legal or tax advice. Short-term rental regulations change frequently and vary by parcel, zone, and HOA. The information on this page is a summary of publicly available primary sources as of 2026-08-16. Before acting — buying, listing, or operating a short-term rental in Palm Springs — verify current rules with the operating jurisdiction and consult a local attorney and CPA.