PALM SPRINGS, Riverside County — October 22, 2026. Vacation rentals are a major part of the desert visitor economy, but the City of Palm Springs does not treat the ability to list a property online as permission to operate it. On July 8, 2026, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2133, amending rules in Chapter 5.25 of the Municipal Code. Property owners should verify the current version of the law before taking bookings.
Renting a home is not an automatic right
The city’s Special Program Compliance Department administers vacation-rental and homesharing rules. Its official Vacation Rentals page says these rentals are allowed only as ancillary and secondary residential uses. It describes a registration and permitting system with operational requirements, and states that a vacation rental registration certificate is a privilege, not a right.
Does the type of home matter?
Yes. Palm Springs says its vacation-rental and homesharing rules apply to single-family dwelling units and prohibit these uses in apartments. Owners should not infer eligibility simply because another property on the same street has a vacation rental listing. Land-use classification, ownership structure and property-specific circumstances matter.
Neighborhood percentage caps
The city says Ordinance 2075 established a 20% cap based on total residential dwelling units in an Organized Neighborhood. The official page links to its neighborhood-cap table and online map. Prospective buyers should use those sources to investigate whether certificates may be available in the neighborhood; a property’s previous operation does not guarantee that a new owner will qualify.
What changed in July 2026?
The city says Ordinance 2133 amended several provisions of the vacation-rental chapter, rules relating to appeals before the Administrative Appeals Board, and the city’s implementation of California’s Short-Term Rental Facilitator Act of 2025. That is a reason to read the new ordinance and current FAQ, not to rely on a 2024 advice video or a rental management company’s sales pitch.
Five questions before buying or listing
- Is the actual property within Palm Springs city limits and eligible by dwelling type?
- Does the neighborhood cap affect a new registration?
- Which certificate, renewal and operational rules apply today?
- What does the current municipal ordinance say about appeals and platforms?
- Are there additional taxes, insurance, association restrictions or business obligations?
Practical conclusion: Before advertising, signing with a manager or buying a home on the promise of vacation-rental income, obtain property-specific guidance from the city’s Special Program Compliance Department. California58 has not reviewed or approved an individual rental listing.
Primary source: City of Palm Springs, Vacation Rentals and Ordinance No. 2133, accessed October 22, 2026. Send documented updates to Palm Springs News.
Help this community newspaper grow
Your support helps build coverage for the people and places this local newspaper serves.
Donate once by card ↗Support Palm Springs News
Choose how to support Palm Springs News:
Credit / Debit Card via StripeChoose an amount from $1. One-time support through the publisher's LINKERNO Stripe account.
Continue with PayPal Continue with ZelleZelle payments go to Vitaly Ataev Troshin. Please verify the recipient in your bank before sending. Availability depends on your bank.
Optional reader support. When possible, add “Palm Springs News” to the payment note. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible. Support does not influence editorial decisions.More from Palm Springs News
Explore more local reporting and community updates on the newspaper homepage.
Visit Palm Springs News →
COMMUNITY
Comments
Join the California58 conversation. You must be signed in to comment.
Create a free California58 account or sign in with an available social provider.