Palm Springs, California Short Term Rental Regulations

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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave

Last updated August 23, 2023

Palm Springs Short-Term Rental Regulations

Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.

City Code of Ordinances

The City of Palm Springs defines vacation rentals or short-term rentals as a single-family dwelling, or any portion thereof, utilized for occupancy for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes without the owner being present for a period of twenty-eight (28) consecutive days or less, other than ongoing month-to-month tenancy granted to the same renter for the same unit, occupancy of a time-share basis, or a condominium hotel.

Business License Requirements

A valid city business license is required. Refer to Vacation Rental Registration Requirements.

Building and Housing Standards

The City of Palm Springs has rules and regulations that specify minimum building, design, maintenance standards, habitability, health, and safety requirements. Some rules and regulations that apply to residential and non-residential properties may apply to your listing. Consult the Buildings and Construction for more information.

Tourist and Local Taxes

The listing may be subject to the Transient Occupancy Taxes levied by the City of Palm Springs. Refer to Vacation Rentals for more information.

Other Rules

It is also essential to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo boards, co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable. Visit the City of Palm Springs for more information.
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  • Short Term City Rating
    5.7
  • Competition

    3.7
  • Real Estate Cost

    5.0
  • STR Regulations

    8.0
  • Seasonality

    3.2
  • Rental Rates

    8.7

Palm Springs, California Quick Stats

Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.

Population
44,575
STR License Required
Yes
Tourist Season
January to April
County
Riverside
Airports
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Review our Palm Springs California short-term rental analytics guide, including rates, property types and other metrics

Want to learn more about Palm Springs?

Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.

Check out our Palm Springs rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Palm Springs rental market.

City Activities

Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Palm Springs.

City Attractions

The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.

Palm Springs Rental Rates & Fees

Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.

Property Types & Sizes

What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Palm Springs guests.

Interested in other California cities?

Check out the California Airbnb rules directory 

What makes Palm Springs a great place to invest?

Palm Springs is a city in the Coachella Valley of Southern California, founded in the mid-19th century. This desert resort city that offers year-round outdoor recreation opportunities has become a destination for many people throughout the United States and internationally. The city is known for its springtime temperatures, more than those found in many other cities its size. Palm Springs is home to golf courses, hiking trails, spas, shopping malls, and historic landmarks like the La Plaza Hotel.

Palm Springs is home to many of the country's most famous celebrities, including Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and Michael Jackson. The city also features numerous luxury resorts, including The Breakers, once home to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Palm Springs is also known for its local festivals, such as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Here are a few things to know about this desert oasis: 
  • Palm Springs is about an hour and a half from Los Angeles.
  • The population of Palm Springs is around 45,000.
  • The city was founded in 1907 by Frank Robinson and was once a popular resort destination for celebrities like Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe.
  • Today, Palm Springs is known for its art galleries, spas, and golf courses.

Palm Springs is known for its balmy weather and beautiful landscape. The city has a desert climate, with mild winters and hot summers. The average annual temperature in Palm Springs is 68 degrees Fahrenheit, which is mild for the desert. The city experiences very little rain and enjoys an arid landscape. The average January temperature is 33 degrees Fahrenheit, while the average July temperature is 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite this variation in temperatures, Palm Springs enjoys a sunny atmosphere all year round. This sunshine is due to the city's location near the California/Nevada border.

The city is home to acres of open space, including both public and private parks. And even if you don't have time to explore all of them, there are plenty of activities available just outside of town. There's something for everyone, from hiking and mountain biking to golf and horseback riding. And if you're looking for someplace to relax after all that activity, Palm Springs has dozens of resorts and spas that offer everything from massages to yoga classes.

Palm Springs Nearby Cities

Local Real Estate

How expensive is the real estate in Palm Springs?

The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Palm Springs has decreased -4% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $376, which is higher than the national average.

Median Sale Price

$565,722

-4% YoY

Median per Square Foot

$376

-7% YoY

Average Monthly Rent

$2,338

5% YoY

Property Descriptions

The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Palm Springs, California

Word Cloud for Palm Springs, California Short Term Rentals

Common terms for Palm Springs short term rental listings.

When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.

Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:

  • Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
  • Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
  • Informative: The average listing in Palm Springs has a description approximately 2,813 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.

After reviewing more than 5,610 listings in Palm Springs, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Palm Spring, Pool, Outdoor, City, Spa, Mountain view, Patio, Backyard, Mid century, and Vacation.

What are the most popular tourist activities in Palm Springs?

Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Palm Springs involve Museums, Hiking, Swimming, Casinos, and Outlet Shopping. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.

Museums

Hiking

Swimming

Casinos

Outlet Shopping

Adventure Activities

Antiquing

Health Spa

Cycling

Water Parks

Zoo

Mountain Biking

Local Attractions

What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?

There are quite a few popular attractions in Palm Springs, including Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Agua Caliente Casino, Palm Springs Convention Center, Indian Canyon, and Palm Canyon. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.

Regional Landmark

Palm Springs Convention Center

Included on 65% of listings

Local Landmark

Agua Caliente Cultural Museum

Included on 65% of listings

Well Known Attraction

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Included on 65% of listings

Local Landmark

Tahquitz Canyon

Included on 65% of listings

Local Landmark

Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort

Included on 65% of listings

Local Landmark

Mount San Jacinto State Park

Included on 65% of listings

Regional Landmark

Westin Mission Hills Resort - Gary Player Course

Included on 65% of listings

Regional Landmark

Indian Canyons Golf Resort

Included on 64% of listings

Regional Landmark

Agua Caliente Casino

Included on 64% of listings

Local Landmark

San Jacinto Mountains

Included on 64% of listings

Regional Landmark

Indian Canyon

Included on 62% of listings

Regional Landmark

Palm Canyon

Included on 62% of listings

What’s the weather like in Palm Springs, California?

The weather is generally warmer than the national average, with an average high temperature of around 87°, while the average low is about 62°. It has normal rainfall, averaging about 7 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall is scarce, with an average year having no snowfall. The humidity levels in Palm Springs are generally lower than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.

Winter

December through February

48° Low 71° High

Precipitation
3.8"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
37%

Spring

March through May

60° Low 86° High

Precipitation
1.3"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
26%

Summer

June through August

76° Low 104° High

Precipitation
0.5"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
6.5 days
Cloudiness
14%

Fall

September through November

64° Low 89° High

Precipitation
1.0"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
2.2 days
Cloudiness
20%