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      1. Best Practices & Standard Operating Procedures
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      Palm Desert Onboarding

      Operating a Short-Term Rental in Palm Desert 

      For guidelines on running a short-term rental in the City of Palm Desert, please use the accordion widget below to review our operational requirements, penalties, and zoning requirements. Short-Term Rental means a privately-owned residential dwelling, rented for occupancy for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes for any period less than twenty-seven (27) consecutive days. This includes; a single-family detached or multiple-family attached unit, second unit dwelling, lodging or rooming house, condominium, duplex, triplex, quadplex, mobile home or house trailer at a fixed location, or any portion of such dwellings.

      • Transient Occupancy Tax
        • If you have any questions specifically how to file the transient occupancy tax or anything related to this subject, please call the Transient Occupancy Tax phone number 760-862-6910 or email staff at strtot@palmdesert.gov.

      24-Hour Short-Term Rental Hotline & Online Complaint form

      Palm Desert residents, visitors, and businesses who wish to report a problem with a short-term rental (STR) are encouraged to call the City’s Code Compliance Division's Short-Term Rental Hotline any time of the day or night.

      Active Short-Term Rental Permits in Palm Desert

      To determine if a property has an active short-term rental permit, please click on this link. Hover over the dot to display the property address and active short-term rental permit number.

      The permit will not display the owner’s name, email address, and phone number. 

      End Your Short-Term Rental Permit

      If you had an active short-term rental permit and no longer wish to operate, complete this form: Non Short-Term Rental Declaration.

      Contact Us 

      For questions about Short-Term Rentals, please call 760-862-6905 or email strpermit@palmdesert.gov.

      Apply for permit, pay TOT, update permit info, renewals 

      https://cityofpalmdesert-str.deckard.com/

       Short term rental onsite owner form

      Short term rental ordinance

      On November 19, 2020, the City Council approved amendments to the existing Short-Term Rental (STR) Ordinance. The amendments implement new regulations for STRs within the PR zones for properties not governed by a homeowners’ association (HOA).

      • All new STR permit applications within the PR zones require a written approval letter from an HOA having jurisdiction over the property. 
      • Existing STR permits within the PR zones (excluding On-Site Owner STR Permits), without a written approval letter, shall terminate and such uses permanently cease operation after December 31, 2021.
      • Click here for the On-Site Owner form. Complete the form and upload it with the STR application.

      24-Hour Short-Term Rental Hotline & Online Complaint form

      Palm Desert residents, visitors, and businesses who wish to report a problem with a short-term rental (STR) are encouraged to call the City’s Code Compliance Division's Short-Term Rental Hotline any time of the day or night.

       

       

      Active Short-Term Rental Permits in Palm Desert

      To determine if a property has an active short-term rental permit, please click on this link.

      Hover over the dot to display the property address and active short-term rental permit number. The permit will not display the owner’s name, email address, and phone number. 

      Enforcement and Penalties

      Fines for operating or advertising a short-term rental:

      • 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. 

       

      Operational and Communication Requirements

      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.

      On January 10, 2021, the above amendments and Ordinance No. 1360 went into effect. The City’s new STR ordinance is a compromise that attempts to balance the interests of stakeholders on both sides of this important topic and preserve the qualities that make Palm Desert desirable to residents and visitors alike.

      The City recognizes that despite the new ordinance, STRs will continue to impact our community in ways both good and bad. We are committed to doing what we can to reduce negative impacts while respecting the rights of home and property owners and preserving the neighborhoods that help make up the fabric of our community.

      For more information about what the City is doing to regulate STRs, please contact strpermit@palmdesert.gov or you can call the Planning Department at (760) 346-0611, Extension 483. To report a problem with a STR, please call the hotline (760) 862-6905. To find out the status of a STR application or renewal permit, please visit this webpage.