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Desert Hot Springs · Renting & eviction

Short-term rentals in Desert Hot Springs

City rule: vacation rentals need a permit and business license; at most 4% of developed housing parcels; none within 500 feet of another.

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Key points

  • Vacation rentals: City rule: vacation rentals need a permit and business license; at most 4% of developed housing parcels; none within 500 feet of another.

Each rule below links to the section of the Desert Hot Springs Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Desert Hot Springs's code says

Desert Hot Springs code What Desert Hot Springs's code adds
Allowed
  • Allowed, with limits.
    Applies: Needs a vacation rental permit; citywide cap of 4% of housing parcels; not within 500 feet of another; not where an HOA bans them.
    § 5.44.055 · code text
    The number of vacation rentals shall not exceed four percent of the total housing parcels containing completed developed housing units.
Cap on rentals
  • Vacation rentals can be no more than 4% of developed housing parcels.
    Applies: Calculated every year; licensed or permitted hotels and motels in good standing do not count.
    § 5.44.055 · code text
    The number of vacation rentals shall not exceed four percent of the total housing parcels containing completed developed housing units. This number shall not include licensed, permitted and/or entitled hotels and motels, in good standing with the City. This number shall be calculated yearly.
  • No vacation rental within 500 feet of another vacation rental.
    Applies: Measured property line to property line; existing rentals in good standing cannot be denied renewal only for this reason.
    § 5.44.055 · code text
    Vacation rental parcels shall not be located within a 500-foot radius from another vacation rental, measured from property line to property line.
Permit or registration
  • A vacation rental permit is required, and a business license must be obtained first.
    § 5.44.030 · code text
    No owner or agent of a vacation rental unit shall rent, advertise, list for booking, book, or otherwise publish information for a vacation rental, any unit for a period of 30 consecutive days or less without a valid vacation rental permit for each vacation rental unit pursuant to this chapter.

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Can I rent out my home short-term in Desert Hot Springs?

City rule: vacation rentals need a permit and business license; at most 4% of developed housing parcels; none within 500 feet of another.

General information, not legal advice.

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