Palm Desert · Renting & eviction
Renting in Palm Desert: the rules that apply
Palm Desert leaves most renting rules to state law, with no just-cause or relocation rule of its own. Its Mobile Home Park Rent Review chapter covers mobilehome park spaces only; the state rent cap applies to covered units.
Key points
- Rent increases: State law caps increases on covered units at 8.1% from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027, with no more than 2 increases in any 12-month period.
- Mobile home spaces: Palm Desert's Mobile Home Park Rent Review chapter covers mobilehome park spaces only; the state cap applies to covered units.
- Just cause: Palm Desert has no just-cause rule of its own; state law requires just cause after 12 months of lawful occupancy on covered units.
- Relocation pay: Palm Desert has no relocation rule of its own; state law requires 1 month's rent for no-fault evictions on covered units.
- Ending a tenancy: State law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.
- Security deposits: State law limits deposits to 1 month's rent on top of the first month's rent, or 2 months for some small landlords.
Each rule below is marked Palm Desert code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (extracted October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Rent increases
Palm Desert has a related local rule: Mobile Home Park Rent Review (Ch. 9.50) — mobilehome park spaces only. This page does not summarize it yet; read the text in the library. Where it does not apply, the state rule below does.
| Rent cap right now | 8.1% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.1% inflation) Applies: Covered units only. Inflation is the BLS consumer price index for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area, March to March, as the statute requires; the figure is recomputed every year. |
|---|---|
| Statewide rent increase cap (AB 1482) | 5% plus the change in cost of living, or 10%, whichever is lower, over any 12 months Applies: Covered units only; measured against the lowest rent charged in the prior 12 months. |
| Number of rent increases | No more than two increases in any 12-month period |
| Rent cap — new construction exemption | Housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years is exempt (rolling) Applies: Mobilehomes excepted. |
| Rent cap — single-family home or condo exemption | A home or condo that can be sold on its own is exempt when the owner is not a REIT, a corporation or an LLC with a corporate member, and the tenant was given the written exemption notice Applies: The same exemption applies to the just-cause rule (§ 1946.2(e)(8)). |
| Rent cap — owner-occupied duplex exemption | A duplex in one building is exempt when the owner lived in the other unit at the start of the tenancy and still does, unless either unit is an ADU or JADU |
| New tenancy resets the rent | When no prior tenant remains, the owner may set the initial rent; the cap applies to later increases |
| Rent cap sunset | § 1947.12 is repealed on January 1, 2030 unless extended |
Eviction and just cause
CA state law Palm Desert has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Just cause required: After 12 months of lawful occupancy, the owner may terminate only for a just cause stated in the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(a)). Just-cause eviction in California — the full state rule →
Relocation payments
CA state law Palm Desert has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. No-fault eviction relocation assistance: One month's rent (as relocation payment or rent waiver), paid within 15 calendar days of the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(d)(3)(A)). Relocation under California's just-cause law — the full state rule →
Notices
We found no Palm Desert rule on this in the Palm Desert Municipal Code (extracted October 2026). The state rule below applies.
| Notice of a rent increase | At least 30 days' notice for an increase of 10% or less; at least 90 days for an increase of more than 10% Applies: The 10% is measured against the rent charged at any time in the 12 months before the increase, counting all increases in that period together. |
|---|---|
| Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (landlord) | 60 days' notice; 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than one year Applies: Where the unit is covered by just cause (Civ. Code § 1946.2) or a local ordinance, the notice must also state a qualifying cause. |
| Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (tenant) | At least as long as the rental period (one month for a month-to-month tenancy) |
| 30-day notice when the unit is sold to an owner-occupant | 30 days' notice when a separately sellable unit is in escrow to a natural person who will live there for at least a year Applies: Notice within 120 days of opening escrow, given once, and all § 1946.1(d) conditions met. |
| Notice to pay rent or quit | 3 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, stating the amount due and how to pay Applies: May be served any time within one year after the rent became due. |
| Notice to cure a lease violation or quit | 3 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, to perform the broken lease term or leave |
| No fee for serving notices | A landlord may not charge the tenant a fee for serving or posting a notice |
Security deposits
CA state law Palm Desert has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Security deposit cap: One month's rent, on top of the first month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), (c)(6)). Deposit return deadline: 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, with an itemized statement of any deductions (Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1)). California security deposit law — the full state rule →
Retaliation
Palm Desert has a related local rule: Mobile Home Park Rent Review (§ 9.50.120) — mobilehome park spaces only. This page does not summarize it yet; read the text in the library. Where it does not apply, the state rule below does.
| Retaliation protection period | For 180 days after a tenant complains about habitability (to the landlord or an agency), the landlord may not evict, raise rent or cut services in retaliation Applies: The tenant must not be in default on rent, and may invoke this no more than once in any 12-month period. A landlord who states a good-faith ground in the notice may still act. |
|---|---|
| Retaliation damages | Actual damages plus punitive damages of $100 to $2,000 per retaliatory act (fraud, oppression or malice) |
Harassment and lockouts
CA state law Palm Desert has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Lockouts and self-help eviction banned: A landlord may not change locks, remove doors or windows, or remove the tenant's belongings to force a tenant out (Civ. Code § 789.3(b)). Utility shutoffs banned: A landlord may not cut off water, heat, electricity, gas or other utilities to force a tenant out (Civ. Code § 789.3(a)). Tenant harassment and lockouts in California — the full state rule →
Repairs and habitability
CA state law Palm Desert has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Duty to keep the unit habitable: The landlord must deliver a unit fit to live in and repair conditions that make it untenantable (Civ. Code § 1941). Repair and deduct: A tenant may make a repair the landlord neglects and deduct the cost from rent, up to one month's rent, no more than twice in any 12 months (Civ. Code § 1942(a)). Habitability and repair-and-deduct — the full state rule →
Landlord entry
CA state law Palm Desert has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Landlord entry notice: Reasonable written notice, presumed to be 24 hours, and entry only during normal business hours (Civ. Code § 1954(d)(1), (e)). Landlord entry notice in California — the full state rule →
Short-term rentals
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Hotel and short-term rental tax
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Other Palm Desert rules on this
Palm Desert's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Mobile Home Park Rent Review (Ch. 9.50) — mobilehome park spaces only
- Mobile Home Park Rent Review (§ 9.50.120) — mobilehome park spaces only
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How much can rent go up in Palm Desert?
State law caps increases on covered units at 8.1% from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027, with no more than 2 increases in any 12-month period. Palm Desert's Mobile Home Park Rent Review chapter covers mobilehome park spaces only; the state cap applies to covered units. Palm Desert also has a related rule: Mobile Home Park Rent Review (Ch. 9.50) — mobilehome park spaces only.
Does a landlord in Palm Desert need a reason to evict?
Palm Desert has no just-cause rule of its own; state law requires just cause after 12 months of lawful occupancy on covered units.
Does a Palm Desert landlord have to pay relocation?
Palm Desert has no relocation rule of its own; state law requires 1 month's rent for no-fault evictions on covered units.
How much notice does a Palm Desert landlord have to give?
State law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.
How much can a Palm Desert landlord charge for a security deposit?
State law limits deposits to 1 month's rent on top of the first month's rent, or 2 months for some small landlords.
Can I rent out my home short-term in Palm Desert?
Palm Desert's code: Limited. Never in apartments, ADUs or JADUs; on-site rentals not in units with 1 bedroom or less. (On-site: RE, R-1M, R-1, R-2, R-3, HPR, PR, DEO, DE and D. Off-site: only RE, R-3, HPR, PR (if HOA allows), DEO, DE, D.) (§ 5.10.070); At least 3 days and 2 nights. (§ 5.10.090).
What is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in Palm Desert?
Palm Desert's code: 11% of the rent. (§ 3.28.030); The operator collects the tax from each guest at the same time as the rent. (§ 3.28.050).
General information, not legal advice.
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