All buyers that hope to purchase a property in Palm Springs for the purpose of turning it into a vacation rental must apply for a vacation rental registration certificate in order to legally rent out a property to vacationing guests.

The process is pretty easy and straightforward as long as you know where to receive an application for a registration certificate. To receive a registration certificate you have to go through a few steps.

The Application Process for a Vacation Rental Registration Certificate

If a property has more than five bedrooms the Estate home Application Addendum must be filled out

Submit a Transient Occupancy Tax Permit with any brand-new application being filed for the first time.

If the home has a pool you will need to submit a Pool Compliance Statement filled out by a certified electrician with an attached invoice from the electrician.

If the Home is in a neighborhood with an HOA you will need to include a letter from the management company or board ensuring no HOA rules are being violated in operating a short-term rental

Include a copy of the applicant’s government-issued identification

Include all application and permit fees

Submit your completed form to the Vacation Rental Compliance Department and await written authorization to proceed with your vacation rental plans. The typical processing time is about 90 days.

Good Information to Know About Vacation Rental Registration Permits:

There is also a required permit for all short-term or vacation rentals in Riverside County. The County permit does not meet the more specific requirements of the City of Palm Springs. You can apply for county registration if a home is outside the official city limits of Palm Springs. This can be done at the Riverside County website.

Applications will not be accepted for homes that are in escrow.

Vacation rental owners are not permitted to advertise or rent a property until they have officially received their registration permit.

There are two different types of application forms, one for an owner-operator and one for an agency operator. You can find a list of all of the fees and additional documents required on the City of Palm Springs website.

For more information on investment properties in Palm Springs and all Palm Springs area real estate including all of the Coachella Valley, please contact us any time.