Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Barstow, CA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Barstow, CA, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals are permitted only in the County’s Mountain and Desert regions and are defined as residential units rented for 30 days or less. Allowed structures include single-family homes, duplexes, and some ADUs, while multi-family apartments and RVs are excluded. Owners must provide a 24-hour contact for complaints and comply with Fire, Building, and Health codes. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rentals are permitted only in the County’s Mountain and Desert regions and are defined as residential units rented for 30 days or less. Allowed structures include single-family homes, duplexes, and some ADUs, while multi-family apartments and RVs are excluded. Owners must provide a 24-hour contact for complaints and comply with Fire, Building, and Health codes.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Barstow. 1) Submit a 'Special Use Permit - Short-Term Rental Application' via the County EZ Online Permitting Portal (EZOP). 2) Certify the unit meets County Short-Term Residential Rental Standards and pay the required fees. 3) Pass an exterior inspection by a Code Enforcement Officer to verify parking and standards; permits must be renewed annually.

1) Submit a 'Special Use Permit - Short-Term Rental Application' via the County EZ Online Permitting Portal (EZOP). 2) Certify the unit meets County Short-Term Residential Rental Standards and pay the required fees. 3) Pass an exterior inspection by a Code Enforcement Officer to verify parking and standards; permits must be renewed annually.

Vrbo is permitted in Barstow, CA under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Barstow are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Barstow. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.