Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Cathedral City, CA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Cathedral City, CA, but with restrictions. Cathedral City defines STVRs as rentals of 30 days or less and requires a city-issued permit. Applications are restricted to properties in common interest developments within the Resort Residential (RR) Zone or Home Share permits where the owner occupies the primary residence or a qualifying ADU during the rental. Operators must comply with advertising disclosures (permit number, occupancy, TOT rate), noise/trash rules, and maintain guest records for 3 years. 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.

Cathedral City defines STVRs as rentals of 30 days or less and requires a city-issued permit. Applications are restricted to properties in common interest developments within the Resort Residential (RR) Zone or Home Share permits where the owner occupies the primary residence or a qualifying ADU during the rental. Operators must comply with advertising disclosures (permit number, occupancy, TOT rate), noise/trash rules, and maintain guest records for 3 years.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Cathedral City. 1) Complete and submit the City’s STVR permit application via the online portal, including an HOA authorization letter for RR Zone properties or proof of primary residency for Home Shares; 2) Provide required documentation (ID, responsible party info) and register all listing URLs via the City portal within 30 days of approval; 3) Complete a Health & Safety inspection prior to permit issuance or renewal and pay applicable fees.

1) Complete and submit the City’s STVR permit application via the online portal, including an HOA authorization letter for RR Zone properties or proof of primary residency for Home Shares; 2) Provide required documentation (ID, responsible party info) and register all listing URLs via the City portal within 30 days of approval; 3) Complete a Health & Safety inspection prior to permit issuance or renewal and pay applicable fees.

Vrbo is permitted in Cathedral City, 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 Cathedral City 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 Cathedral City. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.