Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Thermal, CA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Thermal, CA, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals in Thermal (unincorporated Riverside County) are allowed for private residential dwellings and ADUs for stays between 2 and 30 consecutive days. Separate Short-Term Rental Certificates are required per property and must be renewed annually; operators must also register for Transient Occupancy Tax and adhere to occupancy, noise, and parking rules. 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 in Thermal (unincorporated Riverside County) are allowed for private residential dwellings and ADUs for stays between 2 and 30 consecutive days. Separate Short-Term Rental Certificates are required per property and must be renewed annually; operators must also register for Transient Occupancy Tax and adhere to occupancy, noise, and parking rules.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Thermal. 1) Submit an online application via the County portal (str.deckard.com/ca-riverside/) with required documents (Grant Deed, TOT registration, owner authorization, and self-certification) and pay the $740 fee. 2) Upon Planning Department approval, schedule and pass an exterior inspection by Code Enforcement to verify required signage. 3) Receive the STR Certificate, which must be renewed annually for a $540 fee.

1) Submit an online application via the County portal (str.deckard.com/ca-riverside/) with required documents (Grant Deed, TOT registration, owner authorization, and self-certification) and pay the $740 fee. 2) Upon Planning Department approval, schedule and pass an exterior inspection by Code Enforcement to verify required signage. 3) Receive the STR Certificate, which must be renewed annually for a $540 fee.

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