A Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) is a privately owned residential dwelling that is rented for occupancy for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes for a period of thirty consecutive calendar days or less, counting portions of calendar days as full days.

It is a requirement of the City of Cathedral City Municipal Code (CCMC) 5.96.040 that the owner, or the owner's authorized agent or representative, obtain a vacation rental unit permit from the City before renting or advertising the rental of any vacation rental unit to any person(s) for a period of thirty consecutive calendar days or less. Such vacation rental permit must be renewed annually to remain valid. A vacation rental unit permit will not be renewed if there are unresolved City liens, code compliance cases, fines, or fees.

Currently, under CCMC 5.96, STVR Permit Applications that are not located within a common interest development (homeowners associations, condominium owner associations, and similar associations formed pursuant to the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act) located in a Resort Residential (RR) Zone will not be processed. The only applications that will be accepted and processed are as follows:

• STVR Permit Application for a property in a common interest development within an RR Zone. This application must be accompanied by a common interest development letter authorizing the operation of the STVR.
• STVR Home Share Permit Application. The residence must be the primary residence of the owner(s) and at least one of the owners must occupy the residential dwelling, or an accessory dwelling unit (only if the accessory dwelling unit was built or permitted before January 1, 2020) located on the same property, for the duration of the rental contract.

If you have any further questions or need clarification regarding the Short-Term Vacation Rental Program, please call (760) 202-2490.