Riverside Short Term Rental Regulation: A Guide For Airbnb Hosts

What are short term rental (Airbnb, VRBO) regulations in Riverside, California?

Short term rental regulations in Riverside, California, are subject to a 10% transient occupancy tax, similar to hotels and motels. Hosts are required to fulfill their Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) obligations1. The regulations apply to all units, whether a whole home or just a room, listed on platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO2.

In Riverside County, the short-term rental ordinance went into effect in March 2016, with the purpose of establishing regulations for the use of privately-owned residential dwellings as short-term rentals. All residential dwellings utilized as short-term rentals must register with the County Transportation and Land Management Agency and pay associated registration fees. The ordinance underscores the requirement of timely payment of Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) for all short-term rentals4.

Riverside County has updated its short-term rental ordinance with several new provisions, including rules on occupancy and permit requirements. Under the revised law, occupancy limits depend on the size of the rental property. For properties of a half-acre or less, occupancy is capped at 10 people, while properties between a half-acre and two acres are allowed to host up to 16 guests. Up to 20 people would be able to stay in a short-term rental on more than two acres3.

Several incorporated cities within Riverside County took action on vacation rentals in 2021. Rancho Mirage banned all short-term rentals, effective July 1 of that year. San Bernardino County passed a measure that makes violations of the county’s short-term rental law criminal misdemeanors, with fines ranging from $100 to $5,000 for repeat offenses. La Quinta passed an indefinite stay on new short-term rental permits in residential neighborhoods, while Cathedral City voters approved a referendum upholding a law that phased out many short-term rentals3.

Vacation rental hosts in unincorporated Riverside County, San Bernardino County, La Quinta, and Cathedral City are responsible for collecting transient occupancy taxes from guests and remitting them to county tax authorities. Airbnb and Vrbo both collect these taxes for listings in San Bernardino County, but only Airbnb collects transient taxes in Riverside County. Hosts are responsible for any taxes that aren’t collected on their behalf.

Starting a Short Term Rental Business in Riverside

Starting a short term rental business in Riverside requires a significant investment of time and resources. Hosts must first research local regulations and requirements to ensure that they are operating within the law. This includes registering their business and property with the Riverside County Planning Department, adhering to occupancy limits, installing noise monitors, and complying with safety regulations.

Once hosts have registered their business and property, they must adhere to occupancy limits based on the size of their rental property. This ensures that the number of guests does not exceed the capacity of the property, thereby maintaining the quality of life for the community. Hosts must also install outdoor noise monitors and observe quiet hours between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. This regulation ensures that short term rentals do not disturb the peace and tranquility of the community.

Notification of neighbors within 300 feet and posting an outside sign with contact information is also mandatory for properties under five acres in size. This regulation ensures that neighbors are aware of the short term rental and can contact the host if they have any concerns. Furthermore, hosts must comply with safety regulations, such as providing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and emergency exits.

Short Term Rental Licensing Requirement in Riverside

Riverside County requires short-term rental businesses to register with the county. The registration process includes providing contact information, adhering to occupancy limits, and installing noise monitors. Violations of the law can result in fines up to $5,000. This regulation ensures that the county can keep track of short term rentals and enforce regulations. It also helps to ensure that hosts are responsible and accountable for their properties.

Required Documents for Riverside Short Term Rentals

To operate a short term rental in Riverside, hosts must provide proof of registration, occupancy limits, and emergency contact information. Hosts must also comply with noise regulations and neighbor notification requirements. These regulations ensure that hosts are responsible and accountable for their properties. They also help to ensure that short term rentals do not disturb the peace and tranquility of the community.

Riverside Short Term Rental Taxes

Short-term rental businesses in Riverside are subject to a 10% transient occupancy tax, similar to hotels and motels. Hosts are required to fulfill their Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) obligations. This regulation ensures that short term rentals contribute to the local economy and help to fund public services.

Riverside Wide Short Term Rental Rules

Riverside County has updated its short-term rental ordinance with several new provisions, including rules on occupancy and permit requirements. The revised law also requires vacation rental operators to observe quiet hours and notify neighbors within 300 feet that they will be operating a short-term rental. These regulations ensure that short term rentals do not disturb the peace and tranquility of the community. They also help to ensure that hosts are responsible and accountable for their properties.

Does Riverside Strictly Enforce STR Rules?

Riverside County strictly enforces short-term rental rules, with fines up to $5,000 for violations. The county estimates that there may be thousands of unregistered vacation rental properties, indicating a need for stricter enforcement. This regulation ensures that hosts are responsible and accountable for their properties. It also helps to maintain the quality of life for the community and ensure that short term rentals do not disturb the peace and tranquility of the community.

How to Start a Short Term Rental Business in Riverside

• Research local regulations and requirements. Before starting a short term rental business in Riverside, it is important to research local regulations and requirements. This includes registering your business and property with the Riverside County Planning Department, adhering to occupancy limits, installing noise monitors, and complying with safety regulations.
• Register your business and property with the Riverside County Planning Department. To operate a short term rental in Riverside, you must register your business and property with the Riverside County Planning Department. This includes providing contact information, adhering to occupancy limits, and installing noise monitors.
• Adhere to occupancy limits based on the size of your rental property. Riverside County has capped occupancy based on the size of the rental property. It is important to adhere to these limits to maintain the quality of life for the community and ensure that short term rentals do not disturb the peace and tranquility of the community.
• Install outdoor noise monitors and observe quiet hours. To ensure that short term rentals do not disturb the peace and tranquility of the community, hosts must install outdoor noise monitors and observe quiet hours between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
• Notify neighbors within 300 feet of your rental property. To ensure that neighbors are aware of the short term rental, hosts must notify neighbors within 300 feet of their rental property.
• Provide emergency contact information and comply with noise regulations. To ensure that short term rentals are safe and do not disturb the peace and tranquility of the community, hosts must provide emergency contact information and comply with noise regulations.
• Fulfill your Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) obligations. Short-term rental businesses in Riverside are subject to a 10% transient occupancy tax, similar to hotels and motels. Hosts are required to fulfill their Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) obligations.

Who to Contact in Riverside about Short Term Rental Regulations and Zoning

For inquiries regarding Short-Term Rentals, please email RiversideCountyPlanning@rivco.org. For inquiries regarding Short-Term Rental inspections, email STRInspections@rivco.org. These contacts can provide information on local regulations and requirements, as well as help with the registration process.

What do Airbnb Hosts in Riverside on Reddit and Bigger Pockets Think about Local Regulations?

Airbnb hosts in Riverside have expressed mixed opinions about local regulations. Some hosts appreciate the regulations for ensuring safety and maintaining the community's quality of life. They believe that the regulations help to ensure that short term rentals do not disturb the peace and tranquility of the community, and that hosts are responsible and accountable for their properties.

Others feel that the regulations are too restrictive, making it difficult to operate a short-term rental business. They believe that the regulations are overly burdensome and that the fines for violations are too high. Some hosts have expressed frustration with the registration process and the requirement to install noise monitors.

Despite these concerns, many hosts continue to operate short term rentals in Riverside. They believe that the benefits of operating a short term rental, such as the ability to generate income and meet new people, outweigh the challenges of complying with local regulations.

Some hosts have also expressed concerns about the impact of short term rentals on the housing market. They believe that short term rentals are contributing to the housing crisis in Riverside by reducing the availability of long-term rental properties. However, others argue that short term rentals are providing much-needed housing options for travelers and tourists.

Overall, the opinions of Airbnb hosts in Riverside on Reddit and Bigger Pockets are varied. While some appreciate the regulations and the benefits of operating a short term rental, others feel that the regulations are too restrictive and burdensome. Despite these concerns, many hosts continue to operate short term rentals in Riverside, and the county continues to enforce regulations to ensure that short term rentals do not disturb the peace and tranquility of the community.