Joshua Tree Short-Term Rental Laws (2026)

Can you operate a short-term rental in Joshua Tree?

Joshua Tree is unincorporated, so San Bernardino County rules govern (nearby Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms are separate towns with their own rules). The county requires an STR permit for private homes in its mountain and desert regions rented for thirty days or less, with compliance across fire, building, zoning, and health/safety codes. There are no zoning bans on STRs in the Joshua Tree area, making this one of the more permissive California markets — but the permit process is real and enforcement is aggressive.

Permits & licenses in Joshua Tree

Applications go through the county's EZ Online Permitting (EZOP) portal — the official and only method — with the registered owner confirming from the email on file. Permits are valid one year and must be renewed annually.

1. 1

   Apply via EZOP

   Submit the Special Use Permit — Short-Term Rental application online through the county's EZ Online Permitting portal; the registered owner must email shorttermrental@lus.sbcounty.gov from the same email on file.

2. 2

   Pay application fees

   New applications total $1,144: $600 application fee + $285 permit fee + $259 surrounding-property-owner notification fee (effective July 1, 2025).

3. 3

   Neighbor notification and inspection

   The county notifies surrounding property owners as part of processing, and the home must meet fire, building, zoning, and health/safety standards.

4. 4

   Register for TOT

   Register with the San Bernardino County Tax Collector to collect and remit transient occupancy tax on stays under 30 days ((909) 387-8308).

5. 5

   Renew annually

   The STR permit is valid one year and must be renewed annually — $550 if nothing changed, $859-$1,144 with modifications. Delinquent fees apply after expiration, and failure to renew within 45 days closes the permit.

Fees: New permit $1,144 total ($600 application + $285 permit + $259 neighbor notification); renewals $550 unchanged, $859-$1,144 with modifications (county fee schedule effective July 1, 2025).

Short-term rental taxes in Joshua Tree

California has no state lodging tax, so the county transient occupancy tax is the main layer: it applies to stays under 30 days in unincorporated areas and is registered and remitted through the County Tax Collector. Confirm the current rate and filing cadence with the Tax Collector before listing.

Operating rules

Penalties for illegal short-term rentals in Joshua Tree

San Bernardino County backs its permit requirement with some of the stiffest STR penalties in the state, including daily fines and potential jail time for unpermitted operation. Enforcement is complaint-driven through a dedicated 24/7 hotline.

• ⚠Operating an STR without a valid permit: administrative fine of $1,000 per violation per day, or imprisonment in County jail up to six months, or both (county STR FAQs)
• ⚠Ordinance violations escalate: $1,000 first, $2,000 second, $5,000 third
• ⚠Failure to renew within 45 days of expiration closes the permit — a new full-fee application ($1,144) is required to resume
• ⚠County operates a dedicated 24/7 STR complaint line: 1-833-SBC-STR1 (1-833-722-7871)

Official sources

1. [1]Short-Term Rentals — San Bernardino County Code Enforcement
2. [2]Short-Term Rentals FAQs — San Bernardino County
3. [3]Special Use Permit — Short-Term Rental Application (EZ Online Permitting)
4. [4]San Bernardino County Short-Term Residential Rental Permit Application (PDF)
5. [5]San Bernardino County Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector

Summarized from the official sources above as of 2026-07-03. Informational, not legal advice — always confirm requirements with the jurisdiction before acting.