City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Riverside, CA
How Riverside regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here operate under a registration or permit system with ongoing operating rules.
- whole-home non-owner-occupied STR permitted citywide with a business tax certificate
- no primary-residence or owner-occupancy requirement
- no residential-zone exclusion (only deed-restricted affordable units excluded)
- city levies a transient occupancy tax on STR stays
Based on: Riverside Municipal Code Ch. 5.55 (Short-Term Residential Rentals), added by Ord. No. 7678 (2024), amended by Ord. No.
Summary of the rule
Riverside Municipal Code Ch. 5.55 (Short-Term Residential Rentals, Ord. No. 7678 (2024) / 7757 (2026)). § 5.55.040 (Business Tax Certificate required): the owner or owner's authorized agent must obtain a business tax certificate before operating. The chapter contains NO primary-residence or owner-occupancy requirement (the phrase does not appear), and no residential-zone exclusion; the only STR prohibition is that 'Short-term residential rentals are not permitted in dwelling units that have deed restrictions for affordable housing purposes or have other city, housing authority or other government-imposed conditions of approval or restrictions.' Whole-home non-owner-occupied STR is thus permitted citywide with a permit.
Last reviewed Sep 22, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Riverside · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.