Joshua Tree, California

Joshua Tree is an unincorporated community in San Bernardino County, so short-term rentals are regulated by county ordinance. STRs are legal, but a county Short-Term Rental Permit (Special Use Permit) is required before advertising or operating, and enforcement is rated strict.

As of July 1, 2025 the application cost is $1,144, made up of a $600 application fee, a $285 permit fee and a $259 neighbor notification fee. Annual renewal without changes is $550. Processing typically takes 6 to 12 weeks and includes a physical inspection. Permits last one year, are renewed annually with re-inspection, and are non-transferable when a property sells.

Zoning allows STRs in the county’s Mountain and Desert regions, and Joshua Tree is in the Desert region. Allowed structures include standalone houses, duplexes, individual rooms, guest houses, condominiums and some ADUs. Apartment buildings, yurts, travel trailers and RVs are prohibited. Parcels under 2 acres can hold 1 STR permit, and parcels of 2 acres or more can hold 2. Each owner, corporation, trust, LLC or LLP is limited to 2 permits, with existing holders of more grandfathered. There is no owner-occupancy or primary residence requirement, and no annual night cap is published.

Guests pay a combined 9% in local taxes, 7% Transient Occupancy Tax plus a 2% TBID assessment. Occupancy is 4 guests for a studio or one bedroom plus 2 per additional bedroom, capped at 12. On-street parking is prohibited, quiet hours run 10 PM to 7 AM, and operators must post the permit and a Good Neighbor brochure and show the permit number on listings. Liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence is required. Fines are $1,000, $2,000 and $5,000 for first, second and third convictions, with possible revocation. In July 2022 the county added the permit caps and density limits, and in November 2024 voters defeated Measure K (56.8% no), which would have raised the TOT from 7% to 11%.