Morongo Valley, California

Short-term rentals are permitted in Morongo Valley, but the regulatory regime here is among the strictest and most expensive in the StaySTRA dataset. Because the area is unincorporated, San Bernardino County governs STRs under County Code Chapter 84.28 rather than a city ordinance. Operators need a county Short-Term Rental Permit through the EZ Online Permitting portal plus a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate. As of July 1, 2025, a new application totals about $1,144 (a $600 application fee, $285 permit fee, and $259 surrounding-property-owner notification fee); standard annual renewal, which includes a re-inspection, runs $550.

Permits are only issued for dwellings in the county’s unincorporated Mountain and Desert regions, and individual units within multi-family residential projects, such as apartments, are not eligible at all. Permit density is capped per parcel: a maximum of two permits on parcels of 2 acres or larger, and just one permit on parcels under 2 acres, with permits also limited to two per person, and the county has been phasing in additional community-level caps across Morongo Basin planning areas. A 7.0% Transient Occupancy Tax applies to stays under 30 days, including cleaning fees. Operational rules are strict: occupancy limits, a 24/7 local contact phone number, a posted permit and Good Neighbor brochure, quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and a ban on commercial uses such as weddings, filming, or corporate retreats. Enforcement runs through a dedicated 24/7 complaint line and is rated strict, the highest enforcement rating in this batch. Investors should budget for the roughly $1,144 upfront permit cost and confirm parcel size and eligibility before purchase, since permit availability is genuinely capped rather than automatic.