1)
What is a Short-Term Vacation Rental
(STVR)?
An STVR is a
legally permitted dwelling rented for periods of 30 consecutive days or less,
counting portions of calendar days as full days. The dwelling can be rented
entirely or limited to one or more rooms.
2)
Is an STVR permit required?
Yes, an STVR
permit and business license, issued by the City of La Quinta, are required
prior to advertising and renting the dwelling for periods of 30 consecutive
days or less.
3)
What STVR permit types are available?
The following
STVR permit types are available:
1) Homeshare
– a dwelling rented as an STVR unit in which the owner lives on-site and in the
dwelling throughout the visitor(s) stay.
2) Primary
Residence – a dwelling rented as an STVR unit which is the owner’s primary
residence; however, the owner does not reside in the dwelling during the
visitor(s) stay.
3) General
STVR – a dwelling rented as an STVR unit which is the owner’s secondary
residence or investment property; and the owner does not reside in the dwelling
during the visitor(s) stay.
4) Estate
Home – a dwelling rented as an STVR unit which has 5 or more bedrooms*
*Estate
Home can be a subtype of any of the 3 STVR permit types listed above.
4)
Can I apply for an STVR permit now?
Effective May
20, 2021, the issuance of new STVR permits is prohibited pursuant to Section
3.25.055 of the La Quinta Municipal Code.
Specific limited exceptions to this ban
apply as follows:
1) Properties
located within the Tourist and Village Commercial
zones.
2) Properties
located within a residential project which is subject to a development
agreement or subject to a condition(s) of approval tied to any entitlement
approved by the City where STVRs are an intended use authorized under the
CC&Rs.
3) Properties
located within the SilverRock Resort Specific Plan and the Estates at Griffin
Lake Specific Plan.
4) Homeshare
STVR permits
5)
Who needs to apply for an STVR permit?
Any property
owner who wishes to rent their dwelling for a period of 30 consecutive days or
less is required to apply for an STVR permit.
6)
How much does an STVR permit cost?
a.
Homeshare
STVR Permit (less than 5 bedrooms) – $300
b.
Homeshare
STVR Permit (Estate Home – 5 bedrooms or more) – $550
c.
Primary
Residence STVR Permit (less than 5 bedrooms) – $750
d.
Primary
Residence STVR Permit (Estate Home – 5 bedrooms or more) – $1,250
e.
Primary
Residence STVR Permit – Multi-Unit Lock-Off – $750
f.
General
STVR Permit (less than 5 bedrooms) – $1,000
g.
General
STVR Permit (Estate Home – 5 bedroom or more) – $1,250
h.
General
STVR Permit – Multi-Unit Lock-Off – $1,000
i.
General
STVR Permit (subject to mitigation fee*; less than 5 bedrooms) – $300
j.
General
STVR Permit (subject to mitigation fee*; Estate Home – 5 bedrooms or more)
–$550
k.
General
STVR Permit (subject to mitigation fee*; Multi-Unit Lock-Off) – $550
l. Inspection
– if a special inspection is required, it will be billed in half-hour
increments using the billing rate of the department conducting the inspection.
(Note: inspection fees do not apply
to Estate Home STVR permits because an inspection is required and the
inspection fee is included in the STVR permit fee.)
m. Technology Enhancement Fee – 5% of STVR
permit fee (applies to all permit types)
* A residential dwelling within a
residential project subject to a mitigation fee, paid annually to the city to
offset revenue losses caused by the development of the residential project,
pursuant to a development agreement with the city, or pursuant to a condition
of approval(s) attached to any entitlement approved by the city (including but
not limited to a specific plan, subdivision map, or site development permit),
pursuant to which STVRs are a permitted use.
7)
Is a business license required to operate an STVR?
Yes, the
property owner must obtain a City of La Quinta issued business license before
an STVR permit will be issued. A business license is also required for the
local contact person, and the management company if applicable.
8)
What is the cost of a business license?
The business
license annual fee is based on the estimated yearly gross earnings for the STVR
unit.
9)
How do I begin the STVR permit application process?
1) Email
City staff at VacationLQ@LaQuintaCA.gov with the property address to confirm
that the property is eligible for an STVR permit.
2) Following
the confirmation of eligibility, staff will request a copy of the recorded
grant deed to be emailed to VacationLQ@LaQuintaCA.gov to confirm ownership and to create a
property account.
3) Once
a property account is created, instructions on how to create a sign-in and
obtain access to the property account to complete the STVR permit
and business license applications will be provided via email.
10) Is there any other
documents required to be submitted with the STVR permit application?
Yes, you will
be prompted to provide a scan of a current Driver’s License or Government
issued Identification Card to have on file as part of the application.
11) When do I need to renew my STVR permit and
business license?
An STVR permit
and business license shall be valid for one (1) year and must be renewed
annually to remain valid. Renewal applications for the STVR permit and business
license shall be submitted before their expiration date. Failure to submit a
renewal application before the expiration date may result in the STVR permit
and business license being terminated.
12) What if I do not get an STVR permit?
Operating an
STVR unit without a valid STVR permit and business license issued by the City
of La Quinta is subject to fines.
1) 1st Violation - $1,500
2) 2nd Violation - $3,000
3) 3rd Violation or more -
$5,000
In conjunction with the fine, the owner
will be prohibited all time from being eligible to be issued an STVR permit.
13) What are the STVR advertisement requirements?
Each
advertisement must list the 6-digit STVR permit number and the number of
authorized bedrooms at the top or the beginning of the ad, or within a
specifically designated field for this information on the advertisement
listing.
Only the authorized number of bedrooms
as approved by the City can be listed on the ad. The
permitted bedroom count can be found on the STVR permit downloadable and
printable from the property account online portal.
14) What is Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)?
TOT is a 10% rental tax collected on
short-term rental income. The rental income subject to TOT is inclusive of all
fees charged to guests, including but not limited to daily/nightly rental rate,
cleaning fees, pool heating fees, etc.
TOT is generally applicable to hotel and
bed and breakfast stays; and it is sometimes referred to as a bed tax, tourist
tax, hotel tax, or lodging tax. These tax rates can vary by city and state.
15) What is Tourism
Business Improvement District (TBID)?
Effective July 1, 2021, all STVR units
are subject to pay a 1% TBID assessment on all rental stays of 27 days or less.
The City collects the TBID assessment, on behalf of
the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Business Improvement District (GPSTBID), at
the same time as the 10% monthly TOT is remitted.
Visit www.visitgreaterpalmsprings.com/2020-tbid/ for more information.
Please note, for rental stays of 28 days
up to 30 days, no TBID is due and a Non-TBID TOT form
must be requested by contacting VacationLQ@LaQuintaCA.gov.
16) When is TOT & TBID due?
TOT and TBID must be reported and paid
monthly, with payments due no later than 30 days after the end of a reporting
month. A completed TOT form is required and must be submitted each month
through the property account online portal even for periods with no rental
activity for the STVR unit. All outstanding TOT and TBID must be paid prior to
an STVR permit is renewed.
17) Is there a penalty for late TOT payments?
A penalty and interest fee are charged
for delinquent remittances at a rate of 10.5% on both the TOT and TBID.
18) Does my STVR permit apply to multiple
properties?
No, STVR permits are issued and valid
for one property only.
19) Is my STVR permit transferable to another
property?
No, STVR permits cannot be transferred
to another property.
20) Is my STVR permit transferable to a new owner
if I sell my property?
No, STVR
permits are closed upon the sale of a property and cannot be transferred to a
new owner.
21) Do I have to display my permit and the good
guest brochure; and if so, when and where?
Yes, the STVR permit and the good guest
brochure must be
posted in a conspicuous place within the STVR unit at all times.
22) How do I update information on my STVR permit
and property account?
All
information on the STVR permit and property account must be up-to-date
at all times.
Upon any changes, such as change of an
owner’s authorized agent or representative, local contact, ownership, etc.,
please contact City staff at VacationLQ@LaQuintaCA.gov or (760) 777-7091 to have the
appropriate forms added to the property account so that the owner or owner’s
authorized agent can update the information through the online portal.
Failure to update this information may
result in violation of the City’s STVR program regulations, including but not
limited to, a suspension or revocation of the STVR permit, until all
information is updated.
23) What happens if I am not in compliance with
the STVR program regulations pursuant to La Quinta Municipal Code Chapter 3.25?
Violation(s) for non-compliancemay result in citation(s) and respective fines,
as well as a suspension or revocation of the STVR permit and business license.
Please reference La Quinta Municipal
Code Chapter 3.25.090 for details on violations and related fines which can be
accessed using the link provided below:
https://library.municode.com/ca/la_quinta/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT3REFI_CH3.25SHRMVARE_3.25.090VI
24) How many occupants can stay in an STVR unit?
|
Number
of Bedrooms
|
Total
of Overnight* Occupants
|
Total
Daytime** Occupants (Including Number of Overnight Occupants)
|
|
0
– Studio
|
2
|
2—8
|
|
1
|
2—4
|
2—8
|
|
2
|
4—6
|
4—8
|
|
3
|
6—8
|
6—12
|
|
4
|
8—10
|
8—16
|
|
5
|
10—12
|
10—18
|
|
6
|
12—14
|
12—20
|
|
7
|
14
|
14—20
|
|
8
|
16
|
16—22
|
|
9
|
18
|
18—24
|
*Overnight
(10:01 p.m. – 6:59 a.m.); **Daytime (7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.)
25) What payment methods are accepted?
The City
accepts payments through the property account online portal via debit or credit
cards, such as Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. Please note all debit and credit
card transactions are subject to a service processing fee of 3% on the
transaction amount with a minimum fee of $0.50 cents per transaction, which is
not greater than the City’s cost of acceptance.
eChecks are also accepted through the property
account online portal and are subject to a service processing fee of $1 dollar
per transaction, which is not greater than the City’s cost of acceptance.
26) Is my payment method saved in the system?
No, for security purposes, payment
method information is not retained in the system, and will need to be entered
each time a payment is made through the property account online portal.
27) How do I amend a TOT
payment?
Please submit
a written request by emailing VacationLQ@LaQuintaCA.gov notifying the City
you need to file an amended TOT reporting. In the email please include:
1)
The
6-digit STVR permit number and owner(s) name
2)
Time
period (month and year) that needs to be amend (i.e. Jan. 2025 form due
Feb. 28, 2025)
3)
If
the original TOT reporting resulted in overpayment or underpayment.
Once the City receives the written
request, the account will be reviewed and further
instructions will be provided.
28) I need to close my account. What do I do?
1) Log
into the STVR unit property account via the online portal and verify that all
TOT tasks are completed.
2) Email
the City at VacationLQ@LaQuintaCA.gov and include the following information:
a.
Closure
date (i.e. date of sale)
b.
Reason
you are closing the account (i.e. no longer short-term renting,
property sold, etc.).
3) City
staff will confirm the closure of the account following the verification that
all necessary TOT tasks have been completed.
29) Can I manage multiple properties with one
login?
Yes, to do so log into the property
account, click on “Add Accounts” under “Manage Your
Account(s).”
The 6-digit STVR permit number and an activation code are required to connect to an
existing STVR unit property account.
30) Can an STVR unit property account have more
than one user?
Yes, each STVR unit property account can
have an unlimited number of users. Each user is required to provide the 6-digit
STVR permit number and the activation code to gain access to an existing STVR
unit property account.
31) How do I add a new user(s) to an STVR unit
property account?
New users must create an account through
the online permitting system using the following link and the steps below:
https://laquinta.munirevs.com.
1) Click
the "Register here!" link under "New Users," and follow the
instructions as prompted by the system.
2) To
connect to an existing STVR unit property account, each user must have the
6-digit STVR permit number and activation code. Please contact the City at VacationLQ@LaQuintaCA.gov for this information and
authorization to be added to an existing STVR permit.
32) Where are my tax forms? My Business Center is
empty.
Tax forms are made available on the 1st
day of the month following the last day of the tax period. For example, the
January 2025 tax forms will be available in the Business Center on February 1,
2025. If there are no tax forms as expected, please email staff for assistance
at VacationLQ@LaQuintaCA.gov.
33) How do I submit a zero-tax return through STVR
unit property account?
1) Click
on the TOT task listed in the Business Center.
2) Download
and fill out the "No Rental Activity Certification" form that is
linked within the "Document Uploader" screen.
3) Once
the completed “No Rental Activity Certification” form is uploaded as the
monthly upload, enter "0" on lines 1-3 on the TOT form, along with
the applicable name, title, and date at the bottom of the form.
4) To
complete the zero balance, check out, click "Submit,” "Payment
Method,” and "Complete Transaction" to complete the task.
34) I forgot my password. What do I do?
From the log-in page, click the “Forgot
your password?” link and follow the instructions that will be emailed to the
user’s registered email address.
35) How will I receive alerts and reminders when
TOT and renewal tasks need to be completed?
All alerts are emailed to the email
address(es) associated with the STVR unit property account used to submit
applications and to complete the monthly TOT tasks.
Once an user is logged in the system, all open tasks
that need to be completed will be listed in the Business Center.
GovOS Technical
Assistance:
blt.str.support@govos.com; (888) 751-1911
When
contacting support, be sure to include the jurisdiction (La Quinta) and the
STVR unit property account number in all emails or voicemails. This will help
us assist you as promptly as possible.
Thank you!
