Rental Rules by City / California / Indio
Indio short-term rental rules & tax calculator
📋 The Basics
- Can I rent my place short-term here?
- Yes, with a license or tax registration
- Do I need a permit?
- Yes, but the permit costs about $1,633 a year plus fees.
- What taxes do I pay?
- Total about 14%. Check your Airbnb payout report to see which ones Airbnb collects; you pay the rest yourself.
Your 3 steps to be legal
- Apply for the combined business license + STR permit.
- Register for TOT.
- Report and pay TOT/TBID monthly.
⚠️ Biggest risk: Advertising before your permit is active.
Words confusing? See the glossary. Details and official sources are below.
Tax calculator
Rates used: Indio transient occupancy tax (STRs) 13% + Greater Palm Springs TBID assessment 1% = 14%. Mandatory cleaning fees are included in the taxable total. 14% (13% city TOT + 1% GPS TBID). City business tax on gross receipts also applies.
What Airbnb collects: Airbnb and Vrbo remit Indio TOT, but you still report all gross rents and pay the 1% TBID.
Advanced details (laws, fees, sources)
Rules
| Permit | Combined business license + STR permit required; permit fee $1,633 per year plus business license and code compliance fees (about $1,944 new, $1,679 renewal). |
|---|---|
| Advertising | No renting or advertising without an active permit; applying alone does not allow renting. |
| Filing | Report gross rents and remit TOT/TBID monthly, even with no bookings (Deckard portal). |
| Expired permit | Miss the renewal and you must apply again as new. |
Items marked "Verify with the city" could not be confirmed from an official source; call the office listed before relying on them.
Sources
Free tools
Free "Is my rental legal?" checklist · Free tourist tax calculator
Rules can change
Indio's rules, its tax rates and platform policies can change through a council vote, a new state law or a court ruling, often with little notice to hosts. We re-check this page monthly; subscribers get notified. Stay Compliant for $4.99/mo.
Want it done for you?
Get a personalized STR Compliance Check ($49) for your exact address in any US city: the permits, registrations and tax accounts you need, with official sources, delivered by email in 48 business hours. Not legal advice.
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Stay Compliant: $4.99/month
Rules, tax rates and Airbnb/Vrbo policies can change without warning, and hosts who miss a change can be fined. Get alerts when your city, county or state changes, deadline reminders, a pending-bill watch list and a monthly host brief (even in quiet months: "we checked on [date]; no changes"). Compare plans.
By paying, you agree to our Terms and Refund Policy.
Not legal or tax advice. Last verified Oct 24, 2026. Rules and rates change: confirm with the official sources linked before you rent or file.