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Owner Resources
Idyllwild is an unincorporated community in Riverside County. Short-term rental permits are issued under Riverside County Ordinance 927.2 — not by a city government. The county enforces a hard cap of 500 total permits in the Idyllwild area, a mandatory 150-foot separation between STR properties, and a lottery system for new permits when the cap has not been reached.
If you own property in Idyllwild and are considering operating a short-term rental, the requirements below reflect the current Riverside County program. Confirm current application windows, cap status, and fees with Riverside County before applying — the cap may already be at or near 500.
Permit type: A Short-Term Rental Certificate issued by Riverside County under Ordinance 927.2. Required before your first guest arrives.
Total permit cap: 500 certificates are allowed in the Idyllwild area. When the cap is reached, no new permits are issued until an existing certificate lapses or is revoked.
Lottery system: When below the cap, new permits are issued through a Tier 1 or Tier 2 lottery process during designated application windows. Applications outside these windows are not accepted.
Per-owner limit: Individual owners may hold a maximum of two Short-Term Rental Certificates total across all properties.
Separation requirement: A minimum 150-foot distance between STR properties is required. Properties within 150 feet of an existing permitted STR may not be eligible for a new certificate even if the overall cap has not been reached.
24/7 local contact: You must designate a local contact who is available around the clock and can respond to complaints or emergencies at the property.
Quiet hours: 10 PM to 7 AM. Noise violations are enforced by the county.
On-site parking: All guest vehicles must park in designated on-site spaces. Street parking for rental guests is not permitted.
Annual renewal: Certificates must be renewed annually from the issuance date. Renewal requires payment of applicable fees.
Fees: Specific fee amounts are not listed in current public documentation. Contact Riverside County's planning department for the current new application and renewal fee schedule.
Application windows: The lottery process uses designated intake windows. Contact Riverside County to confirm when the next window opens and whether the cap has been reached.
Idyllwild's STR program is managed by Riverside County and is subject to ordinance changes with little local notice. This page is reviewed regularly against verified government sources, but it is not a substitute for checking directly with Riverside County Planning or your local manager before applying.
Last verified: August 2026.