Short-Term Rental Permit Rules in Lake Arrowhead, Crestline & Twin Peaks

Owner Resources

Short-Term Rental Rules in the San Bernardino Mountains

Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, and Twin Peaks are unincorporated communities in San Bernardino County — there is no city government. Short-term rental permits in these areas are issued by San Bernardino County, not by a municipality. The county runs a Special Use Permit program with mandatory exterior inspections, annual renewals, and per-owner permit limits.

If you own property in any of these communities and are considering operating a short-term rental, the requirements below reflect the county program. Confirm current fees, availability, and any local fire district requirements before you apply.

San Bernardino County STR Permit Requirements

Permit type: A Special Use Permit for Short-Term Rentals is required. Applications are submitted through the county's EZ Online Permitting (EZOP) portal.

New application fee: $1,144 as of July 2025. This fee increased in July 2025 — confirm the current amount with the county before applying, as fees are updated periodically.

Exterior inspection: All new permits require an exterior inspection by Code Enforcement. The inspection verifies parking capacity and compliance with county standards. Properties that do not pass inspection cannot receive a permit.

Per-parcel limits: Parcels under 2 acres may hold one permit. Parcels of 2 acres or more may hold up to two permits.

Per-owner limit: Individual property owners are generally limited to two permits total across all properties they own in the county program.

Annual renewal: Permits must be renewed annually. Renewal requires payment of applicable fees and may include re-inspection.

24-hour local contact: You must provide a 24-hour local contact for complaint response. This person must be available at all times during guest stays and able to respond to the property promptly.

Transient Occupancy Tax (UTOT): All operators must pay the Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax. Platforms collect and remit most taxes automatically, but you remain liable for any uncollected amounts. Confirm the current UTOT rate with the county.

Operational standards: Permits require compliance with occupancy limits, noise standards, and parking requirements as set by the county ordinance. All guest vehicles must park in designated off-street spaces.

All major platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com) operate under the same local rules — there is no platform-specific exemption.

Rules change — here's how we keep this current

The San Bernardino County STR program updated its fee schedule in July 2025. This page is reviewed regularly against verified government sources, but it is not a substitute for checking directly with the San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department or your local manager before applying.

Last verified: August 2026.