Lake Arrowhead Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Permit & Licensing

STR permit

Zoning restriction: The standards and permit procedures of this Chapter apply to all persons involved in the short-term rental of residential dwelling units as a single housekeeping unit where allowed in the Mountain and Desert Regions in compliance with Division 2 (Land Use Zoning Districts and Allowed Land Uses) of this Title. An individual apartment located within a multi-family residential project is not eligible for a STR permit.

Application Process

Apply for your STR permit via the EZ Online Permitting (EZOP) website. Staff reviews application for applicability and completeness (Average Time: 1 week). Exterior inspection completed. Surrounding property owners shall be given 20 calendar days to submit comments after the date of said notice. STR permit will be issued the first business day following a 30-day appeal period identified.

Tax Obligations

Collection: For purposes of this Chapter a hosting platform shall be responsible for collecting all applicable uniform transient occupancy tax required by § 14.0203 and remitting the same to the County. The hosting platform shall be considered an agent of the STR owner if the hosting platform collects payment for the rental. If a hosting platform does not collect payment for rentals, the STR owner is solely responsible for the collection of all applicable transient occupancy taxes.

Filing: Each operator, on or before the last day of the month following the close of the calendar quarter, or at the close of any other reporting period which may be established by the Tax Collector, shall make a return to the Tax Collector. The Tax Collector may establish shorter, longer, or other reporting periods for any certificate holder.

Occupancy & Density Limits

Occupancy limits shall be determined based on the number of bedrooms in the STR: Studio/Single-bedroom STR: four occupants; Two-bedroom STR: six occupants; Three-bedroom STR: eight occupants; Four-bedroom STR: ten occupants; Five-bedroom STR: twelve occupants. Notwithstanding the allowances based on the number of bedrooms, the maximum occupancy of any STR shall not exceed 12 occupants. Notwithstanding the allowances for maximum occupancy, the use of a STR shall be limited by the capacity of on-site parking spaces.

Safety

• At the time of issuance of a STR permit and thereafter, the STR owner shall be responsible for compliance with the California Fire Code, California Building Code, the National Fire Protection Association Standards or regulations
• Solid fuel burning outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, barbeques, and fire pits are prohibited in the Mountain Region
• The interior and exterior of the STR shall be kept free of hazardous conditions at all times
• Spas/hot tubs shall be covered and locked when not in use
• An exit/emergency evacuation map shall be posted inside the unit on or adjacent to the front door
• Location of utility service connections, including how to access service connections and instructions and any tools necessary to disconnect the STR from utility services in the event of an emergency

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Remedial action by appropriate members of County staff or any enforcement officer, without notice if providing notice is not reasonable considering the need for immediate remedial action
• Towing of the vehicle or vehicles causing the violation of the parking requirement
• Any violation of the requirements of Title 6 of the County Code may result in suspension of the STR permit and issuance of a notice of defect or notice and order to repair; Any failure to comply with or respond to any notice of violation or other notice from the County requiring compliance with one or more requirements of this Chapter or other applicable provision of the County Code or other law may result in suspension of the STR permit
• A STR permit may be revoked for the following reasons: The severity of a violation of a requirement of Title 6 of the County Code necessitated the immediate vacation of the property; The conditions or actions that resulted in the suspension of the permit have not been abated or addressed by a demonstrable change in the business practices associated with the STR within 60 calendar days of the suspension being upheld on appeal or otherwise deemed final; The condition or the business practice that resulted in the suspension of the permit reoccurs within 12 months following the date the suspension was upheld on appeal or otherwise deemed final; A permit is suspended two times in a consecutive 24-month period, where said suspensions are either upheld on appeal or otherwise deemed final

Platform Requirements

• For purposes of this Chapter a hosting platform shall be responsible for collecting all applicable uniform transient occupancy tax required by § 14.0203 and remitting the same to the County; the hosting platform shall be considered an agent of the STR owner if the hosting platform collects payment for the rental
• If a hosting platform does not collect payment for rentals, the STR owner is solely responsible for the collection of all applicable transient occupancy taxes
• when requested by the County, a hosting platform shall disclose, in a commonly used electronic format, the address of each STR, the names of the persons responsible for each such listing, the length of stay for each such listing and the price paid for each stay
• A hosting platform shall display the County STR permit number for any STR listing
• The County may issue and serve an administrative subpoena as necessary to obtain specific information regarding STR listings

Compliance Checklist

1. Meet the safety requirements
   • At the time of issuance of a STR permit and thereafter, the STR owner shall be responsible for compliance with the California Fire Code, California Building Code, the National Fire Protection Association Standards or regulations
   • Solid fuel burning outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, barbeques, and fire pits are prohibited in the Mountain Region
   • The interior and exterior of the STR shall be kept free of hazardous conditions at all times
   • Spas/hot tubs shall be covered and locked when not in use
   • An exit/emergency evacuation map shall be posted inside the unit on or adjacent to the front door
   • Location of utility service connections, including how to access service connections and instructions and any tools necessary to disconnect the STR from utility services in the event of an emergency
2. Apply for the permit
   • $1,135
   • How to apply: Apply for your STR permit via the EZ Online Permitting (EZOP) website. Staff reviews application for applicability and completeness (Average Time: 1 week). Exterior inspection completed. Surrounding property owners shall be given 20 calendar days to submit comments after the date of said notice. STR permit will be issued the first business day following a 30-day appeal period identified.
3. Register for tax
   • Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax: register with San Bernardino County Tax Collector
4. Collect and remit tax
   • Filing schedule: Each operator, on or before the last day of the month following the close of the calendar quarter, or at the close of any other reporting period which may be established by the Tax Collector, shall make a return to the Tax Collector. The Tax Collector may establish shorter, longer, or other reporting periods for any certificate holder.
   • How the tax is collected: For purposes of this Chapter a hosting platform shall be responsible for collecting all applicable uniform transient occupancy tax required by § 14.0203 and remitting the same to the County. The hosting platform shall be considered an agent of the STR owner if the hosting platform collects payment for the rental. If a hosting platform does not collect payment for rentals, the STR owner is solely responsible for the collection of all applicable transient occupancy taxes.
5. Renew your permit
   • RENEWAL application with no changes – $550; RENEWAL Application with changes – $1,135
   • Renewal period: annually

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run a short-term rental in Lake Arrowhead?

Yes.

Permit: STR permit

How to apply: Apply for your STR permit via the EZ Online Permitting (EZOP) website. Staff reviews application for applicability and completeness (Average Time: 1 week). Exterior inspection completed. Surrounding property owners shall be given 20 calendar days to submit comments after the date of said notice. STR permit will be issued the first business day following a 30-day appeal period identified.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Lake Arrowhead?

Initial fee (STR permit): $1,135

Renewal fee (STR permit): RENEWAL application with no changes – $550; RENEWAL Application with changes – $1,135

Renewal period (STR permit): annually

What taxes do you pay on a short-term rental in Lake Arrowhead?

Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax: 7%

Filing schedule: Each operator, on or before the last day of the month following the close of the calendar quarter, or at the close of any other reporting period which may be established by the Tax Collector, shall make a return to the Tax Collector. The Tax Collector may establish shorter, longer, or other reporting periods for any certificate holder.

How the tax is collected: For purposes of this Chapter a hosting platform shall be responsible for collecting all applicable uniform transient occupancy tax required by § 14.0203 and remitting the same to the County. The hosting platform shall be considered an agent of the STR owner if the hosting platform collects payment for the rental. If a hosting platform does not collect payment for rentals, the STR owner is solely responsible for the collection of all applicable transient occupancy taxes.

What are the penalties for short-term rental violations in Lake Arrowhead?

Penalty: Remedial action by appropriate members of County staff or any enforcement officer, without notice if providing notice is not reasonable considering the need for immediate remedial action

Penalty: Towing of the vehicle or vehicles causing the violation of the parking requirement

Penalty: Any violation of the requirements of Title 6 of the County Code may result in suspension of the STR permit and issuance of a notice of defect or notice and order to repair; Any failure to comply with or respond to any notice of violation or other notice from the County requiring compliance with one or more requirements of this Chapter or other applicable provision of the County Code or other law may result in suspension of the STR permit

Penalty: A STR permit may be revoked for the following reasons: The severity of a violation of a requirement of Title 6 of the County Code necessitated the immediate vacation of the property; The conditions or actions that resulted in the suspension of the permit have not been abated or addressed by a demonstrable change in the business practices associated with the STR within 60 calendar days of the suspension being upheld on appeal or otherwise deemed final; The condition or the business practice that resulted in the suspension of the permit reoccurs within 12 months following the date the suspension was upheld on appeal or otherwise deemed final; A permit is suspended two times in a consecutive 24-month period, where said suspensions are either upheld on appeal or otherwise deemed final