Ridgecrest Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Permit & Licensing

Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) / RTID Registration Certificate

This permit type does not require primary residence.

Application Process

Register the rental with the City Finance Department using the online TOT/RTID Registration Form before beginning operation. Upon registration the city mails a TOT/RTID certificate to the operator, which must be posted in an inconspicuous place on the premises; the code makes clear this certificate is a tax-registration document, not a use permit. Operators who hold out 4 or more residential units for rent must additionally obtain a City Business License (Classification "H" — Residential Rentals) from the Building Department: submit the Business License Application with business/owner information and NAICS code, and pay the applicable classification base fee plus a $25 processing fee and $4 state-mandated SB1186 fee; the license is issued the next business day and expires annually on December 31. A Zoning Clearance (RMC 106-39) is required before applying for a business license operated from a physical/commercial location, and a Home Occupation Permit (RMC 106-31, $83 fee) applies if the rental business is run out of the operator's home.

Tax Obligations

Combined rate: 15.75% of gross rental income.

Collection: The operator collects TOT/RTID from the guest at the same time and to the same extent as rent is collected, and remits the full amount to the city when filing the monthly return; taxes collected are held in trust for the city until remitted. If an operator fails to collect the tax, the tax administrator may require the transient to pay it directly to the city.

Filing: Monthly — return and full remittance due on or before the last day of the month following the close of each reporting month

Rental Limits

Ridgecrest does not impose an annual cap on the number of nights you can rent.

Zoning & Restrictions

• No STR-specific use category or zoning restriction exists in the Zoning Code (Ch. 106). "Hotel" and "Motel" are defined only for larger multi-room lodging structures with a common entrance (six or more guest rooms); renting a single-family dwelling or room to transients is not a separately defined or regulated zoning use.
• The only lodging-adjacent conditional use is a "Bed and Breakfast Inn" (Sec. 106-36), which requires a conditional use permit in the R-2/R-3/R-4/PO zones, owner-or-manager residency on site, and a cap of 8 guest rooms — a hosted-innkeeper model distinct from whole-unit short-term vacation rentals, which fall under ordinary residential zoning.

Insurance & Safety

Insurance

Ridgecrest does not require short-term rental operators to carry specific insurance. Standard homeowner policies often exclude short-term rental activity, so many hosts obtain dedicated short-term rental or landlord liability coverage.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• 10% penalty added if TOT/RTID payment is not received by the due date (1st delinquency)
• 0.5% interest charged per month (or fraction thereof) on unpaid tax until paid in full
• Additional 25% penalty (on top of the 10% penalty) if the city council determines nonpayment was due to fraud
• Failure or refusal to register, or to furnish a required return, or filing a false or fraudulent return, is a misdemeanor

Market Snapshot

Demand context for Ridgecrest from official government and tourism statistics — the latest published annual figures, not a projection of rental income.

Figures are the latest annual statistics published by the linked official sources (retrieved 2026-07-13). Visitor counts cover the geography stated by each source, which can be wider than the city itself. Regulations above — not market conditions — determine whether and how you may operate.

Compliance Checklist

Follow these steps to legally operate a short-term rental in Ridgecrest:

1. Apply for Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) / RTID Registration Certificate. Submit application. Contact city for fee details.
2. Register for tax accounts. Set up lodging tax accounts with City of Ridgecrest Finance Department.
3. Collect and remit taxes. 15.75% on all bookings.
4. Renew annually. Contact city for renewal fee details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Ridgecrest?

Yes. Operating a short-term rental — including an Airbnb or Vrbo — in Ridgecrest requires a Transient Occupancy Tax.

Does Ridgecrest require a short-term rental to be your primary residence?

No. Ridgecrest allows non-owner-occupied short-term rentals, so investment properties can qualify provided you hold the required permit.

How many days a year can you short-term rent in Ridgecrest?

Ridgecrest does not cap the number of nights per year you can short-term rent, though permitting, zoning, and occupancy rules still apply.

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

Short-term rental stays in Ridgecrest are subject to a combined 15.75% in lodging taxes. This combines 10% City of Ridgecrest Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) + 5.75% Ridgecrest Tourism Improvement District (RTID) Assessment. Hosts are legally responsible; many booking platforms collect and remit them automatically on the host's behalf.