Temporary moratorium on new short term rentals in Thousand Palms and B Bar H Ranch.

3.32 of 3/3/2026
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 449.256
AN URGENCY INTERIM ORDINANCE OF THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ESTABLISHING A 
TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON NEW SHORT TERM RENTALS WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED COUNTY AREAS OF 
THOUSAND PALMS AND 
B BAR H RANCH
This summary is presented pursuant to California Government Code Sections 25123 and 65858: a certified copy of the full text of Ordinance No. 449.256 may be examined at the Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Riverside, located at 4080 Lemon Street, 1st Floor, Riverside, California.
In summary, Ordinance No. 449.256 establishes a temporary moratorium on new Short Term Rentals within the unincorporated County of Riverside communities of Thousand Palms and B Bar H Ranch, as detailed in Ordinance Exhibit A. This moratorium is established pursuant to California Constitution Article 11, Section 7, and California Government Code sections 25123 and 65858. The purpose of the moratorium is to protect the public safety, health, and welfare while County staff conduct requisite analyses of impacts and potential mitigation measures before bringing revised Ordinance No. 927.3 to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors to consider enhanced enforcement provisions. Since adoption of Ordinance Nos. 449.254 and 449.255 imposed a temporary moratorium on new Short Term Rentals in Thousand Palms and B Bar H Ranch, the County has reviewed area Short Term Rental densities, complaint information, and conducted meetings with the community to analyze the impacts of Short Term Rentals and consider a reasonable course of action. This new moratorium is designed to maintain the status quo while County staff analyze additional health, safety, and welfare risks and occurrences, which are unique from the prior moratorium, related to issues such as unpermitted large-scale events, elevated fire risk, excessive noise, reckless driving, and disorderly conduct, until reasonable regulatory updates can be drafted and considered by the Board of Supervisors. This moratorium would not prohibit the operation or renewal of existing, legally certified Short Term Rentals, which meet all of the requirements of Ordinance No. 927. This urgency ordinance would take effect immediately upon its approval by at least a four-fifths vote of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Riverside and remain in effect for 45 days from the date of adoption or until Ordinance No. 927.3 is adopted and effective.
Karen Spiegel, Chair of the Board
I HEREBY CERTIFY that at a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of said County, held on March 3, 2026, the foregoing Ordinance was adopted by said Board by the following vote:
AYES: Medina, Spiegel, Perez, and Gutierrez
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Washington
Kimberly A. Rector, Clerk of the Board
By: Ana Garcia, Clerk of the Board Assistant
3/12/26