Corona, California Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

This guide consolidates the latest publicly available information on short-term rentals (STRs) in Corona, California. It is written for investors, hosts, property managers, and real estate professionals considering or currently operating STRs in Corona. The information is drawn from city news releases, ordinance announcements, and local reporting.

Overview: Are STRs allowed in Corona, California?

Explicit answer: No. As of October 18, 2023, the City of Corona adopted an urgency ordinance banning short-term residential rentals within city limits. The city ceased issuing new STR permits immediately and prohibited new STR operations. Existing permitted STRs may continue only until the expiration of their individual permits (as set by Urgency Ordinance No. 3382). No renewals are available. The ban is active now and ongoing. [1][2][3]

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Corona?

Corona hosts earn a median $25,567/year with $243 ADR and 61% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $51,323+ per year.

See the full Corona market breakdown

How to start an STR business in Corona

Short answer: You cannot start a new STR business in Corona at this time. The city has prohibited new STRs, and no new permits are being issued. Existing permitted STRs can operate only until their permitted expiration date and cannot be renewed. Enforcement includes monitoring of hosting platforms, written notices, and escalating penalties for illegal operations. [1][2]

If you are an investor or host who previously held a permit:

Do not attempt to list or re-list properties for STR use once your permit expires. Continued operation after the expiration date is a violation. [1][2]
If your property is currently permitted, maintain compliance with any remaining conditions until your permit lapses. [1][2]

For owners considering STRs, Corona’s current legal climate makes new STR operations infeasible. Alternatives outside city limits (in other jurisdictions within Riverside County or adjacent counties) may be permissible, but those decisions must be based on separate jurisdiction-specific rules.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

City STR Permit (STR Registration/Business License): Not available for new applications; existing permits that predated October 18, 2023, were permitted to continue until their expiration date. The city is not accepting renewals. [1][2]
Business License/TOT Registration: Corona historically required STR operators to register and collect/remit Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). However, since no new permits are being issued and existing permits are expiring, no new TOT registrations are active. [1]
Zoning Compliance: STRs are not permitted in any residential zone within Corona while the ban is in effect. [1][2]
Operational Guidelines (for permitted STRs during wind-down): Historically, hosts were expected to comply with noise, parking, occupancy, and community conduct standards. The city also adopted a penalty schedule for violations (see below). [3]

Specific regulations for STRs in Corona, County, and State

City of Corona (Municipal Code Chapter 5.55)

Ban on New STRs: Urgency Ordinance No. 3380 amended Corona Municipal Code Chapter 5.55 to prohibit STRs. Effective immediately upon adoption (Oct 18, 2023), no new STR permits may be issued and no new STRs may operate. [1][2]
Existing Permit Wind-Down: Urgency Ordinance No. 3382 established an amortization period for previously permitted STRs. Those permits may continue to operate until their individual expiration date; renewals are not allowed. [1]
Monitoring and Enforcement: The city has retained a third-party service to identify STR listings on hosting platforms. Staff follow up with written notices and warnings, and violations are subject to escalating penalties. [3]
Penalty Schedule (updated): The city adopted a resolution increasing administrative penalties for illegally operating an STR:
- First violation: $1,500 (previously $100)
- Second violation: $3,000 (previously $200)
- Third violation: $5,000 (previously $500) [3]

City ordinances were enacted via urgency ordinance procedures and became effective immediately upon adoption. Regular ordinances for the same policies took effect following a second council reading. [3]

Riverside County (County-Level STR Rules)

County-level rules (Riverside County) are separate and may differ from city rules. Corona-specific regulation applies within city limits. Properties located outside Corona but within unincorporated Riverside County may be subject to different county rules. This guide does not cover county-level requirements.

State of California (California STR Rules)

California does not impose a statewide ban on STRs. State law allows local governments to adopt their own STR regulations, which Corona has done by banning STRs within city limits. State tax requirements (such as Transient Occupancy Tax) are typically administered locally. Because no STRs may legally operate in Corona currently, new state-level requirements for hosts would not apply to new operations in this city.

Contact information for the local authority in charge of STRs

City of Corona — Planning and Development Department (Planning Division)
- Address: 400 S. Vicentia Ave, Suite 120, Corona, CA 92880
- Phone: 951-736-2262
- Email: planning@coronaca.gov [4]
Hours: City Hall is open Monday–Thursday, 7 AM–6 PM; closed Friday [4]
Online Services: The city’s eTRAKiT portal provides permit search and other planning resources: etrakit.coronaca.gov/etrakit/ [5]

Links to source pages and documents

Corona Planning Division — STR Ban Announcement and Ordinance Notes: www.coronaca.gov/departments/planning-and-development/planning-division
Urgency Ordinance No. 3380 (Amending CMC Chapter 5.55 — Prohibiting STRs): cdn.prod.website-files.com/65799af8ef225180fdf1ba2e/65c132d1de7446ab04ec74ef_URGENCY%20ORDINANCE%20AMENDING%20CMC%20CHAPTER%205.55.docx
Urgency Ordinance No. 3382 (Amortization Period for Existing Permits): cdn.prod.website-files.com/65799af8ef225180fdf1ba2e/65c133d1b47307535698ac22_URGENCY%20UNCODIFIED%20ORDINANCE%20ESTABLISHING%20AMORTIZATION%20PERIOD.docx
The Riverside Record — “Corona Council Unanimously Votes To Ban Short-Term Residential Rentals” (Oct 23, 2023): riversiderecord.org/corona-council-unanimously-votes-to-ban-short-term-residential-rentals/
City of Corona — Permit Search/eTRAKiT: etrakit.coronaca.gov/etrakit/
City of Corona — City Council Meeting Video ( ordinance discussion/approval): corona.granicus.com/player/clip/1224?view_id=1&redirect=true&h=a0db5f02974b76a59500acef7eccd0c1

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Notes:

The City’s official page states that no new STR permits will be issued and that existing permitted STRs may continue until their permit expires per the amortization ordinance. [1][2]
The Riverside Record provides coverage of the council vote, ban scope, penalties, and enforcement approach. [3]

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Ask the AI Advisor about Corona

Corona sits in the northwestern corner of Riverside County, California, in the inland region just east of the Santa Ana Mountains. With a population of roughly 160,000, it is one of the larger cities of the Inland Empire and functions largely as a residential community, though it retains a quiet, suburban character shaped by wide streets, family-oriented neighborhoods, and a modest historic downtown. The city grew up around citrus groves in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when it earned a reputation as a major center of lemon production, and that agricultural past still colors its identity. Corona lies about 45 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, with the Orange County coastline reachable in roughly 45 to 60 minutes by car depending on traffic.

Just south of the city, the Santa Ana Mountains rise sharply, and the surrounding slopes fall within the Cleveland National Forest, a vast expanse of chaparral, oak woodland, and pine that offers some of the closest backcountry hiking to the Los Angeles basin. Trails lead from the local foothills up toward Santiago Peak, the highest point in the range, and the higher elevations serve as a popular escape from the summer heat in the valley below. Lower trailheads can be reached in about fifteen to twenty minutes from most parts of Corona, while the broader Cleveland National Forest stretches across the ridgeline between Orange and Riverside counties.

About twenty-five miles to the southeast, Lake Elsinore offers a different kind of day out, with a large natural lake popular for fishing, boating, and watersports. The surrounding town has a casual, resort-style feel, and the drive from Corona typically takes around thirty minutes via Interstate 15. Guests can wander the waterfront, dine at lakeside restaurants, or simply enjoy views of the surrounding mountains. Lake Elsinore remains one of the larger freshwater recreation areas in southern California's interior.

In town, Corona's compact downtown district reflects its citrus-era roots, with a handful of preserved early buildings, locally owned restaurants, and the Corona Heritage Park and Museum, which traces the community's history from its founding through the lemon industry era. A short drive away, the Shops at Dos Lagos provide a more modern counterpoint, with a walkable mix of dining and shopping set around a small lake and landscaped paths.

For short-term rental guests and owners, Corona offers an appealing mix of value, accessibility, and varied surroundings. Its position between the metropolitan cores of Los Angeles and Orange County, the beaches to the southwest, and the mountains and high desert beyond gives it a flexibility that few inland cities can match, allowing visitors to pair quieter suburban stays with day trips across much of southern California.