Indio, California Short-Term Rental Market
Indio, CA STRs averaged $621/night at 57.0% occupancy in April 2026, driven by Coachella and Stagecoach festival demand.
Quick Answer: Indio, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 41%. average monthly revenue is $4,764. average daily rate is $403. the top operator is Vacasa with 593 listings. market score is 44/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Coachella Valley regional market, which includes Indio. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Indio.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Indio market area encompasses short-term rental activity in the Coachella Valley, Riverside County, California. Indio is the host city for the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and Stagecoach Festival, both held at Empire Polo Club each April, drawing an estimated 250,000 attendees across two weekends and approximately 1.4 million annual visitors to the region. The April 2026 snapshot shows 57.0% average occupancy and an average daily rate of $621, producing RevPAR of $354 and average monthly revenue of $9,009 per active listing.
The market contains approximately 16,999 active listings by channel count. Entire-place rentals account for 96.0% of supply (16,320 listings), private rooms 3.9% (658 listings), and shared rooms 0.1% (21 listings). Three-bedroom properties are the most common size at 30.6% of supply (5,201 listings), followed by two-bedroom (4,213 listings, 24.8%), one-bedroom (3,320 listings, 19.6%), four-bedroom (2,727 listings, 16.1%), and five-or-more-bedroom (1,521 listings, 9.0%). Platform distribution shows strong dual-channel presence: 56.1% of listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 31.6% are Airbnb-only, and 12.3% are VRBO-only.
Year-over-year trends as of April 2026: occupancy declined 1.1 percentage points, ADR rose 1.9%, and monthly revenue grew 7.8% versus April 2025. The 2025 full-year average was 50.0% occupancy and $417 ADR. Market scores: investability 73.6 out of 100, seasonality 63.0, regulation 58.9, revenue growth 60.5, rental demand 48.9, and a composite total score of 44.4 out of 100.
Note: This market area (area_id 58584) is identified in the StaySTRA data pipeline as a potential Apivex submarket whose stored metric series may reflect the broader Coachella Valley parent-market data. Area profile details (population, regulations, and attractions) are specific to Indio. STR metrics describe Coachella Valley regional conditions.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56% | $338 | $4,765 |
| Feb | 70% | $364 | $5,671 |
| Mar | 72% | $425 | $7,432 |
| Apr | 57% | $515 | $7,135 |
| May | 39% | $389 | $4,555 |
| Jun | 45% | $366 | $4,433 |
| Jul | 47% | $344 | $4,316 |
| Aug | 44% | $333 | $3,782 |
| Sep | 40% | $340 | $3,468 |
| Oct | 46% | $355 | $4,030 |
| Nov | 55% | $374 | $4,664 |
| Dec | 49% | $388 | $4,865 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Indio
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 593 | 14,029 | ★ 4.49 |
| 2 | Evolve | 340 | 9,820 | ★ 4.71 |
| 3 | AvantStay | 252 | 5,366 | ★ 4.80 |
| 4 | Acme House | 188 | 6,138 | ★ 4.78 |
| 5 | Park Royal Indian Palms Intervals | 170 | 0 | ★ 0.00 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Indio?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,320 |
| 2 bed | 4,213 |
| 3 bed | 5,201 |
| 4 bed | 2,727 |
| 5 bed | 1,521 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $412 |
| Luxury | $952 |
| Professionally Managed | $511 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,322 |
| Entire Place | $4,850 |
| House | $5,517 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 31.6% |
| vrbo | 12.3% |
| both | 56.1% |
Investment Analysis
The single most important regulatory constraint for investors in Indio is this: STRs are restricted to the host’s primary residence. Pure investment or vacation properties that are not the owner’s primary residence are not permitted under Chapter 37 of the Indio Municipal Code. This restriction distinguishes Indio sharply from most other Coachella Valley jurisdictions and fundamentally changes the underwriting model.
Within the owner-occupied segment, the data shows strong revenue potential. The all-listings ADR of $621 per night compares to $635 for entire-home listings, $787 for professionally managed properties, and $1,230 for the luxury tier. The professionally managed ADR premium over all listings is $166 per night (26.7%). Monthly revenue averages $9,009 across all listing types, equivalent to roughly $108,108 annualized. Houses generate $10,505 per month (approximately $126,060 per year). Entire-place listings broadly average $9,292 per month ($111,504 per year), while apartments average $5,685 per month ($68,220 per year).
No Zillow housing value data is available for the Indio market area in the StaySTRA database, so a gross yield calculation cannot be produced here. The 2025 full-year monthly average of $5,552 ($66,624 annualized) provides a seasonally adjusted revenue baseline, reflecting the significant difference between the festival-month spike and the annual average.
Fixed operating costs include the $1,633 annual permit renewal fee, a non-refundable application fee of approximately $100, business license fees, and the 14% effective lodging tax (13% TOT plus 1% GPSTBID). These must be factored alongside occupancy projections that account for Indio’s pronounced off-season from May through October.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The Indio market area shows a booking lead time of approximately 114 days in the April 2026 data. Guests commit to reservations roughly 16 weeks before their intended arrival date, the longest lead window among the markets in this batch. This reflects the high planning intensity of festival-driven travel: Coachella and Stagecoach attendees book early once festival lineups are announced, often securing accommodation months in advance.
For operators, the 114-day lead window creates a long advance pricing opportunity. High-demand dates (the two Coachella weekends and the Stagecoach weekend in April) should be priced aggressively from the moment the calendar opens, with rates maintained through the 90-day mark before tactical adjustments. Festival-weekend inventory routinely sells out months before arrival.
Average length of stay is 4.5 days, consistent with multi-day festival attendance. Operators can set four-to-seven-night minimums for festival weekends to avoid partial-week gaps and maximize per-booking revenue.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Indio tightly regulates short-term rentals under Chapter 37 of its Municipal Code, with one rule investors must understand before purchasing: STRs are restricted to the host’s primary residence. Investment or vacation properties not used as the owner’s primary home are not permitted, making Indio far more restrictive than its reputation as a festival market suggests.
Operators must obtain a Short-Term Rental Permit and a city business license before advertising or accepting reservations. The annual permit renewal fee is $1,633, plus a non-refundable application fee of approximately $100. The permit number must appear on every listing advertisement, a local emergency contact must be designated, and a 24/7 response capability is required. Occupancy is capped at approximately four guests plus two per bedroom, with an overall maximum of approximately 20 guests. Renters must be at least 21 years old.
Transient Occupancy Tax is 13% on gross rent. An additional 1% Greater Palm Springs Tourism Business Improvement District (GPSTBID) assessment applies to stays of 27 days or fewer, bringing the effective lodging tax to 14% for short stays. Both are reported and remitted monthly.
Enforcement is classified as strict. In March 2026, the Indio City Council advanced tougher rules: noise violation fines of up to $1,000 for a first offense and as high as $5,000, stricter enforcement of large-gathering prohibitions, and use of California SB 346 to require Airbnb and VRBO to verify permits before listing properties. STR and TOT revenue is projected near $16.5 million annually for the city, underscoring the city’s economic reliance on the sector even as it tightens oversight.
Market Comparison
Indio’s April 2026 ADR of $621 is approximately 182% above the US short-term rental median of roughly $220, the highest ADR of the markets in this batch, reflecting the concentrated festival-driven demand premium. Occupancy at 57.0% sits slightly above the US STR median of approximately 55%.
The top operator by listing count is Vacasa with 593 active listings, representing 3.5% of total supply and a 4.49 average rating from 14,029 reviews. Evolve ranks second with 340 listings (2.0% of supply) and a 4.71 rating from 9,820 reviews. AvantStay holds third with 252 listings and a 4.80 rating from 5,366 reviews. Acme House has 188 listings and a 4.78 rating from 6,138 reviews. Park Royal Indian Palms Intervals rounds out the top five with 170 listings, but no guest reviews or ratings are available for this operator. The top four rated operators together hold 1,373 listings (8.1% of supply), and the top five combined hold 1,543 listings (9.1% of supply), indicating moderate operator concentration relative to markets of comparable size.
The market data reflects Coachella Valley regional conditions. Indio city proper, with approximately 94,275 residents, anchors the eastern end of the valley. Its role as the exclusive host of the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals creates demand patterns and pricing premiums not found in adjacent Coachella Valley cities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Indio, California
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What is the average daily rate for STRs in the Indio/Coachella Valley area?
What permits and fees are required for an Indio STR?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Indio?
Which months have the strongest STR demand in Indio?
How far in advance do guests book Indio STRs?
What enforcement changes took effect in Indio in 2026?
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