Altadena, California Short-Term Rental Market
Altadena, CA STR data shows $208/night average daily rate and 67.5% occupancy in April 2026 across the broader western LA County market area.
Quick Answer: Altadena, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 73%. average monthly revenue is $4,987. average daily rate is $262. the top operator is Blueground with 579 listings. market score is 46/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Los Angeles regional market, which includes Altadena. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Altadena.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Altadena is an unincorporated community of approximately 41,000 residents at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County, governed by LA County rather than a city. Its STR market operates under LA County’s Title 7 Short-Term Rental Ordinance, which took full effect October 7, 2024.
IMPORTANT CONTEXT: The Eaton Fire (January 7, 2025) destroyed an estimated 9,000-plus structures in Altadena and forced Eaton Canyon into indefinite hard closure. This fire was one of the most destructive in LA County history. Active STR inventory and demand in Altadena specifically may differ substantially from the market-area figures below, which reflect a broader western Los Angeles County STR aggregation.
The underlying market data covers approximately 49,100 active listings in the broader area: 35,391 on Airbnb only, 1,657 on VRBO only, and 12,111 cross-listed on both platforms. The April 2026 average daily rate was $208, with 67.5% occupancy and RevPAR of $141. Average monthly revenue was $3,823.
Entire-place listings represent approximately 79% of supply at 39,384, with private rooms at 9,446. Bedroom distribution spans from one-bedrooms (26,391) through five-bedrooms (1,930), reflecting the broader area’s diverse housing stock.
Year-over-year for April 2026 in this market aggregation: occupancy rose 1.16 percentage points, ADR declined 5.5%, and revenue increased 1.38% versus April 2025.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61% | $167 | $2,828 |
| Feb | 70% | $177 | $3,049 |
| Mar | 69% | $188 | $3,597 |
| Apr | 66% | $185 | $3,327 |
| May | 68% | $191 | $3,475 |
| Jun | 73% | $215 | $4,020 |
| Jul | 74% | $210 | $4,131 |
| Aug | 70% | $211 | $3,989 |
| Sep | 65% | $184 | $3,253 |
| Oct | 68% | $181 | $3,344 |
| Nov | 63% | $180 | $3,065 |
| Dec | 63% | $188 | $3,210 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Altadena
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blueground | 579 | 737 | ★ 4.29 |
| 2 | The Maimon Group | 212 | 993 | ★ 4.67 |
| 3 | Evolve | 175 | 5,119 | ★ 4.44 |
| 4 | Zuma Housing | 150 | 27 | ★ 4.82 |
| 5 | Catalina Vacations | 143 | 5,137 | ★ 4.49 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Altadena?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 26,391 |
| 2 bed | 10,898 |
| 3 bed | 6,476 |
| 4 bed | 3,353 |
| 5 bed | 1,930 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $308 |
| Luxury | $585 |
| Professionally Managed | $411 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $4,283 |
| Entire Place | $5,796 |
| House | $5,514 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 72% |
| vrbo | 3.4% |
| both | 24.6% |
Investment Analysis
Altadena carries a typical home value of $1,111,795 based on Zillow estimates as of April 2026. The median sale price of $885,583 and median list price of $1,593,167 reflect highly distorted market conditions in the wake of the Eaton Fire (January 2025), which destroyed thousands of homes and created both distressed sales and inflated relisting of remaining properties. The sale-to-list ratio of 0.556 reflects these extraordinary post-fire conditions rather than a normalized market, and should not be used for typical investment analysis.
Using the broader market-area average monthly revenue of $3,823, annualized gross revenue would project to approximately $45,876 per year against a typical home value of $1,111,795, a gross ratio of roughly 4.1%. Entire-place listings in this market area average $4,402/month.
However, investors considering Altadena specifically should treat these figures cautiously. The Eaton Fire significantly reduced the available housing stock and active STR inventory within the community. Properties that survived the fire may face above-average demand from displaced residents seeking temporary housing, but also face uncertain regulatory and insurance conditions under LA County’s disaster interim ordinance (extended to August 22, 2026).
The tier ADR spread in this market area: $208 all-market, $242 entire-home tier, $313 professionally managed, $466 luxury. Long-term trend: annual average revenue grew from $2,349/month in 2017 to $3,915 in 2025 in this broader market area.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The broader western LA County market area shows guests booking an average of 32 days in advance and staying approximately 5.8 nights per booking. These metrics reflect the destination-oriented nature of longer-stay Southern California rentals.
A 32-day average lead time allows operators to execute dynamic pricing with a 4-to-5 week window before arrival. The 5.8-night average stay is longer than typical urban STR markets, consistent with the outdoor recreation and multi-day LA-area leisure profile.
For Altadena-specific operations, current conditions are atypical. The post-Eaton Fire environment may favor shorter-stay bookings from displaced residents seeking temporary housing (30-night stays fall outside STR rules), relief workers, or journalists and researchers, alongside leisure visitors. Operators should verify current insurance coverage and LA County registration status before accepting bookings in 2025-2026, given the evolving post-fire regulatory and insurance landscape.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Altadena is an unincorporated community subject to the Los Angeles County Short-Term Rental Ordinance (Title 7), which took full effect October 7, 2024.
Hosts must obtain an annual Short-Term Rental Registration Certificate from the LA County Treasurer and Tax Collector at a cost of $914/year. Only primary residences qualify — hosts must live in the property at least 9 months per year. ADUs, Junior ADUs, rent-restricted units, and non-primary-residence properties are prohibited from STR use. This primary-residence requirement is the most significant operational constraint for investors.
Un-hosted stays (owner absent) are capped at 90 nights per calendar year with a minimum 2-night stay per booking. Hosted stays (owner present) have no annual cap. Maximum occupancy is 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional, up to 12 total. A 12% Transient Occupancy Tax applies to all stays of 30 nights or fewer, collected monthly by the host and remitted to the county. Violations carry fines of $2,000 per day or twice the average nightly rate (whichever is higher); platforms listing unregistered properties face $1,000 per day fines. Enforcement severity is rated strict.
Eaton Fire impact: The January 7, 2025 fire destroyed 9,000-plus structures in Altadena. LA County extended its Eaton Fire Disaster Interim Ordinance to August 22, 2026, to streamline rebuilding. California SB 346 (2025) now requires STR platforms to share host names, addresses, and income data with local governments. Properties in High Fire Hazard Severity Zones must meet additional Building and Safety standards at registration.
Market Comparison
The broader western LA County market where Altadena data is aggregated shows April 2026 occupancy of 67.5%, well above the US STR median of approximately 55%, and an ADR of $208 near the US STR median of approximately $220.
The top operators in this market area: Blueground (579 listings, 4.29 rating), The Maimon Group (212 listings, 4.67 rating), Evolve (175 listings, 4.44 rating), Zuma Housing (150 listings, 4.82 rating), and Catalina Vacations (143 listings, 4.49 rating). These operators collectively manage 1,259 listings.
For Altadena specifically, the closest competing STR markets are Pasadena (directly adjacent, city-governed with similar but distinct regulations) and Sierra Madre. LA County’s strict enforcement posture and the Eaton Fire’s inventory reduction make Altadena an unusual market where supply constraints may support pricing for compliant operators, while the 90-night cap and primary-residence requirement significantly limit the investor use case relative to markets without these restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Altadena, California
Are short-term rentals legal in Altadena, CA?
What is the transient occupancy tax for Altadena short-term rentals?
What impact did the Eaton Fire have on Altadena short-term rentals?
What is the short-term rental registration cost in Altadena?
What are the occupancy caps for Altadena short-term rentals?
Can non-owner-occupied investment properties operate as STRs in Altadena?
What is the average daily rate for short-term rentals in the Altadena area?
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