Chico, California Short-Term Rental Market
Chico STRs averaged $233/night at 52.3% occupancy in April 2026, with total revenue growing 5.2% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Chico, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 65%. average monthly revenue is $4,715. average daily rate is $273. the top operator is Vacasa with 383 listings. market score is 69/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the California North Area regional market, which includes Chico. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Chico.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Chico is the largest city in Butte County and a Northern California college town anchored by California State University, Chico. Its short-term rental market draws from two primary demand sources: university-affiliated visitors (students, parents, alumni, prospective students) and outdoor recreation travelers drawn to Bidwell Park and the surrounding Sacramento Valley foothills.
In April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $232.74 and occupancy of 52.3%, producing a RevPAR of $121.70. Average monthly revenue per listing was $3,229. Year-over-year, occupancy was essentially flat (up 0.27 percentage points), while ADR grew 2.89% and total revenue grew 5.22%.
The listing base totals approximately 9,325 properties across the five bedroom tiers. One-bedroom units are the most common at 3,775 listings, reflecting the university market’s appetite for smaller properties. Two-bedroom (2,233) and 3-bedroom (2,104) homes are the next largest segments; 4-bedroom (853) and 5-bedroom (360) listings are more limited.
Entire-place listings dominate at 8,508 out of roughly 9,339 tracked by listing type; private rooms (829) represent a meaningful secondary segment at about 9% of supply, consistent with a college town where home-sharing is more common than in pure resort markets. Shared rooms (2) are negligible.
Channel distribution shows Airbnb’s stronger presence here: 4,873 listings are Airbnb-only, 3,838 appear on both platforms, and only 628 are VRBO-only.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42% | $180 | $2,217 |
| Feb | 49% | $183 | $2,216 |
| Mar | 52% | $187 | $2,624 |
| Apr | 55% | $194 | $2,811 |
| May | 58% | $206 | $2,976 |
| Jun | 66% | $226 | $3,857 |
| Jul | 70% | $222 | $4,173 |
| Aug | 65% | $217 | $3,818 |
| Sep | 56% | $205 | $3,078 |
| Oct | 53% | $195 | $2,830 |
| Nov | 51% | $195 | $2,520 |
| Dec | 49% | $193 | $2,591 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Chico
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 383 | 38,837 | ★ 4.67 |
| 2 | Evolve | 221 | 9,277 | ★ 4.68 |
| 3 | Casago | 123 | 6,561 | ★ 4.74 |
| 4 | Humboldt Retreats | 71 | 4,291 | ★ 4.88 |
| 5 | Grand Welcome | 55 | 4,143 | ★ 4.68 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Chico?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,775 |
| 2 bed | 2,233 |
| 3 bed | 2,104 |
| 4 bed | 853 |
| 5 bed | 360 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $285 |
| Luxury | $474 |
| Professionally Managed | $358 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,111 |
| Entire Place | $4,969 |
| House | $5,149 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 52.2% |
| vrbo | 6.7% |
| both | 41.1% |
Investment Analysis
Chico presents a college-town STR investment case: consistent baseline demand from university events, lower acquisition costs than coastal California markets, and moderate rate appreciation over time.
At a typical home value of $466,126 (Zillow, April 2026), average monthly revenue of $3,229 implies a gross annual revenue run-rate of approximately $38,744, representing an 8.3% gross revenue-to-price ratio. That is pre-expense and does not account for management fees, TOT, vacancies, or maintenance. Homes are selling at 90.6% of list price with a median 16 days to pending, indicating an active buyer market with some negotiating room.
By listing type, houses average $3,499/month (April 2026) and entire-place units average $3,384/month — a 43% premium over the apartment average of $2,050/month. For ADR, the professionally managed tier commands $306.60/night versus the market average of $232.74 (a 32% premium), while the luxury tier reaches $426.80/night.
The total market score of 68.6 out of 100 is the strongest among the five markets in this batch, driven by a rental demand score of 75.9 and a seasonality score of 73.8 — both indicating healthy, relatively consistent demand throughout the year. The investability score of 66.2 is solid. Annual average revenue has grown from $3,090 in 2023 to $3,173 in 2024 and $3,351 in 2025, a steady upward trend.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Chico guests book an average of 45 days in advance, approximately six weeks. This is shorter than major resort markets but longer than spontaneous drive-to mountain markets, consistent with a college town where visitors plan around specific university events (graduation, move-in, football games) but also include leisure travelers who book within a month of arrival.
For operators, the 45-day lead window is actionable: dynamic pricing should be set and monitored six to eight weeks before target dates, particularly around CSU Chico’s academic calendar (fall move-in, spring graduation, homecoming), the Thursday Night Market season, and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. events. Properties near campus or downtown that are not priced by the relevant event date risk significant revenue leakage.
Average length of stay of 3.55 nights falls between the weekend-getaway and mid-week-stay profiles. This indicates a mix of 2-night weekend bookings pulling the average down and occasional longer university-affiliated stays or outdoor recreation trips pushing it up. Turnover costs should be modeled against this 3-4 night average rather than assuming weekly cycles.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are legal in the City of Chico, but the regulatory framework is still maturing. The city classified STRs as hotels in 2018 (municipal code Chapter 3.52), which subjects them to the city’s 10% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on stays of 30 days or fewer. All STR operators must hold a City of Chico business license, renewed annually.
A comprehensive STR ordinance requiring an administrative permit from the Department of Development Services — with requirements such as a local property manager, occupancy limits, and safety standards — has been in development since at least 2023. As of the 2025-2026 period, that full permit regime appears still being finalized and not yet formally adopted citywide. The permit cost for this administrative permit is not published in current data; investors should verify requirements directly with the City of Chico Planning Division (530-879-6800) before operating.
Enforcement is currently complaint-based with a 24-hour hotline and a required prompt local-contact response. There is no published annual night cap. Owner-occupancy is not a universal requirement, though it may apply in certain residential zone designations. Unincorporated Butte County has a separate STR ordinance that does not apply inside Chico city limits.
Enforcement severity is classified as moderate. The city has seen STR-generated TOT grow from approximately $106,000 in fiscal year 2018-19 to over $500,000 in a recent year, which has supported a permissive regulatory posture.
Market Comparison
Chico’s ADR of $233 in April 2026 is slightly above the US STR median of approximately $220, and its occupancy of 52.3% is close to the national median of approximately 55%. This positions Chico as a broadly average STR market in rate and demand terms — not a premium destination but one with stable fundamentals.
The market’s total score of 68.6 out of 100 is above average, driven primarily by a rental demand score of 75.9 — among the stronger demand indicators a college town generates. The regulation score of 68.0 reflects a moderately permissive regulatory environment with an evolving, not finalized, permit structure.
Professional management is well established. Vacasa leads with 383 listings and 38,837 reviews (rating 4.67), suggesting substantial and long-running Vacasa market share in this region. Evolve follows with 221 listings and 9,277 reviews (rating 4.68). Casago manages 123 listings (rating 4.74), and regional operators Humboldt Retreats (71 listings, 4.88 rating) and Grand Welcome (55 listings, 4.68 rating) round out the top five. The presence of national operators alongside regional specialists is typical of college-town markets with both institutional and leisure demand.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chico, California
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