Fort Bragg, California Short-Term Rental Market
Fort Bragg, CA STRs averaged $233/night at 52.3% occupancy in April 2026, with 5.2% year-over-year revenue growth.
Quick Answer: Fort Bragg, 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 373 listings. market score is 72/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the California North Area regional market, which includes Fort Bragg. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Fort Bragg.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Fort Bragg is a small coastal city of approximately 7,032 residents on California’s Mendocino Coast, roughly 3.5 hours north of San Francisco. The market captures Bay Area weekenders, Highway 1 road-trippers, and nature-oriented leisure travelers drawn to Glass Beach, the Skunk Train, MacKerricher State Park, and Noyo Harbor. In April 2026, the market averaged $233/night ADR at 52.3% occupancy, generating RevPAR of $122 and average monthly revenue of $3,229.
All three performance metrics improved year-over-year: occupancy +0.29%, ADR +2.88%, and revenue +5.20%. The 2025 full-year averages were 52.3% occupancy, $231 ADR, and $3,352 average monthly revenue.
IMPORTANT MARKET AREA NOTE: The listing counts and operator data in this profile reflect the broader Mendocino Coast market area, not Fort Bragg city limits exclusively. Fort Bragg’s own STR regulations are among the most restrictive in California (see Regulatory Summary below). Investors should carefully distinguish between market-area performance data and the narrow band of properties actually eligible for STR operation within Fort Bragg city limits.
The market scores 72.3 overall, with rental demand the highest sub-score at 77.1, followed by regulation (71.9), revenue growth (67.3), and investability (66.3). Seasonality scores 73.8.
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 | $4,174 |
| Aug | 65% | $217 | $3,818 |
| Sep | 56% | $205 | $3,077 |
| Oct | 53% | $195 | $2,830 |
| Nov | 51% | $195 | $2,521 |
| Dec | 49% | $193 | $2,591 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Fort Bragg
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 373 | 38,306 | ★ 4.67 |
| 2 | Evolve | 221 | 9,242 | ★ 4.68 |
| 3 | Casago | 123 | 6,490 | ★ 4.74 |
| 4 | Humboldt Retreats | 71 | 4,258 | ★ 4.89 |
| 5 | Grand Welcome | 56 | 4,140 | ★ 4.69 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Fort Bragg?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,774 |
| 2 bed | 2,224 |
| 3 bed | 2,095 |
| 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 | 52.3% |
| vrbo | 6.8% |
| both | 41% |
Investment Analysis
The Fort Bragg market area shows solid financial metrics. The typical home value in the area is $576,877 (median list price $686,083). At average monthly revenue of $3,229 (April 2026 baseline), annual gross revenue projects to approximately $38,745, implying a gross revenue yield of roughly 6.7%. Using the more stable 2025 full-year monthly average of $3,352, annualized gross revenue would be approximately $40,224.
Rate stratification in April 2026: all-listings ADR was $233, entire-home properties averaged $244, professionally managed units averaged $308, and the luxury tier averaged $427. The $75-per-night premium for professionally managed properties over the entire-home rate is the largest such gap in the comparison set, reflecting the concentration of higher-spec oceanfront and coastal bluff properties in the managed inventory.
Monthly revenue by property type in April 2026: houses averaged $3,498, entire-place units averaged $3,384, and apartments averaged $2,054. The house-to-apartment gap of $1,444/month is significant.
Critical caveat for investors: the financial metrics above describe the broader Mendocino Coast market area. Within Fort Bragg city limits, STRs are legally permitted only in the Central Business District on upper floors above active commercial uses, with an informal cap of approximately 10 permits. Residential properties in Fort Bragg city limits are not eligible. Buyers targeting Fort Bragg proper will find a drastically smaller eligible property universe than the market-area data suggests.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Guests in the Fort Bragg market area book an average of 44.6 days in advance and stay an average of 3.6 nights per booking. The 45-day lead window is longer than most comparable coastal markets, reflecting the planning behavior of Bay Area travelers who secure Mendocino Coast accommodations well ahead of summer and holiday periods.
The 3.6-night average stay is consistent with a weekend-plus destination pattern — guests often extend the standard two-night weekend by one or two days to justify the 3.5-hour drive from San Francisco. Operators who offer competitive rates for 3-4 night stays (versus a higher nightly rate for 2-night minimums) can capture the core booking pattern without sacrificing occupancy.
With a 45-day lead window, operators have meaningful advance visibility into upcoming demand. Rate increases applied 5-6 weeks out for July and August weekends can capture premium from early-booking travelers before last-minute pricing becomes relevant.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Fort Bragg has among the most restrictive STR regulations on the California coast. Short-term rentals are legal only within a narrow geographic and use window: the property must be located in Fort Bragg’s Central Business District, and the dwelling unit must occupy the second or third floor of a building whose ground floor contains an active commercial use. STRs in residentially zoned areas and any ground-floor units are prohibited citywide.
Operators must obtain a Minor Use Permit from the Planning Department, a city business license, and register for Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) collection. The TOT rate is 14%, raised from 12% by voter-approved Measure U in November 2024, effective 2025. The city applies an informal cap of approximately 10 STR permits citywide; as of the most recent reporting, only approximately two permitted STRs were operating, and several unpermitted units have received code enforcement notices.
No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies. There is no published maximum nights cap. Enforcement severity is rated strict. The City Council rejected a proposal in January 2024 to expand STR-eligible zones into other commercial areas, citing workforce housing concerns.
Investors should assume that residential properties in Fort Bragg city limits are not eligible for STR operation. The eligible inventory is limited to a small number of upper-floor commercial-district units. Properties in unincorporated Mendocino County surrounding Fort Bragg may face different, potentially less restrictive regulations.
Market Comparison
Fort Bragg’s April 2026 occupancy of 52.3% is near the US STR median of approximately 55%. The ADR of $233 exceeds the US STR median of roughly $220, reflecting the Mendocino Coast’s California coastal premium and above-average room rates.
Revenue growth of 5.2% year-over-year in April 2026 is a positive signal, contrasting with the -2.6% decline seen in the Forks, WA market (a comparable small-town coastal outdoor market). The 2025 average ADR of $231 and the 2024-to-2025 trend of continued ADR growth indicate steady pricing power.
Vacasa leads the professional management segment with 373 listings and 38,306 reviews (4.67 rating). Evolve follows with 221 listings and 9,242 reviews (4.68 rating). Casago holds 123 listings with 6,490 reviews (4.74 rating). These three operators represent approximately 717 managed listings across the broader Mendocino Coast market area. Humboldt Retreats (71 listings, 4.89 rating) and Grand Welcome (56 listings, 4.69 rating) round out the top five.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Bragg, California
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