Imperial Beach, California Short-Term Rental Market
Imperial Beach, CA STRs averaged $299/night at 65.2% occupancy in April 2026, with year-over-year revenue up 9.6%.
Quick Answer: Imperial Beach, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 76%. average monthly revenue is $7,597. average daily rate is $382. the top operator is Evolve with 266 listings. market score is 65/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the San Diego regional market, which includes Imperial Beach. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Imperial Beach.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Imperial Beach market area covers short-term rental activity along the San Diego County coast, centered on California’s southernmost beach city, approximately 5 miles from the US-Mexico border. The April 2026 snapshot shows 65.2% average occupancy and an average daily rate of $299, producing RevPAR of $195 and average monthly revenue of $5,328 per active listing.
The market contains approximately 26,985 active listings by channel count, reflecting a broad San Diego coastal corridor. Entire-place rentals account for 90.1% of supply (24,307 listings), private rooms 9.8% (2,656 listings), and shared rooms 0.1% (22 listings). One-bedroom properties are most common at 41.8% of supply (11,274 listings), followed by two-bedroom (6,946 listings, 25.8%), three-bedroom (4,599 listings, 17.1%), four-bedroom (2,457 listings, 9.1%), and five-or-more-bedroom (1,667 listings, 6.2%). Platform distribution is Airbnb-heavy: 49.4% of listings are Airbnb-only, 44.3% appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, and 6.2% are VRBO-only.
Year-over-year trends as of April 2026 show improving demand: occupancy rose 8.3 percentage points, ADR declined 0.7%, and monthly revenue grew 9.6% compared to April 2025. The 2025 full-year average was 62.8% occupancy and $305 ADR. Market scores: rental demand 79.3 out of 100, seasonality 77.9, revenue growth 71.5, regulation 64.6, total score 65.4, and investability 53.5.
Critical zoning note for investors: STRs are allowed only in designated commercial/mixed-use districts (C/MU-1, C/MU-2, C/MU-3, and C/R-ET). Standard residential zones prohibit STRs, making zone verification the essential first step in any acquisition evaluation.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56% | $202 | $3,105 |
| Feb | 65% | $210 | $3,322 |
| Mar | 69% | $246 | $4,495 |
| Apr | 62% | $243 | $4,074 |
| May | 64% | $257 | $4,260 |
| Jun | 74% | $308 | $5,753 |
| Jul | 77% | $312 | $6,123 |
| Aug | 68% | $291 | $5,370 |
| Sep | 61% | $245 | $4,007 |
| Oct | 61% | $236 | $3,937 |
| Nov | 58% | $224 | $3,397 |
| Dec | 57% | $230 | $3,544 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Imperial Beach
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 266 | 10,486 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Surf Style Vacation Homes | 225 | 10,113 | ★ 4.77 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 179 | 8,447 | ★ 4.62 |
| 4 | Nxt Vacation Rental Management | 165 | 3,059 | ★ 4.90 |
| 5 | San Diego Rentals | 162 | 153 | ★ 4.40 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Imperial Beach?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 11,274 |
| 2 bed | 6,946 |
| 3 bed | 4,599 |
| 4 bed | 2,457 |
| 5 bed | 1,667 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $411 |
| Luxury | $722 |
| Professionally Managed | $580 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $6,253 |
| Entire Place | $8,166 |
| House | $8,599 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 49.4% |
| vrbo | 6.2% |
| both | 44.3% |
Investment Analysis
April 2026 data shows meaningful ADR differentiation across tiers. The all-listings average of $299 per night compares to $320 for entire-home listings, $436 for professionally managed properties, and $576 for the luxury tier. Professional management commands a $137-per-night premium over the all-listings ADR (45.8%), a larger spread than seen in many comparable coastal markets.
Monthly revenue averages $5,328 across all listing types, equivalent to roughly $63,936 annualized. Houses generate $5,957 per month (approximately $71,484 per year). Entire-place listings broadly average $5,692 per month ($68,304 per year), while apartments average $4,475 per month ($53,700 per year).
Based on the Zillow typical home value of $844,750, an all-listings gross yield estimate (April revenue annualized) is approximately 7.6% ($63,936 / $844,750). This is a preliminary figure that does not account for taxes, fees, vacancies, or the zoning restriction limiting STR use to commercial/mixed-use parcels. The median list price of $900,500 implies a slightly lower gross yield for buyers at current ask prices. The 2025 full-year monthly average of $5,259 ($63,108 annualized) implies a similarly conservative gross yield of approximately 7.5% at the typical home value.
Revenue growth scores 71.5 out of 100, supported by the strong April 2026 year-over-year gain of 9.6%. The investability score of 53.5 out of 100 reflects the drag from the strict commercial/mixed-use zoning constraint, which limits the eligible acquisition universe in this city.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The Imperial Beach market area shows a booking lead time of approximately 41 days in the April 2026 data. Guests commit to reservations about six weeks before their intended arrival date, a relatively short lead window compared to many resort markets. The compressed timeline reflects the high year-round demand in the San Diego region: guests are confident finding availability closer to arrival.
For operators, the 41-day lead window means revenue management should focus on adjusting prices roughly four to six weeks out rather than locking in rates months in advance. Dynamic pricing tools that react to demand signals in the 30-60-day booking window are particularly effective in this market.
Average length of stay is 4.4 days, slightly above a long weekend. This mid-length booking pattern supports seven-night minimums during the June-through-August peak to raise per-booking revenue while reducing turnover, and two-to-three-night minimums in shoulder months (October through May) to maintain occupancy.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Imperial Beach permits short-term rentals (stays under 30 consecutive days) with a significant geographic constraint: STRs are allowed only in designated commercial/mixed-use zoning districts (C/MU-1, C/MU-2, C/MU-3, and C/R-ET), primarily along corridors such as Palm Avenue and Imperial Beach Boulevard. Standard residential zones prohibit STRs, and violations can draw fines of up to $250 per day.
Operators in permitted zones must obtain and maintain an active City business license under the ‘Property Rental – Short Term’ category, applied for through the city’s Citizen Self-Service portal. The license carries an annual renewal cycle and includes an annual fire-safety inspection. Properties in the coastal zone may additionally require a Coastal Development Permit unless exempt under Municipal Code Section 19.87.040. The permit fee amount is not publicly listed on the city’s STR page.
All operators must collect and remit a 14% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), raised from 10% effective January 1, 2023, following voter approval of Measure R in November 2022. The TOT is filed monthly, with 10% late penalties and interest for delinquency. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement was identified, and no annual night cap applies.
The city uses third-party monitoring tools to detect unlicensed rentals. Enforcement is classified as moderate. Investors should confirm the specific parcel’s zoning classification as the first step in due diligence, as the commercial/mixed-use zone requirement is the primary barrier to STR use in Imperial Beach.
Market Comparison
Imperial Beach’s April 2026 ADR of $299 sits approximately 36% above the US short-term rental median of roughly $220. Occupancy at 65.2% is notably above the US STR median of approximately 55%, reflecting strong coastal California demand.
The top operator by listing count is Evolve with 266 active listings (1.0% of supply) and a 4.73 average rating from 10,486 reviews. Surf Style Vacation Homes holds the number-two position with 225 listings (0.8% of supply) and a 4.77 rating from 10,113 reviews. Vacasa ranks third with 179 listings and a 4.62 rating from 8,447 reviews. Nxt Vacation Rental Management has 165 listings and a 4.90 rating from 3,059 reviews. San Diego Rentals rounds out the top five with 162 listings and a 4.40 rating from 153 reviews. Together the top five operators hold 997 listings, approximately 3.7% of total active supply, indicating a highly fragmented market with limited concentration among large operators.
The full market dataset encompasses the broader San Diego coastal corridor. Imperial Beach city proper, with approximately 25,458 residents, is a small community relative to the total listing count of 26,985, confirming that the data reflects regional coastal supply rather than city-only inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions About Imperial Beach, California
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