Vacaville, California Short-Term Rental Market
Vacaville, CA prohibits residential STRs under 30 days; operators active on platforms face high enforcement risk.
Quick Answer: Vacaville, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 59%. average monthly revenue is $2,268. average daily rate is $141. the top operator is Evolve with 177 listings. market score is 57/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Vacaville is an I-80 corridor city of approximately 104,917 residents located midway between San Francisco and Sacramento. Tourism spending reached $240 million in 2024, driven by the Premium Outlets, Travis Air Force Base events, and outdoor recreation visitors. Despite significant overnight lodging demand ($30.9 million in 2024 lodging expenditures), Vacaville does not permit short-term rentals in residential zones.
Platform data shows approximately 9,773 listings across Airbnb and Vrbo in the broader market area, with entire-place listings at 7,098, private rooms at 2,664, and shared rooms at 11. Bedroom distribution shows 1-bedroom units as the largest segment (4,549 listings), followed by 3-bedroom (1,993), 2-bedroom (1,548), 4-bedroom (1,212), and 5-bedroom-plus (463). Channel distribution is heavily Airbnb-weighted: 6,913 listings on Airbnb only versus 292 on Vrbo only, with 2,568 on both platforms.
The market’s seasonality score is 98.8 out of 100, the highest among markets in this dataset, reflecting extremely consistent year-round demand with minimal monthly swing. Occupancy ranges from approximately 54.7% in January to 66.8% in June. The relatively narrow band is unusual for a California market and reflects the city’s function as a transit and logistics hub rather than a seasonal destination.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55% | $106 | $1,694 |
| Feb | 61% | $111 | $1,725 |
| Mar | 61% | $112 | $1,932 |
| Apr | 61% | $117 | $1,947 |
| May | 64% | $121 | $2,055 |
| Jun | 67% | $126 | $2,264 |
| Jul | 67% | $125 | $2,308 |
| Aug | 63% | $122 | $2,154 |
| Sep | 61% | $118 | $1,948 |
| Oct | 61% | $116 | $1,979 |
| Nov | 58% | $115 | $1,826 |
| Dec | 57% | $116 | $1,861 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Vacaville
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 177 | 4,215 | ★ 4.55 |
| 2 | Stay Smart | 85 | 925 | ★ 4.36 |
| 3 | Guest Equity, Inc. | 47 | 4,153 | ★ 4.71 |
| 4 | Fresno Short Term Rentals | 43 | 3,803 | ★ 4.86 |
| 5 | LUSH Garden Hideaway | 42 | 875 | ★ 4.95 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Vacaville?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 4,549 |
| 2 bed | 1,548 |
| 3 bed | 1,993 |
| 4 bed | 1,212 |
| 5 bed | 463 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $171 |
| Luxury | $258 |
| Professionally Managed | $187 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,639 |
| Entire Place | $2,713 |
| House | $2,372 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 70.7% |
| vrbo | 3% |
| both | 26.3% |
Investment Analysis
Investors considering Vacaville-area STR properties should be aware that residential short-term rentals under 30 days are prohibited under the Vacaville Municipal Code. Properties listed on Airbnb or Vrbo in violation of the city’s zoning code are subject to enforcement action by the Code Enforcement division. There is no STR permit pathway in Vacaville as of May 2026, and the City Council has publicly opposed legalization.
Performance data for the broader market area shows an average daily rate of $141 and occupancy of 59.1% as of April 2026, generating average monthly revenue of $2,268. The typical home value is $608,698, with a median sale price of $591,000. At $2,268/month, the annualized gross revenue of approximately $27,216 implies a gross yield of roughly 4.5% against typical home value. The sale-to-list ratio of 0.938 and median days to pending of 15 indicate a liquid resale market.
For investors seeking legal STR operations, compliant options include commercially zoned hotels, motels, and bed-and-breakfast inns in properly zoned districts. Stays of 30 days or longer are treated as residential rentals and are not subject to STR restrictions. Investors should consult with a Vacaville-licensed attorney or land use consultant before purchasing property intended for short-term rental use.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Market-level data shows Vacaville-area guests book an average of 28.1 days in advance, roughly four weeks out. This shorter lead time compared to leisure resort markets reflects the area’s business travel, military visit, and pass-through character. Guests arriving for Travis AFB events, outlet shopping, or I-80 corridor transit tend to make more last-minute decisions than vacation-destination travelers.
Average length of stay is 5.0 nights, longer than typical weekend-trip markets. This extended stay average suggests a meaningful mix of extended business travelers, military family visitors, and regional workers who use short-term accommodations for multi-day engagements. A 5-night average implies approximately 6 bookings per occupied month, reducing turnover frequency compared to weekend-trip markets. For any legally permitted operations in commercial zones, pricing models that reward weekly stays (5 to 7 nights) align with the demonstrated guest behavior.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Vacaville prohibits short-term rentals in residential zones. The city’s Municipal Code classifies any lodging rented to the public for less than 30 days as a hotel, and hotels are only permitted in commercial and mixed-use zones. There is no STR permit, registration, or licensing program for residential properties.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) cannot be used for stays under 31 days, consistent with California state law (Government Code 65852.2). The City Council has publicly opposed legalizing short-term vacation rentals, and no legalization ordinance is pending as of May 2026.
The city’s Transient Occupancy Tax of 8% applies to legally operating hotels and motels in commercial zones, not to prohibited residential STRs. Enforcement is handled by the Code Enforcement division. Operators listing a Vacaville residence for stays under 30 days are subject to zoning violation citations.
Legal short-stay accommodation options are limited to commercial hotels, motels, and licensed bed-and-breakfast inns in properly zoned districts. Stays of 30 days or longer are treated as residential rentals and fall outside STR regulation.
Market Comparison
Vacaville’s 59.1% occupancy in April 2026 sits above the U.S. STR annual median of approximately 55%, reflecting the market’s consistent year-round demand. The $141 ADR is well below the national median of approximately $220, consistent with the market’s budget-tier and transit-lodging character rather than premium vacation positioning.
The seasonality score of 98.8 is the highest in this dataset, meaning Vacaville has among the flattest seasonal demand curves of any tracked STR market. This consistency has value for cash-flow predictability but comes paired with lower average rates.
Among operators in the broader market area, Evolve leads with 177 listings and a 4.55 rating. Stay Smart follows with 85 listings. Guest Equity, Inc. holds 47 listings with a 4.71 rating and 4,153 reviews. Fresno Short Term Rentals (43 listings, 4.86 rating) and LUSH Garden Hideaway (42 listings, 4.95 rating) round out the top five. Investors should verify the legal operating status of any property before engaging a property manager for STR use in Vacaville’s residential zones.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vacaville, California
Are Airbnb rentals legal in Vacaville, CA?
What is the average Airbnb revenue in the Vacaville market area?
Is Vacaville a year-round STR market?
What is the typical home value in Vacaville?
How far in advance do Vacaville-area guests typically book?
What Transient Occupancy Tax applies to lodging in Vacaville?
Which property managers operate in the broader Vacaville market area?
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