Apple Valley, California Short-Term Rental Market
Apple Valley, CA STRs averaged $141/night at 59.1% occupancy in April 2026 across 9,779 active listings.
Quick Answer: Apple Valley, 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 58/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Apple Valley is an incorporated town in San Bernardino County’s High Desert (Victor Valley region), approximately 90 miles northeast of Los Angeles along the I-15 corridor, with a population of approximately 75,500. The area is primarily a residential community and drive-market destination, drawing visitors for Mojave Desert outdoor recreation, regional parks, and High Desert heritage attractions rather than resort tourism.
The STR market has 9,779 active listings as of April 2026: 6,917 on Airbnb only, 2,575 on both Airbnb and VRBO, and 287 on VRBO only. The market-wide average daily rate in April 2026 was $141, with occupancy at 59.1% and RevPAR at $83.21. Monthly revenue averaged $2,268 per listing.
Year-over-year performance is slightly negative: occupancy fell 0.45 percentage points, ADR declined 0.65%, and revenue declined 2.73%. Entire-place listings account for 7,105 (72.7% of inventory), private rooms make up 2,663 (27.2%), and shared rooms total 11. The bedroom mix is led by 1-bedroom units (4,549), followed by 3-bedroom (1,999), 2-bedroom (1,551), 4-bedroom (1,210), and 5-bedroom (462). The market’s overall score is 58.0 out of 100, with seasonality (98.8) and regulation (63.6) as the stronger dimensions. Revenue growth scores 48.7 and investability 58.1, consistent with the modest YoY declines.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55% | $106 | $1,695 |
| Feb | 61% | $111 | $1,725 |
| Mar | 61% | $112 | $1,932 |
| Apr | 61% | $117 | $1,948 |
| May | 64% | $121 | $2,055 |
| Jun | 67% | $126 | $2,265 |
| 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 | $1,862 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Apple Valley
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 177 | 4,256 | ★ 4.54 |
| 2 | Stay Smart | 85 | 926 | ★ 4.36 |
| 3 | Guest Equity, Inc. | 47 | 4,161 | ★ 4.71 |
| 4 | Fresno Short Term Rentals | 43 | 3,826 | ★ 4.85 |
| 5 | LUSH Garden Hideaway | 42 | 875 | ★ 4.95 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Apple Valley?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 4,549 |
| 2 bed | 1,551 |
| 3 bed | 1,999 |
| 4 bed | 1,210 |
| 5 bed | 462 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $171 |
| Luxury | $258 |
| Professionally Managed | $188 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,637 |
| Entire Place | $2,713 |
| House | $2,372 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 70.7% |
| vrbo | 2.9% |
| both | 26.3% |
Investment Analysis
Apple Valley’s April 2026 STR metrics reflect a lower-cost suburban desert market. Average monthly revenue was $2,268 across all listing types. Entire-place rentals averaged $2,713 per month, a meaningful premium over the market-wide average. Houses specifically averaged $2,372, while apartments averaged $1,637 — a $1,076 gap highlighting the private-space premium.
ADR by tier shows the range available. The market-wide rate is $141 per night. Entire-home listings averaged $171, and professionally managed listings averaged $188 — a $47 premium (33%) over the market average and a $17 premium over general entire-home ADR. Luxury-tier properties averaged $258 per night.
Annualized, an average Apple Valley STR generates approximately $27,200 in gross revenue. No Zillow housing snapshot was available for this area, so a gross yield calculation against a typical home price cannot be cited. Investors should source current home values independently. The mild YoY revenue decline (-2.73%) and the below-median overall market score (58.0) suggest this is a stable but moderate-growth market. The relatively low ADR ($141) and the commuter-market profile mean underwriting should be grounded in conservative revenue assumptions rather than upside projections.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Apple Valley guests book an average of 28.1 days in advance, the shortest lead time in this market group. This reflects the area’s drive-market character: visitors from the Los Angeles basin and Inland Empire making relatively near-term plans for desert recreation weekends, regional park visits, and overnight highway stops.
The average length of stay is 5.0 nights, which sits at a midpoint between weekend-trip and week-long-vacation markets. This suggests a blend of short leisure getaways and slightly longer extended stays from regional travelers. A 5-night average supports 4-5 night minimum pricing strategies that reduce operational churn without locking out the shorter-trip segment.
With a 28-day booking window, hosts have about a month of forward visibility. Revenue management should be active in the 2-4 week window: if occupancy is running below pace 2-3 weeks out, rate reductions are more effective here than in markets with longer lead times where pricing pressure 4-6 weeks out still has time to fill gaps. The combination of 28-day lead time and 5-night average stay indicates a moderately flexible market that rewards active pricing more than set-and-forget approaches.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Apple Valley is an incorporated town in San Bernardino County, so County STR rules do not apply here. San Bernardino County’s well-known permit program (online registration, exterior inspection, fines up to $1,000 per day) governs only unincorporated desert and mountain areas, not the incorporated town of Apple Valley.
What is confirmed from primary sources: the town levies a 7% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on stays of 30 days or less under Municipal Code Chapter 3.24, which operators must collect and remit. A business license is required for businesses operating in the town.
IMPORTANT CAVEAT: Many online guides for Apple Valley CA STR regulations are unreliable because they conflate the California town with Apple Valley, Minnesota. Claims about a specific STR registration ordinance, free one-time rental registration, and Police Department oversight found in widely circulated guides actually describe Apple Valley, Minnesota’s program. A clearly documented, dedicated STR permit or registration ordinance for the California town could not be verified from primary sources at the time of profile update.
Practical guidance: the 7% TOT applies and a business license is generally required. Whether a specific STR permit is required, whether there are night caps or occupancy requirements, and how actively the town enforces STR rules should be confirmed directly with the Town of Apple Valley Planning Department and Finance/Business License Division before operating. Do not rely on third-party STR guides for this market without cross-referencing the town’s official municipal code.
Market Comparison
Apple Valley’s 59.1% occupancy in April 2026 is above the approximate US STR median of 55%, though it sits at the lower end of this market group. The $141 ADR is meaningfully below the US STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the market’s position as an affordable desert regional option rather than a premium destination.
The market’s near-perfect seasonality score (98.8 out of 100) is the standout metric: year-round demand is unusually stable relative to most US STR markets, which reduces calendar-management risk for operators.
Among professional operators, Evolve leads with 177 listings and 4,256 reviews at a 4.54 average rating. Stay Smart is second with 85 listings and a 4.36 rating. LUSH Garden Hideaway ranks fifth with 42 listings and the highest rating in the top five at 4.95 across 875 reviews. Guest Equity ranks third with 47 listings and a 4.71 rating. The top five operators together hold 394 listings out of 9,779 total, or about 4.0% of the market — the inventory is predominantly independently managed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Valley, California
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Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Apple Valley, CA?
Does San Bernardino County's STR permit program apply in Apple Valley?
What are the peak and slow seasons for Apple Valley short-term rentals?
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