Fullerton, California Short-Term Rental Market
Fullerton, CA STRs averaged $313/night at 67.8% occupancy in May 2026, with revenue growth of 12.8% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Fullerton, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Anaheim market area is 78%. average monthly revenue in the Anaheim market area is $8,143. average daily rate in the Anaheim market area is $408. the top operator in the Anaheim market area is Tower 17 Properties & Mgmt, LLC with 244 listings. market score is 69/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Anaheim regional market, which includes Fullerton. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Fullerton.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Fullerton is a university and residential city in north Orange County, California, approximately 10 miles from Disneyland in Anaheim. The STR market tracked 13,597 active listings (by listing-type count) in the latest snapshot, though the city has imposed a moratorium on new STR permits since July 2025. The market posted a $313 average daily rate and 67.8% occupancy in May 2026, generating average monthly revenue of $5,803 per listing. Year-over-year performance was strong: occupancy up 8.79 percentage points, ADR up 2.76%, and revenue up 12.77%.
The listing mix is predominantly entire-place rentals at 11,242 of 13,597 tracked (82.7%), with 2,334 private rooms and 21 shared rooms. By bedroom count across 13,582 tracked listings: 1-bedroom leads at 4,822, followed by 2-bedroom (3,315), 3-bedroom (2,686), 4-bedroom (1,785), and 5-bedroom-plus (974). Channel distribution shows strong Airbnb presence: 8,117 Airbnb-only listings and 716 VRBO-only, with 4,764 cross-listed on both platforms.
The market’s composite score of 68.9 out of 100 is led by an exceptional revenue growth score of 97.4, one of the highest in the data set. However, investability (50.7) and rental demand (60.1) scores are below average, reflecting the restrictive regulatory environment and the city’s proximity to but distance from core tourist draws.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 58% |
| Feb | 65% |
| Mar | 69% |
| Apr | 62% |
| May | 66% |
| Jun | 75% |
| Jul | 78% |
| Aug | 68% |
| Sep | 63% |
| Oct | 65% |
| Nov | 60% |
| Dec | 62% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Fullerton are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Anaheim market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Anaheim market as a whole, which includes Fullerton, so these counts are not Fullerton-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tower 17 Properties & Mgmt, LLC | 244 | 11,217 | ★ 4.70 |
| 2 | Dream Resorts | 195 | 9,053 | ★ 4.68 |
| 3 | Newport Beach Vacation Properties | 137 | 5,374 | ★ 4.61 |
| 4 | Vacasa | 126 | 8,872 | ★ 4.49 |
| 5 | OC Rentals | 121 | 1,263 | ★ 3.85 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Fullerton?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Fullerton are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 59.7% |
| vrbo | 5.3% |
| both | 35% |
Home Value Trends (Fullerton)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Fullerton are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Fullerton — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Fullerton has a restrictive short-term rental framework and is effectively closed to new whole-home operators. A moratorium on approving new STR permits was enacted by the City Council on July 15, 2025 and runs until 2027 while staff reassess policy and enforcement. Existing permitted operators are not affected by the moratorium.
Key requirements for operating under existing permits: a Short-Term Rental Permit is required ($425 initial fee, approximately $85 annual renewal). Permits are non-transferable and become void when the property is sold. Whole-house permits are capped at 100 citywide. Owner-occupancy is required for new permits (whole-house rentals with an absent owner are prohibited under 2021 amendments). The city estimated approximately 180 unpermitted operators were active as of the moratorium date.
The tax burden is significant: a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) applies to all stays under 30 days. A 3% Tourism Business Improvement District assessment may also apply. Operating without a permit is a misdemeanor. Investors should contact the City of Fullerton directly to confirm current permit availability and the status of the 2027 moratorium review before acquiring property for STR purposes.
Market Comparison
The US short-term rental market typically posts median occupancy around 55% and a median ADR near $220. Fullerton’s May 2026 occupancy of 67.8% significantly exceeds the national median, and the $313 ADR is roughly 42% above the national median, reflecting the Orange County / Los Angeles metro market positioning.
The revenue growth score of 97.4 is exceptional and reflects 12.77% year-over-year revenue growth in the latest data period, far above the typical single-digit growth rate in mature markets. The investability score of 50.7 is a counterweight, largely driven by the regulatory cap and moratorium that restrict new supply from entering the market.
On the operator side, Tower 17 Properties and Management leads with 244 listings and a 4.70 average rating across 11,217 reviews. Dream Resorts manages 195 listings (4.68 rating, 9,053 reviews). Newport Beach Vacation Properties holds 137 listings (4.61 rating). Vacasa manages 126 listings (4.49 rating, 8,872 reviews). OC Rentals rounds out the top five at 121 listings but with a notably lower 3.85 average rating across 1,263 reviews. The top five collectively manage 823 listings, approximately 6% of the 13,597 tracked listings in the broader regional data set.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fullerton, California
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