Garden Grove, California Short-Term Rental Market
Garden Grove STRs averaged $313/night at 67.8% occupancy in April 2026, but residential short-term rentals are prohibited under city law.
Quick Answer: Garden Grove, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 78%. average monthly revenue is $8,143. average daily rate is $408. the top operator 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 Garden Grove. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Garden Grove.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Garden Grove, California is a densely populated city of 172,361 residents in Orange County, situated adjacent to the Disneyland Resort corridor. STR activity data for April 2026 shows approximately 13,582 active listings across the tracked market, with an average daily rate of $313 and occupancy of 67.8%. Revenue per available rental (RevPAR) reached $213 in the same period.
However, investors must understand a critical legal context: Garden Grove prohibits short-term rentals in all residential zones under its permissive zoning code, where any use not specifically authorized is banned. There is no STR permit program for residential properties. Operating an STR in a residential zone is treated as running an illegal hotel and is prosecuted as a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000 per day per violation. Much of the tracked STR inventory likely reflects non-compliant activity or properties in commercial zones.
By listing type, entire-place rentals dominate at 11,242 units (83% of tracked listings), with private rooms at 2,334 (17%) and shared rooms at just 21. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom units lead at 4,822, followed by 2-bedroom (3,315), 3-bedroom (2,686), 4-bedroom (1,785), and 5-bedroom (974). Airbnb is the dominant channel, with 8,117 Airbnb-only listings, 716 VRBO-only, and 4,764 listed on both platforms.
Year-over-year through April 2026, occupancy rose 8.79 percentage points, ADR grew 2.76%, and average revenue increased 12.77%. The market’s revenue growth score of 97.4 out of 100 reflects strong recent momentum, though that momentum is shadowed by the city’s strict enforcement posture.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58% | $212 | $3,390 |
| Feb | 65% | $225 | $3,672 |
| Mar | 69% | $258 | $4,836 |
| Apr | 62% | $248 | $4,252 |
| May | 66% | $259 | $4,505 |
| Jun | 75% | $309 | $5,783 |
| Jul | 78% | $303 | $6,033 |
| Aug | 68% | $284 | $5,190 |
| Sep | 63% | $247 | $4,121 |
| Oct | 65% | $243 | $4,307 |
| Nov | 60% | $235 | $3,750 |
| Dec | 62% | $242 | $4,043 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Garden Grove
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 Garden Grove?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 4,822 |
| 2 bed | 3,315 |
| 3 bed | 2,686 |
| 4 bed | 1,785 |
| 5 bed | 974 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $471 |
| Luxury | $937 |
| Professionally Managed | $788 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $6,154 |
| Entire Place | $9,349 |
| House | $9,039 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 59.7% |
| vrbo | 5.3% |
| both | 35% |
Investment Analysis
Garden Grove presents a contradictory investment picture: strong demand metrics undercut by a clear legal prohibition on residential STRs. The city actively prosecutes violations and has increased code-enforcement resources through 2025.
For investors who proceed despite the regulatory environment, the April 2026 average gross revenue of $5,803 per month implies annualized revenue of approximately $69,641. Against a typical home value of $1,012,728, that yields a gross revenue-to-price ratio of roughly 6.9%. That figure is theoretical for residential properties, since operating legally as an STR is not possible in residential zones.
Rate tiers show meaningful differentiation. Entire-home listings averaged $361 in April 2026 versus the all-listings ADR of $313, and the luxury tier averaged $724 while professionally managed units averaged $567. This spread indicates significant upside for higher-quality or professionally managed properties.
The housing market is competitive: median sale price of $918,333 against a median list price of $987,000, with a 0.931 sale-to-list ratio and a median of 14 days to pending. Entry costs are high and the path to legal STR operation in residential zones does not currently exist. Investors seeking an STR asset in Orange County should evaluate neighboring jurisdictions with active permit programs before targeting Garden Grove.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Garden Grove’s STR market shows an average booking lead time of 43 days in April 2026, meaning guests typically book about six weeks in advance. This is somewhat longer than many urban markets and reflects the resort-adjacent nature of demand, where travelers plan Disneyland visits well ahead.
Average length of stay is 5.25 nights, which is notably longer than the national STR median and points to multi-day resort itineraries rather than quick stopover bookings. A 5-night average stay means fewer turnover events per month, reducing cleaning and restocking costs relative to markets with 2 to 3-night averages.
The combination of a 43-day lead window and 5-night stays creates a relatively predictable booking pattern. Operators can target dynamic pricing rate adjustments roughly six weeks out as occupancy fills, and can rely on multi-night minimums to maintain stay-length economics. Last-minute discounting is less critical here than in shorter-stay urban markets.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Garden Grove effectively prohibits short-term rentals in residential zones. Under the city’s permissive zoning code, any use not specifically authorized is banned, and renting a home to transients for fewer than 30 consecutive days is not an authorized residential use. There is no city STR registration or permit program for residential properties.
Operating a residential STR is treated as running an illegal hotel or motel. Violations are prosecuted as misdemeanors with fines of up to $1,000 per day, per violation, and up to six months in jail, with each day counted as a separate offense. The city’s Code Enforcement division actively investigates noise, traffic, parking, and safety complaints.
The city’s 14.5% transient occupancy tax applies to lawful lodging stays of 30 days or less. Because residential STRs are prohibited, this tax is largely inapplicable to residential properties. Only commercial-zone operators with a conditional use permit can lawfully operate transient lodging.
As of 2025, the prohibition remains in force. The city has reaffirmed that no residential STR permit program exists and has increased enforcement resources. Investors considering Garden Grove for STR purposes should not proceed without independent legal counsel confirming a specific property’s zoning and lawful use.
Market Comparison
Garden Grove’s 67.8% occupancy in April 2026 runs well above the national STR median of approximately 55%, and its $313 ADR also exceeds the national median of approximately $220. These metrics reflect the strong demand pull from the Disneyland Resort corridor and Orange County tourism infrastructure.
The market’s overall score of 68.9 out of 100 is moderate, with revenue growth (97.4) being the standout subcategory. Investability scores lower at 50.7, consistent with the high entry cost and regulatory risk.
Among top operators, Tower 17 Properties and Management leads with 244 listings and 11,217 reviews at a 4.70 rating. Dream Resorts holds second with 195 listings and 9,053 reviews at 4.68. Newport Beach Vacation Properties operates 137 listings with 5,374 reviews at 4.61. Together these three operators account for 576 listings, representing a small fraction of the 13,000+ tracked units, indicating a fragmented market without dominant scale operators.
Frequently Asked Questions About Garden Grove, California
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