Aptos, California Short-Term Rental Market
Capped permits shape Aptos area STRs, with $400 ADR, 58.0% occupancy and $6,256 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Aptos, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Santa Cruz market area is 58%. average monthly revenue in the Santa Cruz market area is $6,256. average daily rate in the Santa Cruz market area is $400. the top operator in the Santa Cruz market area is O'Neal Vacation Rentals LLC with 99 listings. market score is 56/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Santa Cruz regional market, which includes Aptos. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Aptos.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Aptos is an unincorporated coastal community in Santa Cruz County with a population of 6,395. Short-term rental performance here is tracked at a shared regional level, so the figures in this profile describe the southern Santa Cruz County STR market, which covers Aptos and nearby Watsonville, rather than Aptos alone. In September 2026 the southern Santa Cruz County STR market posted an average daily rate of $400, occupancy of 58.0%, and average monthly revenue of $6,256 per listing. Entire-home listings earned a higher ADR of $420. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 14.2%, ADR is up 3.4%, and revenue is up 19.4%, so the gain came mostly from more booked nights rather than higher prices. Year to date, 2026 is running at 59.5% occupancy, a $386 ADR and $6,279 in average monthly revenue across nine months, ahead of the full-year 2025 figures of 55.1%, $368 and $5,518. The market slid from its 2021 peak of 70.0% occupancy and $5,800 monthly revenue, bottomed at 54.2% occupancy in 2024, and has been recovering since. Adding up the seasonal monthly averages gives annual revenue of $57,855 for a typical listing. Supply is limited by regulation more than by demand. Aptos sits inside a designated county zone with hard permit caps and an active waitlist, so new entrants face a queue, which helps support rates for permitted operators. Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts, along with the top operators, are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Aptos, so this profile omits them. Visitors come mainly from the San Francisco Bay Area and the rest of California, drawn by Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, Seacliff State Beach and Rio Del Mar State Beach. The Aptos 4th of July Parade and the Aptos Wine Wander add seasonal spikes. The area is low-key and outdoors-focused rather than nightlife-oriented. Treat the numbers as regional benchmarks, and confirm local permit availability before underwriting a purchase.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 41% |
| Feb | 52% |
| Mar | 56% |
| Apr | 60% |
| May | 58% |
| Jun | 71% |
| Jul | 78% |
| Aug | 69% |
| Sep | 58% |
| Oct | 55% |
| Nov | 52% |
| Dec | 47% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Aptos are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Santa Cruz market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Santa Cruz market as a whole, which includes Aptos, so these counts are not Aptos-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | O'Neal Vacation Rentals LLC | 99 | 9,671 | ★ 4.83 |
| 2 | Beachnest Vacation Rentals | 55 | 1,469 | ★ 4.77 |
| 3 | Surf City | 54 | 4,104 | ★ 4.82 |
| 4 | Cheshire Rio Realty | 49 | 1,723 | ★ 4.75 |
| 5 | Bailey Properties | 44 | 2,320 | ★ 4.63 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Aptos?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Aptos 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 | 45.2% |
| vrbo | 9.9% |
| both | 44.9% |
Home Value Trends (Aptos)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Aptos 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 Aptos — 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
Short-term rentals are permitted in Aptos but tightly capped, and the county rates enforcement as strict. Aptos is unincorporated Santa Cruz County and falls under the county vacation rental ordinance within the Seacliff/Aptos/La Selva Beach Designated Area, known as SALSDA. A permit is required. Two types exist: Non-Hosted, for whole homes with no residency requirement, and Hosted, where the owner lives on site at least 6 months a year and rents up to 3 bedrooms. Both cover rentals of 30 nights or fewer. Hard caps are 147 non-hosted permits and 45 hosted permits, no more than 20% of residential parcels on a block may operate as STRs, and a waitlist is currently active. Accessory dwelling units, mobile homes, affordable housing and apartments are ineligible, and a few streets are exempt from the block limit, including Pot Belly Beach Road, Las Olas Drive, the Rio Del Mar flats and the Beach Drive area. New non-hosted permits cost $1,808 for up to 3 bedrooms or $3,316 for 4 or more bedrooms, and new hosted permits cost $661. Renewals are due every 5 years and cost $150 for non-hosted and $571 for hosted. Permits are non-transferable when a property sells, so buyers must reapply. The occupancy tax is 14% of gross rental income, and hosts must also register with the County Tax Collector and complete CruzAware registration. Occupancy is limited to 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional. In August 2025 the county added a 270-permit countywide cap for non-hosted rentals outside designated areas, one permit per owner or entity, a 10-day platform takedown rule after county notice, and tenant protections. For investors, the principal barrier is the cap and waitlist, not cost.
Market Comparison
The southern Santa Cruz County STR market looks like a high-rate, moderate-occupancy market. September 2026 occupancy was 58.0% at a $400 ADR, and luxury listings reached $652. Year-over-year occupancy growth of 14.2% and revenue growth of 19.4% suggest a market that is recovering from the softer 2023 and 2024 years, when occupancy was 56.9% and 54.2%. The higher rate level reflects coastal positioning, proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area, and a supply limit set by permit caps. The tradeoff is cost and access: a typical home value of $1,340,950 and a waitlist for permits mean capital requirements and entry friction are well above those of most US STR markets. Top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Aptos, so this profile omits them. Investors who can secure a permit get strong rates, but those without one should compare this market with lower-priced alternatives that have fewer regulatory limits.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aptos, California
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