Arnold, California Short-Term Rental Market
The Sierra foothills STR market averaged $326 ADR, 43.5% occupancy and $3,945 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Arnold, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Northern Sierra Mtns market area is 43%. average monthly revenue in the Northern Sierra Mtns market area is $3,945. average daily rate in the Northern Sierra Mtns market area is $326. the top operator in the Northern Sierra Mtns market area is Evolve with 209 listings. market score is 58/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Northern Sierra Mtns regional market, which includes Arnold. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Arnold.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Arnold sits at 3,999 feet on Highway 4 in Calaveras County and serves as the gateway to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, about 4 miles east, and Bear Valley Mountain Resort, about 30 miles up the highway. The town has a population of 3,288, and roughly 45% of dwellings are vacation homes, which gives the area a deep seasonal second-home and rental base. Visitors are mostly drive-market travelers from the Bay Area, Sacramento, and the Central Valley.
Short-term rental performance for Arnold is reported at the submarket level. The figures on this page describe the Sierra Nevada foothills and Gold Country STR market, a region that also includes Murphys, Copperopolis, Groveland, Placerville, and Mariposa, all of which share the same published metric series as Arnold.
In September 2026 the average daily rate in that market was $326 and occupancy was 43.5%, producing average monthly revenue of $3,945 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 14.3%, ADR is up 3.1%, and revenue is up 10.8%. Year to date through September, 2026 shows 46.4% occupancy, a $325 ADR, and $4,203 in average monthly revenue, ahead of the full 2025 figures of 44.2% occupancy, a $311 ADR, and $3,827 in monthly revenue. The best year in the series was 2021, at 60.7% occupancy and $4,394 in monthly revenue, so current occupancy remains well below that peak even as the ADR has climbed from $279 to the mid $320s.
Summing the seasonal monthly figures gives annualized revenue of $42,327 per listing. Listing counts by bedroom, booking channel, and listing type, along with the top operator names, are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Arnold, so this profile omits them. Short-term rentals are legal in Arnold with TOT registration, and the regulatory section below covers the pending countywide ordinance.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 37% |
| Feb | 46% |
| Mar | 40% |
| Apr | 46% |
| May | 54% |
| Jun | 61% |
| Jul | 64% |
| Aug | 53% |
| Sep | 44% |
| Oct | 46% |
| Nov | 42% |
| Dec | 46% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Arnold are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Northern Sierra Mtns market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Northern Sierra Mtns market as a whole, which includes Arnold, so these counts are not Arnold-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 209 | 10,374 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 139 | 6,780 | ★ 4.47 |
| 3 | Cedar Creek Realty | 131 | 2,818 | ★ 4.68 |
| 4 | The Redwoods In Yosemite | 127 | 3,345 | ★ 4.60 |
| 5 | Yosemite's Scenic Wonders | 78 | 14,742 | ★ 4.79 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Arnold?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Arnold 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 | 40.1% |
| vrbo | 6.4% |
| both | 53.5% |
Home Value Trends (Arnold)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Arnold 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 Arnold — 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 legal in Arnold and throughout unincorporated Calaveras County, and there is no countywide ban or cap. Operators need a Transient Occupancy Tax certificate from the Calaveras County Tax Collector, plus STR registration through the county’s Deckard portal. The occupancy tax is 12% on rent and cleaning fees for stays of 30 nights or less. That rate took effect in December 2018 after voters approved Measure G, replacing a 6% rate that had been in place for 44 years.
Neither owner occupancy nor primary residence is required. As of 2025, zoning-based STR restrictions in unincorporated Calaveras County apply only to four subdivisions in the Lake Tulloch area, and Arnold is not subject to a countywide zoning-based STR ban. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. Without a specific permit ordinance, Arnold operators mainly comply through TOT registration and standard county rules on noise, parking, and occupancy.
A countywide Short-Term Vacation Rental ordinance has been in development since 2024. A public review draft circulated in August 2024, and the Initial Study Checklist comment period closed September 13, 2025. The draft would require every existing and new rental to obtain a permit, post a 24/7 contact phone number on site, cap amplified music and after 10pm guests, and impose financial penalties for violations. It would not require on-site managers or owner occupancy, and it limits occupancy by bedrooms and on-site parking rather than a hard cap. Calaveras County had more than 700 registered STRs when the draft was prepared. Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors hearings were pending as of late 2025, and adoption status as of May 2026 is not confirmed in available sources. Confirm current rules with the county before buying.
Market Comparison
In September 2026 the Sierra foothills region posted 43.5% occupancy and a $326 ADR, producing average monthly revenue of $3,945 per listing. The profile is a seasonal one, with a wide gap between the summer peak and the rest of the year.
Peak months show the strongest demand. July reaches 63.9% occupancy and June reaches 61.0%, while January falls to 37.0%. ADR ranges from a low of $248 in November to a high of $303 in June.
Year-over-year momentum is strong, with occupancy up 14.3%, ADR up 3.1%, and revenue up 10.8%. For an investor, the trade-off is lower average occupancy and a steep seasonal curve. Demand is anchored by Calaveras Big Trees State Park, which draws approximately 200,000 visitors per year, and by Bear Valley Mountain Resort. With a typical Arnold home value of $428,928, buyers should weigh that entry cost against a market where seven months of the year run below 46% occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arnold, California
What is the average daily rate for short-term rentals in Arnold, CA?
What is the occupancy rate for Arnold Airbnb rentals?
Are short-term rentals legal in Arnold, California?
When is the best time of year to rent out a home in Arnold?
How much does a typical home in Arnold cost?
Is a new short-term rental ordinance coming to Calaveras County?
How far in advance do guests book in Arnold, and for how long?
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