Benicia, California Short-Term Rental Market
Benicia, CA STRs averaged $141/night at 59.1% occupancy in April 2026, with entire-place listings earning $2,713 per month.
Quick Answer: Benicia, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the California Central Valley market area is 59%. average monthly revenue in the California Central Valley market area is $2,510. average daily rate in the California Central Valley market area is $148. the top operator in the California Central Valley market area is Evolve with 177 listings. market score is 57/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the California Central Valley regional market, which includes Benicia. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Benicia.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Benicia is a small waterfront city of approximately 26,749 residents on the Carquinez Strait in Solano County, positioned about an hour northeast of San Francisco. In April 2026, the short-term rental market recorded an average daily rate of $141, an average occupancy rate of 59.1%, and average monthly revenue of $2,268 per active listing. RevPAR stood at $83.
The listing mix skews toward entire-place accommodations, which account for 7,098 of the roughly 9,773 total tracked listings (approximately 72.6%). Private rooms represent 2,664 listings (27.3%), with shared rooms making up the balance of 11. One-bedroom units dominate the bedroom breakdown at 4,549, followed by three-bedroom listings at 1,993 and two-bedroom at 1,548. Four- and five-bedroom listings add another 1,675 combined.
Channel distribution shows the market is heavily Airbnb-weighted: 6,913 listings appear on Airbnb only, 292 on VRBO only, and 2,568 on both platforms. Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy edged down 0.47 percentage points, ADR slipped 0.62%, and average monthly revenue declined 2.75% compared to the same month in 2025. The overall market score is 57.4 out of 100, with rental demand scoring 66.3 and investability at 58.1.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 55% |
| Feb | 61% |
| Mar | 61% |
| Apr | 61% |
| May | 64% |
| Jun | 66% |
| Jul | 66% |
| Aug | 63% |
| Sep | 61% |
| Oct | 61% |
| Nov | 58% |
| Dec | 57% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Benicia are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in California Central Valley market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the California Central Valley market as a whole, which includes Benicia, so these counts are not Benicia-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 177 | 4,215 | ★ 4.55 |
| 2 | Stay Smart | 85 | 925 | ★ 4.36 |
| 3 | Guest Equity, Inc. | 47 | 4,153 | ★ 4.71 |
| 4 | Fresno Short Term Rentals | 43 | 3,803 | ★ 4.86 |
| 5 | LUSH Garden Hideaway | 42 | 875 | ★ 4.95 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Benicia?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Benicia 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 | 70.7% |
| vrbo | 3% |
| both | 26.3% |
Home Value Trends (Benicia)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Benicia 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 Benicia — 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
Benicia permits short-term rentals but divides them into two regulatory tiers with materially different requirements.
Hosted STRs, where the operator remains on the property during guest stays, are allowed in all residential zones. These require a city permit (initial fee: $268), a business license, designation of a local contact person, and one off-street parking space. Hosted permits renew biennially.
Un-hosted (whole-home) STRs face stricter rules. They are permitted only within the Downtown Mixed Use Master Plan area. The initial permit fee is $1,224. Operators must maintain primary residence status, observe a 2-night minimum stay, and stay within a 120-night-per-year cap. Neighbors within 500 feet receive notice and may request a public hearing. ADUs are explicitly prohibited as STRs under both tiers.
All STR operators must collect and remit a 13% Transient Occupancy Tax, which rose to that rate effective October 1, 2024. Permits renew every two years at the end of even-numbered years. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. HOAs may impose additional restrictions beyond city requirements. Renters require written landlord permission. Industrial Park and certain other zones prohibit all STRs.
A 2025 administrative ordinance (No. 25-9) renamed the Planning Department to Development Services Department; this was a name change only with no effect on STR rules.
Market Comparison
Benicia’s April 2026 metrics sit above the US short-term rental median occupancy of approximately 55%, with the market recording 59.1%. However, Benicia’s all-listings ADR of $141 is well below the US median ADR of approximately $220, reflecting the smaller market size and the 27% private room share pulling the blended average down.
The total market score of 57.4 out of 100 and revenue growth score of 48.8 place this market near the middle of the national distribution. Rental demand scores higher at 66.3, supported by the Bay Area visitor catchment and proximity to San Francisco, Wine Country, and Sacramento.
On the operator side, Evolve leads the Benicia market with 177 listings and 4,215 reviews at a 4.55 average rating. Stay Smart follows with 85 listings and 925 reviews (4.36 rating). Guest Equity, Inc. holds 47 listings with 4,153 reviews and a 4.71 rating. Together, the top three operators account for 309 listings in a market where professional management commands a $187 average nightly rate versus the all-listings average of $141.
Frequently Asked Questions About Benicia, California
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