Big Bear City, California Short-Term Rental Market
Big Bear City's San Bernardino Mountains STR market hit $287 ADR, 30.8% occupancy, $2,464 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Big Bear City, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Big Bear market area is 31%. average monthly revenue in the Big Bear market area is $2,464. average daily rate in the Big Bear market area is $287. the top operator in the Big Bear market area is Destination Big Bear with 486 listings. market score is 46/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Big Bear regional market, which includes Big Bear City. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Big Bear City.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Big Bear City is an unincorporated community in the eastern part of Big Bear Valley, and its short-term rental performance is measured at the level of the San Bernardino Mountains STR market, which also covers Sugarloaf and Lake Arrowhead. Every performance figure on this page describes that San Bernardino Mountains market. In September 2026 the market posted an average daily rate of $287, occupancy of 30.8%, and average monthly revenue of $2,464 per listing. Entire-home listings averaged $290 per night, slightly above the all-listings figure.
Year over year, September 2026 occupancy rose 25.6%, average daily rate slipped 1.3%, and revenue per listing grew 13.9%. The gain came from more booked nights rather than higher prices. September is also the weakest occupancy month of the typical year at 28.4%, so the 30.8% reading is a low-season figure.
The demand base is large. The profile for the greater valley estimates about 7 million visitors a year, mostly Southern California weekend travelers drawn by Snow Summit and Bear Mountain Resort in winter and by Big Bear Lake for boating, fishing and paddling in summer. Big Bear City itself (ZIP 92314) is the quieter, more residential eastern part of the valley.
Over the full 2025 calendar year, the market averaged 35.8% occupancy, a $339 daily rate and $3,412 in monthly revenue. Through the first nine months of 2026 those figures stand at 35.3%, $320 and $3,258. The seasonal-sum estimate of annual revenue per listing is $40,823.
Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Big Bear City, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 44% |
| Feb | 43% |
| Mar | 32% |
| Apr | 30% |
| May | 33% |
| Jun | 41% |
| Jul | 46% |
| Aug | 40% |
| Sep | 28% |
| Oct | 34% |
| Nov | 40% |
| Dec | 53% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Big Bear City are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Big Bear market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Big Bear market as a whole, which includes Big Bear City, so these counts are not Big Bear City-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Destination Big Bear | 486 | 27,721 | ★ 4.72 |
| 2 | Big Bear Cool Cabins | 417 | 7,860 | ★ 4.50 |
| 3 | Big Bear Vacations | 416 | 7,402 | ★ 4.35 |
| 4 | Evolve | 269 | 11,248 | ★ 4.66 |
| 5 | Sky High Cabins | 189 | 9,233 | ★ 4.91 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Big Bear City?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Big Bear City 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 | 33.8% |
| vrbo | 4.7% |
| both | 61.5% |
Home Value Trends (Big Bear City)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Big Bear City 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 Big Bear City — 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 Big Bear City (ZIP 92314), but the rules come from San Bernardino County, not the City of Big Bear Lake, which has separate and more restrictive rules. Enforcement is rated strict.
Any rental of 30 days or less requires a San Bernardino County Short-Term Residential Rental Unit Permit, administered by County Code Enforcement. Since July 1, 2025 a new application costs $1,144, up from about $667 previously. That total is made up of a $600 application fee, a $285 permit fee and a $259 neighbor notification fee. Renewal is annual and runs $550, up to $1,144 if both physical and management changes are made. Expect roughly 6 to 8 weeks for approval because of a 20-day neighbor notification period and a 30-day appeal window. Permits are non-transferable.
The occupancy tax is 7% of gross rental receipts, including cleaning fees. Voters rejected Measure K in November 2024, which would have raised it to 11%, by 57% to 43%. There is no stated cap on nights per year, and neither owner occupancy nor primary residence is required.
Zoning allows STRs in residential zones of unincorporated mountain areas. Apartment buildings are prohibited. Parcels of 2 acres or more may hold up to 2 permits, and smaller parcels get 1. Commercial events such as weddings, corporate retreats and filming are not allowed. All parking must stay on the property, and HOA restrictions may apply.
Operating requires a posted permit and Good Neighbor brochure, a 24/7 local contact reachable within 1 hour, quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM, secured trash and an occupancy limit of up to 12 guests. Operating without a permit is a criminal violation with fines of $1,000 per day.
Market Comparison
The San Bernardino Mountains market is a high-rate, low-occupancy market. September 2026 occupancy was 30.8% against a $287 ADR. The seasonal view tells the same story: only December, at 52.7%, tops 50% occupancy, and the lowest monthly ADR is $255 in April.
The pattern is typical of a drive-to resort area. Guests pay a premium for mountain cabins, lake access and ski season, but demand is concentrated in winter weeks, summer weeks and weekends. Occupancy has been in a band of 35.0% to 37.0% over 2023 through 2025, then 35.3% so far in 2026, so the market is stable rather than climbing, with the recent 25.6% year-over-year gain in September coming off a low month.
Operator data is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Big Bear City, so this profile omits it. Investors comparing this market with others should weigh the strong rate and winter revenue against the lower year-round occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Big Bear City, California
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Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Big Bear City?
What is the occupancy tax on short-term rentals in Big Bear City?
When is the best time of year for STR revenue in Big Bear City?
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