Big Bear Lake, California Short-Term Rental Market
The San Bernardino Mountains STR market averaged $287 ADR, 30.8% occupancy and $2,464 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Big Bear Lake, 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 Lake. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Big Bear Lake.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Performance figures on this page describe the San Bernardino Mountains STR market, a mountain resort region that includes Big Bear Lake, Running Springs, Cedar Glen, Twin Peaks and Crestline. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Big Bear Lake, so this profile omits them.
In September 2026 the average daily rate across all listings was $287 and occupancy was 30.8%, producing average revenue of $2,464 per listing for the month. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 25.6%, ADR slipped 1.3% and revenue grew 13.9%. September is the weakest occupancy month of the year in the seasonal series at 28.4%, so the monthly reading reflects a shoulder season rather than a full year run rate. Summing the twelve seasonal months gives annualized revenue of $40,802 per listing for the region.
Demand rests on a very large visitor base. Big Bear Lake has a permanent population of 5,044 and receives approximately 7 million visitors a year, drawn mainly from Los Angeles and the Inland Empire about two hours away. Winter skiing at Big Bear Mountain Resort and summer recreation on Big Bear Lake create two distinct peaks, while spring and fall are quieter. Visit Big Bear, the destination marketing organization, is working to grow midweek and off-season visits. The local profile counts more than 3,100 short-term rental properties, which makes vacation rentals the dominant lodging mode.
Annual results since 2017 show the market peaked in 2020 and 2021, when occupancy reached 54.9% and 46.8%, and has settled near 35% since 2024. The first nine months of 2026 show occupancy of 35.3%, ADR of $320 and average monthly revenue of $3,258.
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 Lake 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 Lake, so these counts are not Big Bear Lake-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Destination Big Bear | 486 | 27,786 | ★ 4.72 |
| 2 | Big Bear Vacations | 439 | 7,588 | ★ 4.35 |
| 3 | Big Bear Cool Cabins | 429 | 7,943 | ★ 4.49 |
| 4 | Evolve | 268 | 11,254 | ★ 4.66 |
| 5 | Sky High Cabins | 189 | 9,267 | ★ 4.91 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Big Bear Lake?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Big Bear Lake 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 | 34.2% |
| vrbo | 4.7% |
| both | 61.1% |
Home Value Trends (Big Bear Lake)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Big Bear Lake 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 Lake — 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
Big Bear Lake permits short-term rentals, but only with a Vacation Rental License (Transient Private Home Rental), and the city rates enforcement as strict. The license costs $605 and renews annually. It must be held before advertising or renting, posted inside the unit and included in every advertisement. Owners and agents must pass a 25 question annual certification exam with a score of 100%, carry at least $500,000 in premises liability insurance, and name a 24/7 local contact who can respond within 30 minutes and lives within 30 miles of the property.
Rentals are allowed in R-L and R-1 zones for single detached homes, and R-3 zones also allow attached buildings of 2 to 4 units under one owner. Properties with accessory dwelling units are not eligible, and buildings of 5 or more units under single ownership are ineligible. Each individual or entity may hold a maximum of 2 licenses, with exceptions for holders licensed before September 2021. Occupancy is one person per 200 square feet of living space, capped at 16 guests.
There is no owner-occupancy or primary residence requirement and no annual cap on rental nights. Guests pay a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax plus a 3% Tourism Business Improvement District assessment, 13% of gross receipts in total, remitted monthly regardless of bookings. The TOT rose from 9% to 10% on January 1, 2025 under voter-approved Measure P.
Fines run from $500 for a first operational violation up to $10,000, and unlicensed operation draws $1,500 to $5,000 per occurrence. Ordinance No. 2023-518 took effect in December 2023, and in late 2025 the council discussed allowing digital self check-in. Areas under San Bernardino County jurisdiction (zip 92314) follow separate county rules.
Market Comparison
The San Bernardino Mountains STR market earns its revenue more from price than from volume. September 2026 ADR was $287 with occupancy of 30.8%.
Even the best month stays near half full. December reaches 52.7% occupancy at a $460 ADR, while the winter months of January (44.2%) and February (42.9%) also run well above the September low of 28.4%. The market earns its revenue from price rather than volume.
The trend is moving in the right direction. Occupancy is up 25.6% from a year earlier and revenue per listing is up 13.9%, although ADR is down 1.3%. Full year occupancy was 35.7% in 2025 and 35.3% for the first nine months of 2026. Investors comparing this region with higher-occupancy markets should weigh the high winter rates and the 7 million annual visitors against the long off-peak stretches and the licensing requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Big Bear Lake, California
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