Borrego Springs, California Short-Term Rental Market
Borrego Springs STRs averaged $299/night at 65.3% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 9.8% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Borrego Springs, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the San Diego market area is 76%. average monthly revenue in the San Diego market area is $7,597. average daily rate in the San Diego market area is $382. the top operator in the San Diego market area is Evolve with 265 listings. market score is 65/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the San Diego regional market, which includes Borrego Springs. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Borrego Springs.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Borrego Springs is a desert destination in unincorporated San Diego County, anchored by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park — the largest state park in California. The community draws wildflower season visitors, stargazers, birdwatchers, and off-road travelers. As of April 2026, the average daily rate is $299, occupancy is 65.3%, and RevPAR is $196. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 8.4 percentage points while ADR edged down 0.7%, producing a strong net revenue gain of 9.8% versus April 2025.
The market operates in a highly permissive regulatory environment: unincorporated San Diego County requires only a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate, with no STR operating permit or business license required. This makes Borrego Springs one of the most accessible STR markets in Southern California.
The community has a population of approximately 2,700. The for-sale inventory of 57 units is relatively tight given the remote desert location. The listing inventory spans the full range from budget desert casitas to luxury mid-century compounds with mountain and desert views.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 56% |
| Feb | 65% |
| Mar | 69% |
| Apr | 62% |
| May | 64% |
| Jun | 74% |
| Jul | 77% |
| Aug | 68% |
| Sep | 61% |
| Oct | 61% |
| Nov | 58% |
| Dec | 57% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Borrego Springs are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in San Diego market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the San Diego market as a whole, which includes Borrego Springs, so these counts are not Borrego Springs-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 265 | 10,436 | ★ 4.74 |
| 2 | Surf Style Vacation Homes | 223 | 10,070 | ★ 4.77 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 176 | 8,268 | ★ 4.62 |
| 4 | Nxt Vacation Rental Management | 164 | 3,008 | ★ 4.90 |
| 5 | San Diego Rentals | 162 | 153 | ★ 4.40 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Borrego Springs?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Borrego Springs 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 | 49.4% |
| vrbo | 6.2% |
| both | 44.4% |
Home Value Trends (Borrego Springs)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Borrego Springs 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 Borrego Springs — 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
Borrego Springs is in unincorporated San Diego County, which does not require a STR operating permit for unincorporated areas. The only mandatory compliance step is obtaining a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate from the San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector. Registration opened June 11, 2024, with quarterly reporting beginning July 1, 2024. The TOT rate is 8% of gross rental receipts for stays of 30 days or fewer.
The TOT Certificate is not an STR operating permit and does not waive other applicable zoning or state law requirements. Operators should verify parcel-specific zoning with San Diego County Planning and Development Services, as some zones may restrict short-term use. No owner-occupancy or primary residence requirement applies at the county level. No annual nights cap exists in unincorporated San Diego County. Enforcement is rated minimal.
Investors should note that the county has signaled potential adoption of additional rules (guest limits, quiet-hour requirements) in the future, though no such ordinance was in effect as of the profile update date.
Market Comparison
Borrego Springs’ April 2026 ADR of $299 is approximately 36% above the US STR median of approximately $220, while occupancy at 65.3% is approximately 10 percentage points above the national median. The gross revenue yield of approximately 17.9% is among the highest in the Southern California market.
Evolve leads the market with 265 listings and 10,436 reviews (4.74 average rating). Surf Style Vacation Homes follows with 223 listings and 10,070 reviews (4.77 rating). Vacasa holds 176 listings and 8,268 reviews (4.62 rating). Nxt Vacation Rental Management manages 164 listings with a 4.90 rating, the highest in the group. San Diego Rentals rounds out the top five with 162 listings.
The high concentration of professionally managed inventory (Evolve, Surf Style, Vacasa, Nxt, and San Diego Rentals together account for 990 listings) reflects the maturity of the managed vacation rental market in this desert destination.
Frequently Asked Questions About Borrego Springs, California
What is the average nightly rate for short-term rentals in Borrego Springs?
What occupancy rate can I expect in Borrego Springs?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Borrego Springs?
What taxes apply to Borrego Springs short-term rentals?
What is the best season for Borrego Springs rentals?
What is the gross revenue yield for a Borrego Springs investment?
How far in advance do guests book Borrego Springs rentals?
Analyze Borrego Springs Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Borrego Springs.
Free Borrego Springs STR Calculator →
