Bradley, California Short-Term Rental Market
Bradley, CA (pop. 69) requires a Monterey County Vacation Rental Operation License; Central Coast market averaged $438/night.
Quick Answer: Bradley, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the San Luis Obispo market area is 60%. average monthly revenue in the San Luis Obispo market area is $6,960. average daily rate in the San Luis Obispo market area is $438.
Market data reflects the San Luis Obispo regional market, which includes Bradley. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bradley.
Market Overview
Bradley falls under Monterey County’s Vacation Rental Ordinance for the inland unincorporated area, which took effect October 14, 2024. Operators need a Vacation Rental Operation License (VROL), a ministerial one-year license (initial fee roughly $1,100), plus a separate County business license (about $207 the first year, roughly $115 a year after). The County distinguishes three types: Homestays (owner’s primary residence), Limited Vacation Rentals, and Commercial Vacation Rentals. Homestays require proof the property is the owner’s primary residence, though the County has temporarily waived that requirement amid ongoing litigation, worth confirming before assuming either way.
Bradley is a tiny rural community of roughly 69 residents in southern Monterey County, California, the smallest market in this program by a wide margin. Its visitor economy is driven almost entirely by outdoor recreation at Lake Nacimiento (165 miles of shoreline, boating, fishing, camping) and Lake San Antonio (boating, camping, winter eagle watching), plus overflow tourism from nearby Paso Robles wine country (about 30 minutes south) and Hearst Castle on the coast.
StaySTRA tracks Bradley’s short-term rental performance at a shared regional level covering Bradley alongside Nipomo, an unincorporated South San Luis Obispo County community roughly 59 miles south, so the figures below describe the Central Coast area STR market rather than Bradley alone. No dimension data (bedroom mix, listing type), top property manager data, or local housing-sale data is published for this area, so this profile omits those sections rather than guessing.
In June 2026, the Central Coast area STR market posted an average daily rate of $438 and occupancy of 60.1%, producing $264 RevPAR and average monthly revenue of $6,960 per listing.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 37% |
| Feb | 47% |
| Mar | 50% |
| Apr | 54% |
| May | 52% |
| Jun | 61% |
| Jul | 68% |
| Aug | 60% |
| Sep | 53% |
| Oct | 52% |
| Nov | 51% |
| Dec | 46% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Bradley 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 Bradley — 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
Bradley is an unincorporated community, so short-term rentals fall under Monterey County’s Vacation Rental Ordinance for the inland unincorporated area, which took effect October 14, 2024. STRs are permitted but regulated: operators need a Vacation Rental Operation License (VROL), a ministerial license issued for one year (initial fee roughly $1,100), plus a separate County business license (about $207 the first year, roughly $115 a year after).
The County distinguishes three types: Homestays (owner’s primary residence), Limited Vacation Rentals, and Commercial Vacation Rentals (CVRs). Homestays require proof the property is the owner’s primary residence, though the County temporarily waived that requirement amid litigation. CVRs are the most restricted, capped at about 4% of residential dwelling units per planning area and requiring a discretionary Inland Use Permit (fee on the order of $8,000, valid up to seven years). Rentals are allowed only in residential and commercial zoning districts and banned in agricultural, industrial, open-space and public and quasi-public zones.
Transient stays are defined as 30 consecutive days or less, and the County levies a 10.5% Transient Occupancy Tax on rentals in the unincorporated area (a proposed increase to 12.5% has been discussed but not adopted). Enforcement carries escalating fines, roughly $1,000 for a first-day violation up to $5,000 for continued violations. Investors should verify the exact permit category, planning-area cap availability, and current primary-residence waiver status directly with Monterey County Housing and Community Development before purchasing. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
The Central Coast area STR market’s June 2026 occupancy of 60.1% ran above the commonly cited US STR median of roughly 55%, while its $438 ADR ran far above the roughly $220 national median, a combination pointing to strong demand with a substantial rate premium.
Top property manager data is not published for this area, so this profile omits operator rankings rather than guessing. Given Bradley’s population of roughly 69 and Monterey County’s CVR cap on new commercial licenses, the realistic operator pool here is almost certainly small regardless of what regional data would suggest.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bradley, California
What kind of short-term rental license does Bradley, CA require?
Is there a cap on commercial short-term rentals in Bradley?
Do I need to live in my Bradley short-term rental?
What was the average daily rate for STRs in the Central Coast area in June 2026?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Bradley?
When is peak season for STRs near Bradley's lakes?
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