Carnelian Bay, California Short-Term Rental Market
Permit-required North Lake Tahoe STRs earned $471 ADR, 40.8% occupancy and $5,254 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Carnelian Bay, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Lake Tahoe market area is 41%. average monthly revenue in the Lake Tahoe market area is $5,254. average daily rate in the Lake Tahoe market area is $471. the top operator in the Lake Tahoe market area is Vacasa with 1,004 listings. market score is 44/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Lake Tahoe regional market, which includes Carnelian Bay. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Carnelian Bay.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Carnelian Bay is a small lakefront community on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe in Placer County. Performance figures on this page describe the North Lake Tahoe STR market, which covers Carnelian Bay and nearby Kings Beach. In September 2026, the North Lake Tahoe STR market averaged an ADR of $471, occupancy of 40.8%, and monthly revenue of $5,254 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 11.5%, ADR is up 7.1%, and revenue is up 9.9%.
The year to date picture is steady. January through September 2026 shows 48.2% occupancy, a $506 ADR, and $6,579 in average monthly revenue, ahead of full year 2025 at 47.2% occupancy, a $475 ADR, and $5,991 in monthly revenue. Occupancy remains below the 2020 high of 58.1%, while ADR has climbed from $379 that year. Summing the twelve seasonal months gives annualized revenue of $62,437 per listing.
September is a shoulder month. Occupancy of 40.8% sits well under the 69.9% July peak, so a single month understates what a well positioned property can earn across a full year.
Demand comes mostly from drive market leisure travelers from the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Reno. Summer brings beachgoers, boaters, and paddleboarders, and winter brings skiers and snowboarders headed to nearby North Tahoe resorts. Carnelian Bay has a population of 518, while the wider North Lake Tahoe region draws an estimated 3 million visitors a year, with tourism accounting for over 60% of regional employment.
Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts and top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Carnelian Bay, so this profile omits them. The typical home value is $1,098,255, which makes this a high entry cost market.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 48% |
| Feb | 56% |
| Mar | 44% |
| Apr | 33% |
| May | 40% |
| Jun | 61% |
| Jul | 70% |
| Aug | 58% |
| Sep | 40% |
| Oct | 31% |
| Nov | 38% |
| Dec | 55% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Carnelian Bay are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lake Tahoe market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Lake Tahoe market as a whole, which includes Carnelian Bay, so these counts are not Carnelian Bay-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 1,004 | 34,496 | ★ 4.40 |
| 2 | Tahoe Getaways | 356 | 10,146 | ★ 4.72 |
| 3 | Evolve | 218 | 11,544 | ★ 4.65 |
| 4 | Grand Welcome | 178 | 8,667 | ★ 4.54 |
| 5 | Tahoe Vacation Rentals | 177 | 4,628 | ★ 4.61 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Carnelian Bay?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Carnelian Bay 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 | 27.9% |
| vrbo | 10% |
| both | 62.2% |
Home Value Trends (Carnelian Bay)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Carnelian Bay 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 Carnelian Bay — 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 Carnelian Bay, but they are regulated under Placer County’s Short-Term Rental Program rather than a separate local code. Enforcement is rated strict.
A permit is required. The Placer County Short-Term Rental Permit costs $326 for the application fee and renews annually. Owners also need a Transient Occupancy Tax certificate and must pass both an interior Fire Life Safety inspection and an exterior Defensible Space inspection, because Carnelian Bay is in the North Tahoe Fire District. Inspections are valid for 3 years, and county-managed inspections cost about $507.
A countywide cap of 3,900 non-owner-occupied STR permits applies. Owner-occupied STRs are exempt from the cap. There is no annual maximum nights limit, but a 30-night minimum rental requirement is triggered once the 3,900 permit cap is reached. Amendments approved on December 17, 2024 clarified that trigger. Neither owner occupancy nor primary residence is required to obtain a permit.
Occupancy is capped at two people per bedroom plus two additional, with a maximum of 12. Quiet hours of 9 PM to 8 AM are strictly enforced. Properties need a bear-proof container and a local contact within 35 driving miles who is available 24/7.
Guests pay a 10% occupancy tax (8% county plus 2% North Lake Tahoe), plus a North Lake Tahoe TBID assessment of 1% to 2% depending on zone (lakefront Zone 1 is 2%, Zone 2 is 1%). Airbnb and Vrbo do not collect the tax on the host’s behalf, so owners must register, collect, and file returns themselves.
A 24/7 complaint hotline (530-448-8003) accepts violation reports. Operating without a permit triggers penalties under Placer County Code section 9.42.100(A), including fines and permit suspension.
Market Comparison
The North Lake Tahoe STR market shows a high-rate, strongly seasonal profile. The September 2026 ADR is $471, the luxury ADR is $1,057, and occupancy is 40.8%.
That occupancy is partly seasonal. The 2026 year to date occupancy of 48.2% is higher, and July at 69.9%, June at 60.8%, August at 58.0%, and February at 56.3% all run well above September. Fall and spring pull the annual picture down, with October at 30.9% and April at 33.4%.
The revenue result is strong because of rate. Monthly revenue of $5,254 comes from a high ADR rather than high occupancy, which means this market rewards operators who protect their rate and manage the shoulder seasons carefully.
Trend also favors the market. Occupancy is up 11.5%, ADR is up 7.1%, and revenue is up 9.9% year over year.
The tradeoff is entry cost and regulation. The typical home value of $1,098,255 is high, and Placer County requires a permit, fire inspections, and a 10% occupancy tax. Top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Carnelian Bay, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carnelian Bay, California
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Is there a cap on short-term rental permits in Placer County?
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