Costa Mesa, California Short-Term Rental Market
Costa Mesa bans short-term rentals, but Orange County ADR was $328, occupancy 67.0%, revenue $5,889 (September 2026).
Quick Answer: Costa Mesa, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Anaheim market area is 67%. average monthly revenue in the Anaheim market area is $5,889. average daily rate in the Anaheim market area is $328. the top operator in the Anaheim market area is Tower 17 Properties & Mgmt, LLC with 244 listings. market score is 69/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Anaheim regional market, which includes Costa Mesa. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Costa Mesa.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Costa Mesa prohibits short-term rentals of under 30 days citywide, so the performance figures below describe the Orange County STR market around it, not a legal rental opportunity inside the city. Every number quoted here refers to the Orange County STR market.
In September 2026 the Orange County STR market posted an average daily rate of $328, occupancy of 67.0%, and average monthly revenue of $5,889 per listing. Compared with a year earlier, occupancy is up 6.5%, ADR is up 8.5%, and revenue is up 16.8%. Entire-place listings averaged an ADR of $376, well above the all-listings average.
Through the first nine months of 2026 the market has averaged 71.0% occupancy, a $335 ADR and $6,421 in monthly revenue. That compares with 67.1%, $306 and $5,627 for full-year 2025, and $5,344 in monthly revenue for 2024. Monthly revenue was $3,252 in 2019, before the 2021 demand surge lifted occupancy to 71.0%.
Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts, along with the top operators, are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Costa Mesa, so this profile omits them.
Costa Mesa itself has about 110,330 residents and drew 7.6 million visitors in 2023, who spent $883 million. The draws include South Coast Plaza, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, the Orange County Museum of Art and the OC Fair & Event Center. That demand is real, but inside the city the only legal options are hosted home-sharing or stays of 30 nights or longer.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 58% |
| Feb | 65% |
| Mar | 69% |
| Apr | 62% |
| May | 66% |
| Jun | 75% |
| Jul | 79% |
| Aug | 68% |
| Sep | 63% |
| Oct | 65% |
| Nov | 60% |
| Dec | 62% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Costa Mesa are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Anaheim market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Anaheim market as a whole, which includes Costa Mesa, so these counts are not Costa Mesa-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tower 17 Properties & Mgmt, LLC | 244 | 11,217 | ★ 4.70 |
| 2 | Dream Resorts | 195 | 9,053 | ★ 4.68 |
| 3 | Newport Beach Vacation Properties | 137 | 5,374 | ★ 4.61 |
| 4 | Vacasa | 126 | 8,872 | ★ 4.49 |
| 5 | OC Rentals | 121 | 1,263 | ★ 3.85 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Costa Mesa?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Costa Mesa 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 | 59.7% |
| vrbo | 5.3% |
| both | 35% |
Home Value Trends (Costa Mesa)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Costa Mesa 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 Costa Mesa — 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
Costa Mesa effectively bans short-term rentals. Ordinance 2021-17, adopted November 2, 2021, prohibits renting any residential dwelling, or part of one, to paying guests for fewer than 30 days in all residential zones. The ordinance remains in force as of 2026.
The only exception is hosted home-sharing, where the owner lives on the property. In practice this requires owner occupancy and primary-residence status. There is no licensing or permit pathway for standalone, un-hosted whole-home rentals, and no permit cost or renewal period applies.
Accessory dwelling units carry a land-use restriction against rentals shorter than 31 days, so they cannot be used as STRs.
Enforcement is rated strict. Once a violation is verified, the city can levy fines of up to $1,000 per day and may also pursue criminal charges or nuisance-abatement action against the responsible party.
The transient occupancy tax is 8%, but because non-hosted rentals are prohibited, that rate does not create a legal vacation-rental market.
The City Council has indicated it may revisit short-term rental regulation, but no new permitting framework or timeline has been adopted. Investors should treat Costa Mesa as non-viable for whole-home Airbnb or VRBO operation and should confirm current rules with the city before acting.
Market Comparison
Growth is strong. Year over year, occupancy rose 6.5%, ADR rose 8.5% and revenue rose 16.8%. Year-to-date 2026 occupancy of 71.0% and ADR of $335 are both above full-year 2025 levels of 67.1% and $306.
The premium comes with limits. The typical home value of $1,419,109 is a high bar for entry, and Costa Mesa itself prohibits whole-home short-term rentals, with fines of up to $1,000 per day. Investors drawn to the region’s numbers should look at jurisdictions that allow permitted rentals, and should check each city’s rules separately.
Top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Costa Mesa, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Costa Mesa, California
Are short-term rentals legal in Costa Mesa?
What are the fines for illegal short-term rentals in Costa Mesa?
What is the average Airbnb ADR and occupancy in the Orange County area?
When is the peak season for short-term rentals in this market?
How much does a typical home cost in Costa Mesa?
Can I rent an accessory dwelling unit as an Airbnb in Costa Mesa?
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