Eureka, California Short-Term Rental Market
Eureka, CA STRs averaged $233/night at 52.3% occupancy in April 2026, with a gross STR yield of approximately 9.4% based on a $414,335 typical home value.
Quick Answer: Eureka, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 65%. average monthly revenue is $4,715. average daily rate is $273. the top operator is Vacasa with 383 listings. market score is 69/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the California North Area regional market, which includes Eureka. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Eureka.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Eureka is the largest coastal city between San Francisco and Portland and the commercial hub of California’s Humboldt County redwood region. Humboldt County travel spending reached approximately $479 million in 2023, supporting around 5,600 hospitality jobs. Visitors are drawn by old-growth redwoods, Humboldt Bay, Old Town Eureka’s Victorian architecture, and the Avenue of the Giants.
In April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $233 and occupancy of 52.3%, generating RevPAR of $121.70 and average monthly revenue of $3,229. The market carries approximately 9,339 channel-tracked listings. Entire-place rentals dominate at 8,508 units (91% of supply), with 829 private rooms and 2 shared rooms. Bedroom distribution: 1-bedroom leads at 3,775 units, followed by 2-bedroom (2,233), 3-bedroom (2,104), 4-bedroom (853), and 5-bedroom (360). Airbnb is the primary platform with 4,873 Airbnb-only listings; 628 list exclusively on VRBO; and 3,838 appear on both. Year-over-year in April 2026, occupancy gained 0.27 percentage points, ADR rose 2.89%, and revenue increased 5.22%. All three metrics improved, making Eureka one of the few markets in this batch showing consistent year-over-year revenue growth.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42% | $180 | $2,217 |
| Feb | 49% | $183 | $2,216 |
| Mar | 52% | $187 | $2,624 |
| Apr | 55% | $194 | $2,811 |
| May | 58% | $206 | $2,976 |
| Jun | 66% | $226 | $3,857 |
| Jul | 70% | $222 | $4,173 |
| Aug | 65% | $217 | $3,818 |
| Sep | 56% | $205 | $3,078 |
| Oct | 53% | $195 | $2,830 |
| Nov | 51% | $195 | $2,520 |
| Dec | 49% | $193 | $2,591 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Eureka
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 383 | 38,837 | ★ 4.67 |
| 2 | Evolve | 221 | 9,277 | ★ 4.68 |
| 3 | Casago | 123 | 6,561 | ★ 4.74 |
| 4 | Humboldt Retreats | 71 | 4,291 | ★ 4.88 |
| 5 | Grand Welcome | 55 | 4,143 | ★ 4.68 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Eureka?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,775 |
| 2 bed | 2,233 |
| 3 bed | 2,104 |
| 4 bed | 853 |
| 5 bed | 360 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $285 |
| Luxury | $474 |
| Professionally Managed | $358 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,111 |
| Entire Place | $4,969 |
| House | $5,149 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 52.2% |
| vrbo | 6.7% |
| both | 41.1% |
Investment Analysis
At a typical home value of $414,335 (Zillow April 2026) and average monthly revenue of $3,229, the gross STR yield is approximately 9.4% ($38,748 annualized / $414,335). This is one of the higher gross yields in the California coastal market and reflects a market where property values remain below the Bay Area premium while STR rates benefit from redwood-region scarcity.
Houses average $3,499 per month in revenue and entire-place rentals $3,384, both materially above apartments at $2,050. The professionally managed tier commands an ADR of $307 versus the all-listings average of $233, a $74 premium (32%). Luxury-tier ADR reaches $427. The large premium for professional management in this market suggests that presentation and listing quality are meaningful differentiators.
The median sale price of $398,500 versus median list price of $468,000 produces a sale-to-list ratio of 0.851, indicating homes in Eureka are selling at 85.1% of asking price. Median days to pending is 18, suggesting moderate liquidity. Revenue has grown from $2,218 per month in 2017 to $3,351 in 2025, a 51% increase over eight years. Year-over-year all three STR metrics are positive, and the total market score of 68.56 with rental demand at 75.89 supports a stable investment thesis.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Eureka STRs recorded an average booking lead time of 45 days in April 2026, roughly six weeks in advance. This lead time reflects a mix of road-trip visitors planning Pacific Coast Highway itineraries (often booked weeks out) and destination redwood-region travelers making deliberate trip decisions. The lead time is longer than many urban markets but not as extended as pure event-driven destinations.
Average length of stay was 3.55 nights. This places Eureka in the standard vacation-stay range, slightly above a weekend and well below a full week. At 3.55 nights, turnover occurs frequently enough that cleaning and restocking efficiency matters. Operators targeting longer stays through weekly pricing incentives during the summer peak may be able to reduce operational friction while maintaining revenue.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Eureka permits short-term vacation rentals (stays of 30 consecutive days or less) under a ministerial approval process but requires three separate registrations: a Vacation Rental Permit confirming zoning compliance, a City of Eureka Business License, and a Home Occupation Permit (unless a licensed property management company operates the rental). Eureka’s Inland STR Ordinance took effect March 5, 2024.
The Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) rate is 10%. A critical operator note: platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO do NOT collect or remit Eureka’s TOT on behalf of hosts. Operators must register with the City Finance Department and remit TOT directly on a quarterly basis. Failure to do so is a compliance risk.
The Vacation Rental Permit lapses and becomes void by February 1 each year unless the business license is renewed, all taxes and fees are paid, and there are no outstanding Police, Fire, or Building Department violations. There is no owner-occupancy mandate, but the city caps the number of vacation rentals without an on-site proprietor at a limit set annually by the City Council; owner-occupied rentals are exempt from this cap. ADUs and JADUs granted a certificate of occupancy after January 1, 2020 are prohibited from use as short-term rentals. The coastal portion of Eureka is separately governed by Humboldt County’s Coastal STR Ordinance (certified by the California Coastal Commission). Enforcement severity is rated moderate. Permit cost was not published in the profile data.
Market Comparison
Eureka’s April 2026 occupancy of 52.3% is close to the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, placing it near the national average. The ADR of $233 is above the national median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium pricing possible in a redwood-coastal destination with limited comparable accommodation alternatives. RevPAR of $121.70 is one of the stronger values in this batch, supported by the above-median rate.
The gross yield of approximately 9.4% based on the Zillow typical home value is notable for a California coastal market, where yields are often compressed by high acquisition costs. The sale-to-list ratio of 0.851 and 18 median days to pending suggest buyers have some negotiating room, which can improve entry yields for investors.
Property management is concentrated. Vacasa leads with 383 listings and a 4.67 rating across 38,837 reviews. Evolve holds 221 listings with a 4.68 rating. Casago manages 123 listings at a 4.74 rating. Humboldt Retreats operates 71 listings with the highest rating among the top five at 4.88. Grand Welcome holds 55 listings at 4.68. Together the top five operators account for 853 listings, approximately 9% of the roughly 9,339 tracked listings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eureka, California
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