Forestville, California Short-Term Rental Market
Forestville, CA STRs averaged $447/night at 53.5% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 4.1% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Forestville, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 63%. average monthly revenue is $8,770. average daily rate is $518. the top operator is Vacasa with 175 listings. market score is 67/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Sonoma regional market, which includes Forestville. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Forestville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Forestville is a small community in the Russian River Valley in western Sonoma County, part of California’s wine country north of San Francisco. The STR market here reflects its dual identity as a Wine Country getaway and river recreation destination: approximately 3,901 active listings by type (entire place: 3,598, private room: 302, shared room: 1), with nearly all supply being entire-home rentals (92.2% of listings). The bedroom distribution is more evenly spread than many markets: 1-bedroom (1,128 listings), 2-bedroom (981), and 3-bedroom (988) are all close in count, with 4-bedroom (518) and 5-bedroom (283) properties providing larger-group inventory.
In April 2026, the market averaged a daily rate of $447.29 and occupancy of 53.45%, producing a RevPAR of $239.06. Occupancy rose 5.3% year-over-year, and total revenue grew 4.1%, despite a 1.0% dip in ADR. The channel split is balanced: 1,969 listings are on both Airbnb and VRBO, 1,640 are Airbnb-only, and 292 are VRBO-only. The total market score is 66.9 out of 100, with regulation (71.9) and revenue growth (79.9) the strongest sub-scores. Heavy regulatory restrictions are a defining feature of this market.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $316 | $3,584 |
| Feb | 48% | $320 | $3,628 |
| Mar | 51% | $350 | $4,713 |
| Apr | 56% | $382 | $5,438 |
| May | 58% | $418 | $6,120 |
| Jun | 64% | $438 | $7,192 |
| Jul | 67% | $426 | $7,524 |
| Aug | 64% | $432 | $7,395 |
| Sep | 58% | $420 | $6,419 |
| Oct | 55% | $412 | $6,133 |
| Nov | 51% | $391 | $5,195 |
| Dec | 45% | $358 | $4,547 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Forestville
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 175 | 9,887 | ★ 4.56 |
| 2 | Bodega Bay & Beyond Vacation Home Rentals | 91 | 3,491 | ★ 4.80 |
| 3 | Russian River Vacation Homes | 85 | 6,990 | ★ 4.81 |
| 4 | Woodfield | 49 | 626 | ★ 4.86 |
| 5 | Bodega Bay Escapes | 44 | 787 | ★ 4.83 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Forestville?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,128 |
| 2 bed | 981 |
| 3 bed | 988 |
| 4 bed | 518 |
| 5 bed | 283 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $545 |
| Luxury | $966 |
| Professionally Managed | $645 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $4,758 |
| Entire Place | $9,254 |
| House | $9,202 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 42% |
| vrbo | 7.5% |
| both | 50.5% |
Investment Analysis
No housing price data was available for Forestville at the time of this report, so a gross yield estimate cannot be calculated. Investors should source current property values independently and confirm permit availability before acquisition, as regulatory restrictions are a major constraint on this market.
The 2025 annual average monthly revenue was $6,424, implying an annualized run rate of approximately $77,088 at the average listing level. This is one of the highest revenue figures in the current batch, reflecting the premium Sonoma County wine country ADR. Revenue has recovered modestly from the post-pandemic peak: the 2021 high of $6,980 average monthly revenue dropped through 2023 before stabilizing at $6,262 in 2024 and $6,424 in 2025.
Tier differentiation is substantial. The luxury tier averaged $877.25/night in ADR versus $447.29 overall, a 96% premium. Professionally managed listings averaged $575.42/night, 28.6% above the market average. Entire-home listings averaged $471.15/night. Revenue by type is striking: entire-place properties averaged $6,568 per month and houses averaged $6,583 in April 2026, while apartment-style units averaged only $2,703, reflecting the large premium for self-contained property access in this market. The investability score of 59.5 is tempered by the regulatory environment, which limits new permit availability in many areas.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Forestville)
Booking Insights
In April 2026, Forestville’s average booking lead time was 54.5 days, approximately eight weeks in advance. This reflects the planning behavior of Bay Area weekend travelers booking Sonoma County getaways, who tend to reserve popular wine country properties a month or two out, especially for harvest season weekends.
The average length of stay is 3.66 nights, just under four nights. This is consistent with a long-weekend-driven market where guests travel from San Francisco and the broader Bay Area for 3-to-4-night escapes. Shorter stays than weekly markets mean higher turnover frequency and cleaning costs per month of revenue. Operators who set 3-night minimums on high-demand weekends (harvest season, summer weekends, holiday weekends) can reduce excessive turnover while maintaining yield. At $447/night and 3.66 nights per stay, the average booking gross is approximately $1,637.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Forestville is in unincorporated Sonoma County, so STRs are governed by Permit Sonoma, not a city. The regulatory framework is detailed and strictly enforced. Operators must obtain three approvals: a Transient Vacation Rental (TVR) zoning permit, an annual Vacation Rental License (expires 365 days from approval and must be renewed yearly), and a Vacation Rental business license created under Sonoma County Ordinance No. 6427 (adopted May 16, 2023). A TOT registration number is required before licensing.
The occupancy tax rate is 12% of gross rents in the unincorporated county. Occupancy is capped at 2 persons per sleeping room plus 2, with a maximum of 12 guests. A certified property manager must be available 24/7, with response times of approximately 30 minutes evenings and 1 hour daytime. Enforcement is active with a 24-hour complaint hotline; fines run from $1,500 up to $5,000 for repeat violations within a year.
Critical restrictions for investors: new permits are limited to natural persons or family trusts only (no LLCs or corporations, one license per person). Rentals are prohibited in R1, R2, R3, LIA, and PC zones; they are only permitted in RR, AR, LEA, DA, and RRD zones and similar. Density caps of 5% and 10% in areas of concentration mean many parts of Forestville have no available capacity for new permits as of 2024. Critically, vacation rental permits do not transfer on property sale: a new owner must apply for a new permit, which may be unavailable in capped zones. Prospective buyers should verify permit availability and zone status before acquisition.
Market Comparison
At 53.5% occupancy in April 2026, Forestville is near the US STR median of approximately 55%. The April ADR of $447.29 is more than double the US median of approximately $220, placing this firmly among premium wine country and nature-destination markets. The 2025 annual average ADR of $445 is similarly elevated.
The top operators reflect the regional wine-country specialty. Vacasa leads with 175 listings and 9,887 reviews (4.56 average rating). Bodega Bay & Beyond Vacation Home Rentals has 91 listings and 3,491 reviews (4.80 rating), and Russian River Vacation Homes has 85 listings and 6,990 reviews (4.81 rating). Together these three operators account for 351 listings out of approximately 3,901 total, or about 9.0% of the market. The high ratings for the regional specialists (4.80 and 4.81) reflect the demands of an affluent wine country visitor base. The regulatory environment, with its strict density caps and no-transfer rule, effectively constrains supply growth and may support pricing over time for existing permit holders.
Frequently Asked Questions About Forestville, California
What is the average daily rate for short-term rentals in Forestville, CA?
What occupancy rates do Forestville STRs achieve?
Can I get a vacation rental permit in Forestville, CA?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Forestville?
What permits are required to operate an STR in Forestville?
What is the revenue potential for Forestville STRs?
Who are the top property managers in Forestville, CA?
Analyze Forestville Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Forestville.
Free Forestville STR Calculator →
