Huntington Beach, California Short-Term Rental Market
Huntington Beach STRs averaged $313/night at 67.8% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 12.8% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Huntington Beach, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 78%. average monthly revenue is $8,143. average daily rate is $408. the top operator 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 Huntington Beach. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Huntington Beach.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Huntington Beach, CA, known as Surf City USA, is one of Southern California’s most active short-term rental markets. The city borders 9.3 miles of continuous beach, draws more than 11 million visitors annually, and hosts major events including the US Open of Surfing and the 4th of July Parade. As of April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $313, an occupancy rate of 67.8%, and a RevPAR of $213. Monthly revenue averaged $5,803 across all listing types.
The market contains approximately 13,597 tracked listings. Entire-place listings dominate at 11,242 (about 82.7%), with private rooms at 2,334 and shared rooms at just 21. Airbnb is the primary channel with 8,117 listings, VRBO accounts for 716, and 4,764 listings appear on both platforms.
Bedroom mix skews toward smaller units: 4,822 one-bedroom listings, 3,315 two-bedroom, 2,686 three-bedroom, 1,785 four-bedroom, and 974 five-bedroom or larger. This reflects the mix of beach condos, bungalows, and single-unit homes in the market.
Year-over-year, occupancy increased 8.8%, ADR rose 2.8%, and revenue grew 12.8%, the strongest revenue growth signal in the current data set. The market’s revenue growth score of 97.4 out of 100 reflects that momentum. The overall StaySTRA score is 68.9 out of 100, with seasonality scoring 82.4 and regulation at 61.0.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58% | $212 | $3,390 |
| Feb | 65% | $225 | $3,672 |
| Mar | 69% | $258 | $4,836 |
| Apr | 62% | $248 | $4,252 |
| May | 66% | $259 | $4,505 |
| Jun | 75% | $309 | $5,783 |
| Jul | 78% | $303 | $6,033 |
| Aug | 68% | $284 | $5,190 |
| Sep | 63% | $247 | $4,121 |
| Oct | 65% | $243 | $4,307 |
| Nov | 60% | $235 | $3,750 |
| Dec | 62% | $242 | $4,043 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Huntington Beach
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 Huntington Beach?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 4,822 |
| 2 bed | 3,315 |
| 3 bed | 2,686 |
| 4 bed | 1,785 |
| 5 bed | 974 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $471 |
| Luxury | $937 |
| Professionally Managed | $788 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $6,154 |
| Entire Place | $9,349 |
| House | $9,039 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 59.7% |
| vrbo | 5.3% |
| both | 35% |
Investment Analysis
Huntington Beach presents a high-revenue, high-cost entry point. The typical home value as of April 2026 was $1,364,265, with a median sale price of $1,253,833 and a median list price of $1,374,296. With 386 active listings for sale and a median of 16 days to pending, the market moves quickly. The sale-to-list ratio of 0.912 suggests most homes trade below list price.
At average monthly revenue of $5,803, an investor purchasing at the median sale price of $1,253,833 would generate approximately $69,641 in annualized revenue, representing a gross yield of roughly 5.1% before expenses and vacancy. That yield rises for properties that outperform the all-listing average: entire-place listings averaged $6,579/month and houses $6,348/month.
The ADR spread by tier is substantial. All-listing average ADR was $313, entire-home listings averaged $361, professionally managed properties averaged $567, and the luxury tier reached $724. Operators with well-positioned, professionally managed properties can earn ADR nearly double the market average.
A critical regulatory constraint limits investment strategy in most of the city. Zone 1, which covers all of Huntington Beach except Sunset Beach, permits only owner-occupied (hosted) STRs, meaning the owner must reside on-site during guest stays. Purely passive whole-home investment is not viable in Zone 1. Investors should verify zoning and permit eligibility for any specific address before purchase. The investability score of 50.7 out of 100 reflects this regulatory friction.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
In April 2026, Huntington Beach guests booked STRs an average of 43 days in advance, and average stays lasted 5.25 nights. The 43-day lead time is longer than many U.S. coastal markets, suggesting guests plan ahead for beach vacations. For operators, this creates a window to capture strong rates early and adjust close-in pricing as availability tightens.
The 5.25-night average stay is notably longer than typical urban or weekend-getaway markets and reflects the nature of beach vacation travel. Guests booking for a week or near-week stay tend to arrive with higher total-trip budgets, which supports premium nightly pricing for quality listings.
For turnovers, a 5.25-night average means roughly 5 to 6 turns per month on average. Operators with strong housekeeping operations and same-day turnaround capability can extract more revenue during peak summer months when demand supports multiple short back-to-back bookings. The long lead time also means operators who hold peak summer rates firm through March and April are unlikely to be penalized by early bookers looking for deals.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Huntington Beach permits short-term rentals under Municipal Code Chapter 5.120 (Ordinance No. 4224, effective February 19, 2021). Both a Short-Term Rental Permit and a city business license are required before operating. The initial permit fee is approximately $624, with annual renewals thereafter.
The city operates a two-zone system. Zone 1, covering all of Huntington Beach except Sunset Beach, allows only owner-occupied (hosted) short-term rentals. The owner must reside on-site during guest stays. Whole-home rentals without the owner present are not permitted in Zone 1. Zone 2 covers Sunset Beach and historically allowed unhosted rentals, but the window for new non-owner-occupied permits closed around March 1, 2022. Only grandfathered unhosted units may continue operating in Zone 2.
Operators must collect and remit a 10.0% Transient Occupancy Tax plus a 6.0% Tourism Business Improvement District assessment, paid quarterly. A local contact must be available 24/7 and respond to complaints within one hour. Commercial events, parties, and weddings are prohibited in STR units.
Enforcement is strict: fines reach $1,000 per day per violation, and three violations within 12 months can trigger permit revocation. The regulation score of 61.0 out of 100 reflects a market that allows STRs but imposes significant operating constraints. No annual night cap is on record for this market.
Market Comparison
Huntington Beach’s April 2026 ADR of $313 is well above the U.S. STR median of approximately $220, and occupancy at 67.8% exceeds the national median of roughly 55%. RevPAR of $213 places this market among the higher-performing coastal destinations in the StaySTRA data set. The 12.8% year-over-year revenue growth far exceeds typical market averages.
Compared to many California coastal markets, Huntington Beach is accessible to a large regional population within a 1-to-2-hour drive, which supports the high occupancy floor even in slower months.
Among property managers, Tower 17 Properties and Mgmt, LLC leads with 244 listings and a 4.7 average rating across 11,217 reviews. Dream Resorts operates 195 listings with 9,053 reviews at a 4.7 rating. Newport Beach Vacation Properties manages 137 listings with a 4.6 rating. Vacasa operates 126 listings with 8,872 reviews at a 4.5 rating. These four operators together account for 702 listings, representing about 5.2% of the tracked market, leaving the market substantially independent-operator driven.
Frequently Asked Questions About Huntington Beach, California
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