Irvine, California Short-Term Rental Market
Irvine bans STRs; Orange County region shows $328 ADR, 67.0% occupancy, $5,889 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Irvine, 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 Irvine. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Irvine.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Irvine prohibits short-term rentals in residential zones, so the performance figures on this page describe the surrounding Orange County STR market and not a legal opportunity for typical homes in the city. Performance is tracked at a shared regional level rather than for Irvine alone. In September 2026 the Orange County STR market recorded an average daily rate of $328 and occupancy of 67.0%, which produced average monthly revenue of $5,889 per listing. Year over year, occupancy rose 6.5%, ADR rose 8.5% and revenue rose 16.8%, so the gain came from both rate and demand. Entire place listings averaged $376 per night, above the all listings figure. Monthly revenue was $6,652 for entire places, $6,331 for houses and $4,988 for apartments. Calendar 2026 through September averaged 71.0% occupancy, a $335 ADR and $6,421 in monthly revenue, compared with 67.1%, $306 and $5,627 for full year 2025. Bedroom, channel and listing type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Irvine, so this profile omits them. Irvine itself has a population of 318,629 and about 1,000,000 annual visitors. Demand is tied to the University of California, Irvine, a large corporate and technology employer base, the Orange County Great Park sports complex and the Irvine Spectrum Center, with Disneyland, John Wayne Airport and the Orange County beaches close by. Those visitors are served by about 23 hotels with more than 4,900 rooms, which is where the city directs overnight stays.
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 Irvine 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 Irvine, so these counts are not Irvine-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 Irvine?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Irvine 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 (Irvine)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Irvine 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 Irvine — 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
Irvine effectively bans short-term rentals. A short-term rental is a dwelling rented for fewer than 31 consecutive days, and a 2018 ordinance (Zoning Chapter 3-25) prohibits all such rentals in residential zones and in any district where residential use is permitted or conditionally permitted, including base zones, overlay zones and specific plans. The number of permitted nights per year is zero, and there is no host licensing for homes. Short-term rentals may only be possible in hotel and motel commercial zones. It is also a separate violation to advertise or list a short-term rental on platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo, even if no booking occurs. Enforcement is rated strict. The city uses a third-party monitoring service, Host Compliance (Granicus), to detect listings. Penalties include daily administrative fines that escalate from roughly $100 up to $500 per day, possible misdemeanor charges against owners or agents, and court action for continued violations. Irvine levies an 8% transient occupancy tax, plus a 2% Irvine Hotel Improvement District assessment, on stays of 30 days or less, but this applies to hotels and motels and not to residential rentals. There has been no material change since the 2018 ordinance, and the prohibition and advertising ban remain in effect as of 2026. Stays of 31 days or longer, such as mid-term and long-term rentals, are the compliant alternative for residential properties.
Market Comparison
In the Orange County STR market, the weakest month, January, still reaches 57.6% occupancy at a $212 ADR. From February through December the typical monthly ADR ranges from $225 to $314, and ADR runs between $293 and $314 in the June to August window. Growth also stands out, with revenue up 16.8% year over year. The tradeoff is cost and regulation. The typical Irvine home value is $1,538,073, and Irvine bans residential short-term rentals, while some neighboring Orange County towns are tracked in the same figures. Bedroom, channel, listing type and top operator data are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Irvine, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Irvine, California
Are short-term rentals legal in Irvine, California?
What are the penalties for renting short-term in Irvine?
What is the average daily rate in the Orange County STR market?
What is the occupancy rate in the Orange County STR market?
How much does the typical Irvine home cost?
What are the alternatives to short-term rentals in Irvine?
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