Irvine, California Short-Term Rental Market
Irvine STRs averaged $313/night at 67.8% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 12.8% year-over-year, but residential short-term rentals remain banned under city ordinance.
Quick Answer: Irvine, 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 Irvine. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Irvine.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Irvine, California is a planned master community in Orange County with a large technology and corporate employer base, proximity to John Wayne Airport, and a population of approximately 318,629 residents. The city draws approximately 1 million visitors annually. Market data reflects approximately 13,597 listings by listing type, with entire-place units dominating at 11,242 (83%), private rooms at 2,334, and shared rooms at 21. Airbnb accounts for 8,117 exclusive listings and VRBO for 716; 4,764 properties appear on both platforms.
The bedroom breakdown spans all sizes: 1-bedroom units account for 4,822 listings, 2-bedrooms 3,315, 3-bedrooms 2,686, 4-bedrooms 1,785, and 5-bedrooms 974.
In April 2026, the market recorded a 67.8% average occupancy rate and an average daily rate of $313. RevPAR came in at $213. Year-over-year metrics show strong momentum: occupancy rose 8.8 percentage points, ADR increased 2.8%, and total revenue grew 12.8%. However, prospective STR investors must understand the regulatory context fully before interpreting these figures: Irvine prohibits residential short-term rentals under a 2018 ordinance. See the regulatory section for full detail.
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 Irvine
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 Irvine?
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
The Irvine STR market data presents an important analytical caution: the city’s 2018 ban on residential short-term rentals (defined as rentals under 31 consecutive days in residential zones) means that a large portion of the listings captured in platform data may be operating in violation of city ordinance, may be located in hotel or commercial zones, or may represent mid-term rentals of 31 or more days that fall outside the ban’s scope.
With that context, the housing market reflects one of California’s most expensive submarkets. The typical home value in Irvine was $1,566,872 as of April 2026. Median sale price was $1,415,500, median list price $1,679,000, and the sale-to-list ratio was 0.843, indicating properties typically close below asking. Median days to pending was 22 days.
For properties in hotel or commercial zones where short-term rental is legally permitted, average monthly revenue was $5,803 in April 2026, with entire-place properties averaging $6,579 and houses $6,348. Professionally managed properties commanded $567 per night versus $313 for the all-listing average, and luxury-tier properties averaged $724 per night. The investability score for Irvine is 50.7 out of 100, reflecting the legal and regulatory risk premium inherent in this market. Investors must verify zoning classification of any specific property before assuming STR legality.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Guests booking Irvine-area STRs plan approximately 43 days ahead on average, roughly six weeks before check-in. This lead time is consistent with corporate and leisure travel planning horizons for a Southern California market. Operators in permissible zones should use revenue management tools to capture premium pricing during high-demand periods including university events, sports tournaments at Orange County Great Park, and peak summer travel.
Average length of stay is 5.3 nights, above a standard weekend trip and consistent with visitors combining multiple Southern California destinations, extended corporate project stays, or leisure trips. A 5.3-night average reduces turnover frequency and keeps cleaning costs more manageable per occupied night than shorter-stay markets.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Irvine effectively bans residential short-term rentals. A 2018 city ordinance (Zoning Ordinance Chapter 3-25) prohibits renting any dwelling unit for fewer than 31 consecutive days in residential zones and in any district where residential use is permitted or conditionally permitted. There is no permit or licensing pathway for typical Airbnb or VRBO hosts in residential neighborhoods.
The ban includes an advertising prohibition: listing a property on platforms such as Airbnb or VRBO is itself a violation, even if no booking occurs. Enforcement is strict. The city contracts with a third-party monitoring service (Host Compliance, operated by Granicus) to detect listings, and penalties escalate from approximately $100 to $500 per day, with potential misdemeanor charges and court action for continued violations.
Short-term rentals may only be legally possible in designated hotel or motel commercial zones. Stays of 31 days or more (mid-term or long-term rentals) are the compliant alternative for residential properties. The city’s 8% Transient Occupancy Tax applies to hotels and motels, not to residential STRs. Investors should treat Irvine as a no-go market for residential STR operations and verify the zoning classification of any specific property before drawing conclusions from platform listing data.
Market Comparison
Irvine’s 67.8% occupancy in April 2026 significantly exceeds the national STR median of approximately 55%. ADR of $313 is well above the national median of approximately $220, reflecting Orange County’s premium real estate and travel environment. The 12.8% year-over-year revenue growth is among the strongest observed in the dataset.
The operator landscape reflects the market’s scale. Tower 17 Properties and Mgmt leads with 244 listings and 11,217 reviews (rating 4.70). Dream Resorts ranks second with 195 listings and 9,053 reviews (rating 4.68). Newport Beach Vacation Properties holds 137 listings (rating 4.61), Vacasa 126 listings (rating 4.49), and OC Rentals 121 listings (rating 3.85). The top five operators together manage 823 listings, about 6% of the roughly 13,600-listing market. Irvine’s average ADR of $313 is 42% above the US median, though the residential ban limits legal STR operator capacity in the city’s residential zones.
Frequently Asked Questions About Irvine, California
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What is the Irvine STR enforcement approach?
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