Moss Landing, California Short-Term Rental Market
Moss Landing, CA bans commercial (non-owner-occupied) short-term rentals in its residential zones as of October 2025.
Quick Answer: Moss Landing, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 72%. average monthly revenue is $9,296. average daily rate is $486.
Market data reflects the Monterey Bay regional market, which includes Moss Landing. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Moss Landing.
Market Overview
Moss Landing is a tiny working fishing village of about 237 people on Monterey Bay, between Santa Cruz and Monterey, best known as the gateway to Elkhorn Slough, one of California’s largest coastal wetlands and a top-ranked U.S. birding and wildlife-viewing site. Monterey County’s Coastal Zone vacation-rental ordinance, adopted September 23, 2025 and effective October 24, 2025, bans Commercial Vacation Rentals, non-hosted units rented more than 3 times per year, in Moss Landing’s residential zones; that prohibition does not apply to the town’s commercial district. Homestays (owner-occupied) remain allowed countywide, and Limited Vacation Rentals (3 or fewer bookings a year) remain allowed everywhere. On performance, Moss Landing’s short-term rental market averaged a $486.24 ADR and 72.1% occupancy in June 2026, the most recent month tracked, producing $350.48 RevPAR and $9,296 in average monthly revenue, among the strongest figures in this profile set. Year over year, occupancy is up 4.0% and revenue is up 4.2%, even as ADR eased 1.7%. Demand is driven almost entirely by nature and eco-tourism, kayakers, whale- and otter-watchers, and birders visiting Elkhorn Slough, along with overflow from nearby Monterey, Carmel, and Santa Cruz. Listing-type and bedroom-count data are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Moss Landing, so this profile omits a breakdown by unit type or bedroom count.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 46% |
| Feb | 54% |
| Mar | 58% |
| Apr | 63% |
| May | 60% |
| Jun | 69% |
| Jul | 74% |
| Aug | 70% |
| Sep | 61% |
| Oct | 57% |
| Nov | 55% |
| Dec | 50% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Moss Landing 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 Moss Landing — 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
Moss Landing is unincorporated Monterey County, so it follows the county’s vacation-rental ordinances rather than a city code. The county defines three STR types: Homestays (owner stays on-site in at least one bedroom, allowed countywide), Limited Vacation Rentals (non-hosted, rented 3 or fewer times per year, allowed everywhere), and Commercial Vacation Rentals (non-hosted, rented more than 3 times per year). Commercial Vacation Rentals are banned in Moss Landing’s residential zones, the prohibition applies to the residential district but not the commercial district, meaning a full-time non-owner-occupied Airbnb in a Moss Landing residential neighborhood is not permittable; only homestays or the limited 3-bookings-a-year option are available there. Operators must obtain a Vacation Rental Operation License, $965 initial fee, plus a county business license, both renewed annually. A 10.5% Transient Occupancy Tax applies to all rentals up to 30 days and must be collected and remitted to the county. Because Moss Landing is in the Coastal Zone, the applicable ordinance is the coastal version, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on September 23, 2025 and effective October 24, 2025; applications opened October 24, 2025 with a compliance deadline of December 24, 2025. Enforcement is strict: fines up to $5,000 per day and permit revocation for operators, plus up to $1,000 per listing for noncompliant marketplaces.
Market Comparison
Nationally, short-term rentals typically run around 55% occupancy and a $220 ADR. Moss Landing’s June 2026 figures, 72.1% occupancy and a $486.24 ADR, run well above both national benchmarks, reflecting premium Central Coast pricing and strong eco-tourism demand around Elkhorn Slough. Property manager market share and per-listing-type performance data are not yet published for Moss Landing, so a direct comparison to competing operators or unit types is not possible here. The more important comparison for Moss Landing specifically is regulatory: unlike markets where the constraint is demand, Moss Landing’s residential-zone supply for non-owner-occupied rentals is now banned outright under the county’s Coastal Zone ordinance, so any competitive analysis for new investment needs to start with confirming commercial-district eligibility rather than market saturation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moss Landing, California
Are short-term rentals banned in Moss Landing, CA?
Can I still operate an owner-occupied short-term rental in Moss Landing?
What is the average daily rate for short-term rentals in Moss Landing?
What is the busiest month for short-term rentals in Moss Landing?
How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Moss Landing?
What occupancy tax applies to short-term rentals in Moss Landing?
What are the penalties for operating an unpermitted short-term rental in Moss Landing?
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