Murrieta, California Short-Term Rental Market
Murrieta caps STR permits at 300; Inland SoCal area STRs averaged $200/night, 57.7% occupancy, $3,340 monthly revenue (Aug 2026).
Quick Answer: Murrieta, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Riverside market area is 55%. average monthly revenue in the Riverside market area is $2,968. average daily rate in the Riverside market area is $198. the top operator in the Riverside market area is Evolve with 88 listings. market score is 53/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Riverside regional market, which includes Murrieta. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Murrieta.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Murrieta is a city of 113,237 residents in Riverside County, California, and it limits short-term rentals through a citywide cap of 300 permits. Apivex tracks its performance together with five other inland towns: Temecula, Idyllwild, Mountain Center, Wrightwood, and Ontario. Every figure below describes that Inland Southern California area STR market across Riverside and San Bernardino counties, not Murrieta alone. The area mixes valley cities and mountain cabin towns, so Murrieta’s own results may differ.
In August 2026 the area averaged $200 per night at 57.7% occupancy. Average monthly revenue per listing was $3,340. Compared with August 2025, occupancy was up 1.7%, the daily rate was up 1.2%, and revenue was down 1.0%. Occupancy and rate both rose slightly, yet revenue per listing slipped, so the mix of listings may have shifted. The three changes are small, so the market is close to flat on the year.
Annual averages show a market that peaked in 2021. Occupancy was 65.6% that year and revenue per listing averaged $3,386 a month. By 2025 occupancy had eased to 56.1% and revenue to $3,139, while the daily rate held near $200 after reaching $213 in 2022. The first eight months of 2026 average 58.3% occupancy and $3,317 in monthly revenue.
Treat the area figures as a guide to demand in inland Southern California. Individual results will vary with property type, location, and management quality. The area profile lists the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve and Temecula Valley Wine Country as visitor draws. Listing-type, bedroom, and channel mix are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Murrieta, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 51% |
| Feb | 57% |
| Mar | 58% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 56% |
| Jun | 62% |
| Jul | 63% |
| Aug | 57% |
| Sep | 55% |
| Oct | 57% |
| Nov | 54% |
| Dec | 57% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Murrieta are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Riverside market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Riverside market as a whole, which includes Murrieta, so these counts are not Murrieta-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 88 | 1,904 | ★ 4.58 |
| 2 | New Spirit Vacation Homes | 60 | 3,545 | ★ 4.46 |
| 3 | Host / Eric | 45 | 40 | ★ 4.67 |
| 4 | Holidale | 44 | 11 | ★ 4.57 |
| 5 | Vacasa | 43 | 2,764 | ★ 4.53 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Murrieta?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Murrieta 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 | 69.5% |
| vrbo | 2.5% |
| both | 28% |
Home Value Trends (Murrieta)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Murrieta 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 Murrieta — 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
Murrieta regulates short-term rentals through Municipal Code Chapter 5.27, adopted on October 20, 2020. The profile found no major amendments since then. Operators need a Short-Term Vacation Rental permit, which is valid for one year and must be renewed. The city caps total permits at 300, issued first-come first-served with a waitlist. The permit fee is not published in the profile.
Hosted rentals, where the owner lives on site, are permitted in residential areas. Non-hosted whole-home rentals are limited to the ER-1, ER-2, and RR estate and rural zones. Non-hosted units in ER-1 and ER-2 must keep a 300-foot separation from one another, measured from all property lines. In practice, whole-home rentals are scarce inside city limits.
Operators must collect the 10% Transient Occupancy Tax under Chapter 3.24 on gross rent, including cleaning fees, resort fees, and other charges. They must file monthly even when no rentals occurred. A business license is also required.
Penalties escalate quickly. A first failure to register or hold a business license costs up to $100, any other first violation costs up to $1,500, a second violation within one year costs up to $3,000, and each additional violation within one year costs up to $5,000. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense. The city staffs a 24/7 hotline for neighbor concerns. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Against rough US short-term rental benchmarks of 55% occupancy and a $220 daily rate, the area has higher occupancy and a lower rate. August 2026 occupancy of 57.7% is 2.7 points above 55%, and the $200 daily rate is $20 (9%) below $220. Revenue per listing of $3,340 reflects that mix of strong demand and moderate pricing.
Against its own history, 2025 occupancy of 56.1% sits below the 65.6% of 2021. The 2025 daily rate of $200 is above the $150 of 2020 but below the $213 of 2022. The market has settled after the 2021 peak and is close to flat year over year.
Murrieta’s regulatory risk is higher than in many markets because of the 300-permit cap and the zone limits on whole-home rentals. Because the series pools six towns, Murrieta’s own numbers may differ from these area figures. Property manager rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Murrieta, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Murrieta, California
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Where can whole-home STRs operate in Murrieta?
What do STRs earn near Murrieta?
What taxes and penalties apply to Murrieta STRs?
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How seasonal are STRs in the Murrieta area?
How far ahead do guests book in the Murrieta area?
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