National City, California Short-Term Rental Market
Capped permits govern National City; San Diego County STRs hit $303 ADR, 62.8% occupancy, $5,181 revenue, September 2026.
Quick Answer: National City, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the San Diego market area is 63%. average monthly revenue in the San Diego market area is $5,181. average daily rate in the San Diego market area is $303. the top operator in the San Diego market area is Evolve with 266 listings. market score is 65/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the San Diego regional market, which includes National City. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to National City.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
National City is a small South Bay city of 58,460 residents, about 5 miles from downtown San Diego. Short-term rental performance data for the city is tracked at a shared regional level, so every performance number on this page describes the San Diego County STR market. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and top operator names are also tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for National City, so this profile omits them.
In September 2026, the San Diego County STR market posted an average daily rate of $303, occupancy of 62.8%, and average monthly revenue of $5,181 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 10.8%, ADR is up 3.3%, and revenue is up 10.2%. Entire-place stays averaged $327 per night, above the all-listings figure, and the average booking ran 4.69 nights with 51.7 days of lead time.
Over the longer run, average monthly revenue has climbed from $2,805 in 2017 to $5,256 in 2025. The first nine months of 2026 average $5,970 per month at 68.0% occupancy and a $321 ADR, ahead of the 2025 full-year averages of 62.7% occupancy and a $305 ADR.
National City itself works as an affordable lodging and shopping base for people visiting greater San Diego rather than a standalone destination. Budget-minded visitors use it for access to Petco Park, Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, the USS Midway and Coronado, along with the Mile of Cars retail corridor and Pepper Park on San Diego Bay. The key caveat for investors is regulatory: the city only adopted its first short-term rental ordinance in September 2025, and permits are capped, so the county-wide numbers above do not mean a National City owner can list freely. The regulatory section below explains the rules.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 56% |
| Feb | 65% |
| Mar | 69% |
| Apr | 62% |
| May | 64% |
| Jun | 74% |
| Jul | 77% |
| Aug | 68% |
| Sep | 61% |
| Oct | 61% |
| Nov | 58% |
| Dec | 57% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for National City are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in San Diego market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the San Diego market as a whole, which includes National City, so these counts are not National City-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 266 | 10,486 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Surf Style Vacation Homes | 225 | 10,113 | ★ 4.77 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 179 | 8,447 | ★ 4.62 |
| 4 | Nxt Vacation Rental Management | 165 | 3,059 | ★ 4.90 |
| 5 | San Diego Rentals | 162 | 153 | ★ 4.40 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in National City?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for National City 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 | 49.4% |
| vrbo | 6.2% |
| both | 44.3% |
Home Value Trends (National City)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for National City 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 National City — 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
National City restricts short-term rentals through a capped permit system. The City Council adopted its first short-term rental ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 6.30) in September 2025, with permit applications expected to open in 2026. Until the permit process launches, STRs are effectively prohibited. Enforcement is rated strict.
Permits cost $250 and renew annually. The city caps STRs at 45 per council district, up to 180 citywide, which makes the process competitive. Operators are limited to one unhosted STR, while hosted STRs, where the operator lives on-site or next door, have no unit limit. Unhosted rentals are limited to 90 rental-nights per year. Applicants must live in National City or within a quarter-mile of the rental, and background checks are required. Applicants with certain criminal records, including prostitution or serious Penal Code Title 9 crimes, are disqualified. The profile does not require an owner-occupied or primary-residence property.
A 10% transient occupancy tax applies to nightly rates.
Penalties escalate from $500 for a first violation to $1,500 for a third. Three citations within a year can trigger permit revocation, and felony violations tied to the rental can cause immediate revocation with a 12-month wait to reapply. The city cited police concerns over loud parties, human trafficking and violent crime at STRs as the reason for the ordinance. Confirm current permit availability with the City of National City before buying.
Market Comparison
The San Diego County STR market posted 62.8% occupancy and a $303 ADR in September 2026. Even the January trough of 55.5% occupancy is respectable, while July reaches 77.0%.
Demand comes from visitors to greater San Diego. National City sits inside that demand pool, about 5 miles from downtown, but its own lodging role is more budget oriented than the beachfront parts of the county. Revenue is up 10.2% year over year.
The main difference between National City and the county figures is regulation. The county-wide numbers include cities with different rules, while National City caps permits at 180 and limits unhosted rentals to 90 nights. Top operator names are tracked at the shared regional level rather than uniquely for National City, so this profile omits them. Investors should treat the county figures as a ceiling and apply the local night limit.
Frequently Asked Questions About National City, California
Are short-term rentals legal in National City?
How many nights can I rent a National City property per year?
What are the average ADR and occupancy for STRs near National City?
What are the best and worst months for STR revenue?
What taxes and fees apply to National City short-term rentals?
Do I need to live in National City to get an STR permit?
What does a typical National City home cost?
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