Pacifica, California Short-Term Rental Market
Pacifica caps unhosted STRs at 60 nights, with September 2026 ADR of $247, occupancy of 77.0%, and $4,983 monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Pacifica, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the San Francisco market area is 77%. average monthly revenue in the San Francisco market area is $4,983. average daily rate in the San Francisco market area is $247. the top operator in the San Francisco market area is Blueground with 267 listings. market score is 92/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the San Francisco regional market, which includes Pacifica. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Pacifica.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Pacifica is a coastal city of 36,313 residents about 15 miles south of San Francisco, with roughly 6 miles of Pacific shoreline. Its short-term rental market is shaped by Ordinance No. 901-C.S., which limits unhosted rentals to 60 nights a year and requires the operator’s primary residence, so every performance figure below should be read against that rule set. As of September 2026, the Pacifica STR market averaged an ADR of $247 and occupancy of 77.0%, with average monthly revenue per listing of $4,983. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 7.5%, ADR rose 8.1%, and revenue rose 12.7%.
The market is large for a city of this size. Tracked supply includes 8,749 entire place listings, 2,831 private room listings, and 56 shared room listings, so entire homes and apartments make up about 75% of listings. By bedroom count, 6,656 listings are one bedroom, 2,430 are two bedroom, 1,496 are three bedroom, 667 are four bedroom, and 364 have five bedrooms. Airbnb alone accounts for 8,365 listings, Vrbo alone for 521, and 2,750 are listed on both channels.
Demand comes mostly from day-trippers and weekend visitors from the San Francisco Bay Area. Surfers at Pacifica State Beach (Linda Mar), anglers on the 1,140-foot Pacifica Pier, and hikers at Mori Point and Sweeney Ridge account for much of the visitor base. The city markets itself as a coastal escape rather than a destination resort. The StaySTRA market score for Pacifica shows seasonality at 98.8, revenue growth at 97.6, rental demand at 84.4, regulation at 63.3, and investability at 45.9, for a total score of 92.0.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 63% |
| Feb | 67% |
| Mar | 70% |
| Apr | 68% |
| May | 72% |
| Jun | 78% |
| Jul | 78% |
| Aug | 75% |
| Sep | 73% |
| Oct | 71% |
| Nov | 64% |
| Dec | 61% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Pacifica are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in San Francisco market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the San Francisco market as a whole, which includes Pacifica, so these counts are not Pacifica-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blueground | 267 | 86 | ★ 4.28 |
| 2 | Kasa Properties | 76 | 3,125 | ★ 4.50 |
| 3 | Luxury Bookings FZE | 60 | 31 | ★ 4.30 |
| 4 | Landmark | 53 | 214 | ★ 4.55 |
| 5 | Anyplace | 44 | 86 | ★ 4.86 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Pacifica?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Pacifica 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 | 71.9% |
| vrbo | 4.5% |
| both | 23.6% |
Home Value Trends (Pacifica)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Pacifica 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 Pacifica — 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
Short-term rentals are permitted in Pacifica, but under one of the stricter regimes in the Bay Area. The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 901-C.S. on August 11, 2025, and it applied to new permits immediately and to existing non-coastal permits on October 31, 2025.
A permit is required. Operators need an STR Permit, a City Business License, and a signed STR Safety Declaration. The annual permit fee is $1,704, with an additional $263 inspection fee for non-coastal-zone STRs, and permits renew annually. The occupancy tax is 15%.
The operator must live in the home. Owner occupancy and primary residence are both required, so second homes and pure investment rentals do not qualify. Unhosted stays are capped at 60 nights per calendar year, counted from October 31 to October 30. Hosted stays have no annual cap. Minimum stays are two consecutive nights for unhosted rentals and one night for hosted rentals.
Zoning limits apply. Unhosted STRs are prohibited in buildings with two or more units and in accessory dwelling units. One parking space is required per rented bedroom. Hosts must also keep quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., designate a 24/7 local contact, carry liability insurance, and pass a safety inspection. A strike system penalizes violations, and enforcement severity is rated high.
Coastal-zone STRs west of Highway 1 await California Coastal Commission certification before enforcement. Confirm current status with the city before buying.
Market Comparison
Pacifica posted strong short-term rental results in September 2026. Occupancy was 77.0% and the ADR was $247. Revenue grew 12.7% year over year, supported by occupancy growth of 7.5% and ADR growth of 8.1%.
The Pacifica area STR market is also served by a mix of professional operators. Blueground is the largest with 267 listings and a 4.28 rating, followed by Kasa Properties with 76 listings and a 4.5 rating, Luxury Bookings FZE with 60 listings, Landmark with 53 listings and a 4.55 rating, and Anyplace with 44 listings and a 4.86 rating. Together these five operators manage 500 listings, about 4.3% of the 11,636 tracked listings.
The comparison comes with a caveat. Strong averages reflect proximity to San Francisco and a supply of listings that may not all meet the local rules. The 60-night cap on unhosted stays and the primary-residence requirement mean a new investor cannot assume the market averages apply to their own property.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pacifica, California
What is the average Airbnb ADR and occupancy in Pacifica?
Can I run an unhosted short-term rental in Pacifica?
How much does a Pacifica STR permit cost?
What is the gross yield on a Pacifica short-term rental?
When is the best time of year for Pacifica short-term rentals?
How far ahead do guests book in Pacifica, and how long do they stay?
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