Palmdale, California Short-Term Rental Market
The Palmdale area STR market earned $157 ADR at 63% occupancy in June 2026.
Quick Answer: Palmdale, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the California Central Valley market area is 63%. average monthly revenue in the California Central Valley market area is $2,724. average daily rate in the California Central Valley market area is $157. the top operator in the California Central Valley market area is Evolve with 177 listings. market score is 58/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the California Central Valley regional market, which includes Palmdale. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Palmdale.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Palmdale sits in the Antelope Valley of northern Los Angeles County, drawing primarily regional drive-market visitors from the greater LA metro. Tourism is anchored by aerospace heritage at Air Force Plant 42, the Blackbird Airpark, and Joe Davies Heritage Airpark, springtime wildflower traffic at the nearby Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, and outdoor desert recreation at Vasquez Rocks and Devil’s Punchbowl. The city also serves as a gateway and overnight stop for travelers heading to Edwards Air Force Base, the Mojave, and the Sierra.
Short-term rental performance data in this data set is tracked at a submarket level shared across a wide 25-city Central Valley and Antelope Valley cluster, so the figures below describe the wider Palmdale area STR market rather than city-limits-only precision. In June 2026, the most recent month with complete data, the area’s average daily rate across all listings was $156.59 at 62.96% occupancy, generating average monthly revenue of $2,724.29 per listing, one of the more modest revenue figures processed in this project. Occupancy is roughly flat year over year (down 0.53%), ADR is roughly flat (down 0.87%), and monthly revenue is up 2.49% year over year.
Bedroom mix, listing-type mix, channel mix, and market-score data in this data set are tracked at a shared regional level rather than measured uniquely for Palmdale, so this profile omits those figures rather than present regional numbers as if they were city-specific. Booking data for the area shows an average lead time of 32.13 days, one of the shortest in this project, and an average length of stay of 5.19 nights, a notably long stay relative to the short booking window.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 55% |
| Feb | 61% |
| Mar | 61% |
| Apr | 61% |
| May | 64% |
| Jun | 66% |
| Jul | 67% |
| Aug | 63% |
| Sep | 61% |
| Oct | 61% |
| Nov | 58% |
| Dec | 57% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Palmdale are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in California Central Valley market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the California Central Valley market as a whole, which includes Palmdale, so these counts are not Palmdale-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 177 | 4,256 | ★ 4.54 |
| 2 | Stay Smart | 85 | 926 | ★ 4.36 |
| 3 | Guest Equity, Inc. | 47 | 4,161 | ★ 4.71 |
| 4 | Fresno Short Term Rentals | 43 | 3,826 | ★ 4.85 |
| 5 | LUSH Garden Hideaway | 42 | 875 | ★ 4.95 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Palmdale?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Palmdale 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 | 70.7% |
| vrbo | 2.9% |
| both | 26.3% |
Home Value Trends (Palmdale)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Palmdale 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 Palmdale — 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
Palmdale does not have a stand-alone short-term rental ordinance. Airbnb and Vrbo operators are treated as a business: hosts must obtain a City of Palmdale business license, reported at an initial cost of around $214.00, register for and remit Transient Occupancy Tax, and meet basic safety requirements including smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and guest-count limits; some listings must also submit floor plans.
The city’s base Transient Occupancy Tax rate is 10.00%, effective since July 1, 2009. In addition, Palmdale formed the Palmdale Tourism Improvement District in 2021 (effective November 1, 2021, under Resolution CC 2021-096), which levies a 2% assessment on lodging receipts. That assessment primarily targets hotels and motels, so short-term rental hosts should confirm its applicability directly with the city rather than assume either way.
There is no published owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no explicit annual night cap, though this likely reflects the absence of a dedicated STR chapter rather than a confirmed absence of such rules, since Palmdale regulates STRs through general business-license, tax, and zoning rules instead of a specific STR code section.
Enforcement is rated moderate: the city does pursue licensing and tax compliance and can levy fines for failure to register, though staffing for active STR enforcement is limited. Because rules are not consolidated in a single STR code section, investors should contact Palmdale Planning and Zoning and the Business License and Finance office directly to confirm current requirements.
Market Comparison
The Palmdale area’s 62.96% occupancy in June 2026 runs above the roughly 55% median occupancy typically seen across the broader U.S. short-term rental market, while its $156.59 average daily rate is well below the roughly $220 national median ADR. This combination, above-average occupancy but comparatively low rates, reflects Palmdale’s position as an affordable Antelope Valley gateway market serving regional drive-market and aerospace-related travel rather than a premium leisure destination.
Top property manager data in this data set is tracked at a shared regional level across a wide 25-city Central Valley and Antelope Valley cluster rather than uniquely for Palmdale, so this profile does not present specific operator names, listing counts, or ratings as Palmdale-specific. Palmdale’s own regulatory environment is a more distinctive local factor: no dedicated STR ordinance, with rules spread across general business licensing, zoning, and tax code rather than consolidated in one place, which investors should navigate carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions About Palmdale, California
What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in the Palmdale area?
What is the average nightly rate for a short-term rental in the Palmdale area?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Palmdale, CA?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Palmdale?
Is there a night cap or owner-occupancy rule for short-term rentals in Palmdale?
What is the best time of year to own a short-term rental in the Palmdale area?
What does it cost to buy into the Palmdale short-term rental market?
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