Redwood City, California Short-Term Rental Market
Redwood City allows only primary-residence STRs, with Bay Area September 2026 ADR $247, 77.0% occupancy, $4,983 monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Redwood City, 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 273 listings. market score is 92/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the San Francisco regional market, which includes Redwood City. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Redwood City.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Redwood City’s short-term rental rules limit hosting to the operator’s full-time primary residence, so this market suits owner-occupants rather than investors buying second homes. The performance figures below describe the San Francisco Bay Area STR market, which includes Redwood City and is tracked at a shared regional level. In September 2026 the Bay Area STR market posted an average daily rate (ADR) of $247, occupancy of 77.0%, and average monthly revenue of $4,983 per listing. Year over year, occupancy rose 7.5%, ADR rose 8.1%, and revenue rose 12.7%. Entire-place stays earned an ADR of $303, well above the all-listings average, and average monthly revenue was $5,910 for entire places, $5,379 for houses, and $4,397 for apartments. Annual revenue, summed across the seasonal months, comes to $44,135 per listing. Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts and top-operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Redwood City, so this profile omits them. Year-to-date 2026 (nine months) is running ahead of prior years, with 75.9% occupancy and a $238 ADR, against 71.3% and $219 for full-year 2025. Demand draws on business and tech travel tied to Silicon Valley employers, plus visitors to downtown Redwood City’s Courthouse Square, the 1929 Fox Theatre, and nearby preserves such as Edgewood Park. Redwood City sits on the San Francisco Peninsula, roughly midway between San Francisco and San Jose, with a population of 84,292.
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 Redwood City 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 Redwood City, so these counts are not Redwood City-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blueground | 273 | 85 | ★ 4.24 |
| 2 | Kasa Properties | 76 | 3,135 | ★ 4.50 |
| 3 | Luxury Bookings FZE | 60 | 31 | ★ 4.30 |
| 4 | Landmark | 53 | 214 | ★ 4.55 |
| 5 | Anyplace | 44 | 87 | ★ 4.86 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Redwood City?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Redwood 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 | 71.8% |
| vrbo | 4.6% |
| both | 23.6% |
Home Value Trends (Redwood City)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Redwood 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 Redwood 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
Short-term rentals are permitted in Redwood City, but only in the operator’s full-time primary residence. Second homes and investment properties are not eligible, and enforcement is rated strict. Hosts must register through the city’s Deckard portal, obtain a short-term rental permit, and hold a city business license. The permit costs about $250 per year and the business license roughly $50 per year. Renewal is annual, with reapplication due by May 31. Guests pay a 12% Transient Occupancy Tax on rent, including cleaning fees, for stays under 30 nights, and the revenue goes to the city’s Affordable Housing Fund. Hosted stays have no annual night cap, but unhosted stays are limited to 120 days per calendar year. No single tenant may stay more than 29 consecutive days. A designated local contact must be reachable during unhosted stays to respond to complaints. Accessory dwelling units may not be used as short-term rentals unless they were registered with the city before January 1, 2020. Special events such as weddings and corporate retreats are prohibited, and existing on-site parking must be made available to renters. The city uses Deckard Technologies to detect unpermitted listings and monitor platforms. Fines escalate from $250 to $500 to $1,000, and serious cases risk permit revocation and a one to two year ban. No major ordinance change was identified in the last 24 months.
Market Comparison
The Bay Area STR market posted September 2026 occupancy of 77.0% and a $247 ADR. Average monthly revenue of $4,983 reflects both strengths together. The market has also strengthened over time: ADR has risen from $174 in 2017 to $219 in 2025 and $238 so far in 2026, while occupancy has recovered from 61.4% in 2020 to 75.9% this year. The tradeoff is cost and access. A typical Redwood City home value of $1,872,902 is high, and the city’s primary-residence requirement removes the non-owner-occupied investor route that exists in many other markets. Top-operator names and listing mix are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Redwood City, so this profile omits them. Buyers who live in the home can benefit from strong rates and occupancy, while out-of-area investors should look at markets without owner-occupancy rules.
Frequently Asked Questions About Redwood City, California
Can I run an Airbnb in Redwood City if I do not live there?
What is the average daily rate in the Redwood City area STR market?
What occupancy rate do short-term rentals reach here?
How many nights per year can I rent my Redwood City home?
What does a Redwood City STR permit cost?
How much do Bay Area STR listings earn per year?
What are the penalties for operating without a permit?
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