Riverside, California Short-Term Rental Market
Inland Empire short-term rentals in September 2026 averaged $198 ADR, 55.4% occupancy and $2,968 monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Riverside, 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 wider Riverside market, which covers 26 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Riverside.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
In September 2026, the Inland Empire STR market that includes Riverside averaged $198 in average daily rate (ADR), 55.4% occupancy, and $2,968 in monthly revenue per listing. Performance figures on this page describe the Inland Empire STR market as a whole rather than Riverside alone. Year over year, occupancy rose 6.7%, ADR rose 1.2%, and revenue rose 5.9%, so most of the gain came from more booked nights rather than higher rates. Calendar 2026 through September is running at 58.0% occupancy, a $205 ADR, and $3,282 in monthly revenue, ahead of full-year 2025 at 56.1%, $201, and $3,145. The market has not returned to its 2021 high of 65.6% occupancy and $3,395 monthly revenue, and the 2022 ADR peak of $214 remains above today’s level. Entire places lead on earnings. Entire place listings averaged $3,880 a month, houses averaged $3,080, and apartments averaged $2,016. Guests booked about 46.5 days ahead and stayed 5.6 nights on average. Riverside is a Southern California inland city of 323,757 residents, roughly an hour east of Los Angeles. Demand here comes from regional visitors, UC Riverside, heritage and architecture travelers, and event crowds rather than a beach or theme park. The Mission Inn Festival of Lights draws an estimated 700,000 visitors downtown each holiday season. No city-specific annual visitor count is published. Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts and top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Riverside, 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 Riverside 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 Riverside, so these counts are not Riverside-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 88 | 1,911 | ★ 4.58 |
| 2 | New Spirit Vacation Homes | 60 | 3,551 | ★ 4.46 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 46 | 2,851 | ★ 4.53 |
| 4 | Host / Eric | 45 | 40 | ★ 4.67 |
| 5 | Holidale | 44 | 11 | ★ 4.57 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Riverside?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Riverside 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 | 69.4% |
| vrbo | 2.7% |
| both | 28% |
Home Value Trends (Riverside)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Riverside 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 Riverside — 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 the City of Riverside, and a permit is required. Owners must obtain a business tax certificate under Chapter 5.04 and comply with the Short-Term Residential Rentals ordinance, Riverside Municipal Code Chapter 5.55, and must register for Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) with the City. The permit renews annually. TOT is 13% of rent and is filed monthly with the Business Tax Office. Booking platforms that collect revenue bear primary responsibility for collecting and remitting it. Owners must give renters the City good neighbor brochure and obtain a signed acknowledgment. The ordinance is aimed at noise, parking, overcrowding, and refuse concerns. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement was found, and no annual night cap was found. Short-term rentals are regulated as a residential use. Renting rooms or an entire detached home to more than two individuals in R-1, RR, RE, and MU-N zones requires a Room Rental Permit under Zoning Chapter 19.895, renewed annually. Exact zone-by-zone eligibility was not fully verified. Enforcement severity is rated moderate, handled through code enforcement citations and business tax and TOT penalties, with late TOT penalties of up to 50% plus interest. Permit fees were not verified. No recent amendment to the City ordinance was confirmed. Unincorporated Riverside County is a separate jurisdiction with its own rules. Investors should confirm current fees and requirements with the City before buying.
Market Comparison
Calendar 2026 to date runs at 58.0% occupancy and a $205 ADR, ahead of full-year 2025 at 56.1% and $201, so the Inland Empire STR market that includes Riverside is improving. September 2026 occupancy was 55.4% at a $198 ADR. Luxury listings at $449 and professionally managed listings at $373 sit well above the market average ADR, so the market supports premium pricing for properties that earn it. The revenue trend is healthy, with revenue up 5.9% year over year. The higher entry cost is the main trade-off, with a typical home value of $641,514. Top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Riverside, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Riverside, California
What is the average Airbnb ADR in the Riverside area?
What is the occupancy rate for short-term rentals in Riverside?
How much do short-term rentals earn per month in Riverside?
Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Riverside, CA?
When is the best time of year for Riverside STR income?
How much does a home cost in Riverside for an STR investment?
How far ahead do guests book and how long do they stay?
Analyze Riverside Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Riverside.
Free Riverside STR Calculator →
