San Mateo, California Short-Term Rental Market
San Mateo caps un-hosted STRs at 120 nights; Bay Area August 2026: $261 ADR, 78.4% occupancy, $5,511 monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: San Mateo, 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 San Mateo. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to San Mateo.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
San Mateo limits un-hosted short-term rentals to 120 nights a year, and that cap shapes what any owner can earn. StaySTRA tracks Airbnb and Vrbo performance for San Mateo, San Francisco, Redwood City, San Rafael, San Anselmo, Half Moon Bay, and Stinson Beach as one shared series. The figures below describe the San Francisco Bay Area STR market, not San Mateo alone.
In August 2026, the San Francisco Bay Area STR market averaged 78.4% occupancy and a $261 average daily rate (ADR). Average monthly revenue was $5,511 per listing. Compared with August 2025, occupancy is up 6.5%, ADR is up 7.1%, and revenue is up 11.4%.
The longer trend is a recovery with rising rates. Annual average occupancy fell to 61.4% in 2020, reached 74.0% in 2022, dipped to 67.8% in 2024, and rose to 71.3% in 2025. ADR rose from $174 in 2019 to $219 in 2025. Average monthly revenue rose from $3,169 to $4,251 over the same period. The first eight months of 2026 average 75.8% occupancy, a $237 ADR, and $4,790 in monthly revenue.
Listing-type, bedroom, channel, and top property manager data is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for San Mateo, so this profile omits it.
San Mateo has a population of 101,680 and sits on the San Francisco Peninsula, between San Francisco and Silicon Valley near SFO. It draws business and tech travelers, event attendees, and regional leisure visitors, rather than acting as a standalone destination. No city-specific annual visitor count is published.
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 San Mateo 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 San Mateo, so these counts are not San Mateo-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 San Mateo?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for San Mateo 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 (San Mateo)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for San Mateo 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 San Mateo — 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
San Mateo allows short-term rentals under Municipal Code Chapter 5.66, effective February 1, 2021. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. When the host is not on site, the unit may be rented a maximum of 120 days a year. Hosted stays have no day cap.
Operators complete three steps: register the STR, get a city business license, and file a transient occupancy tax (TOT) certification. The annual registration fee is $250, due July 1. HdL Companies administers registration and TOT.
The city TOT rate is 14% of total rent, including cleaning fees and related charges. It is collected from guests and remitted monthly.
Any legal dwelling unit may register except accessory dwelling units, which are barred. Occupancy is limited to 2 people per bedroom or 10 per property, whichever is less. Off-street parking is required, with 1 space for 1 to 3 bedrooms and 2 for 4 or more. A local contact must respond to complaints within 60 minutes, and parties and special events are prohibited.
Violations can bring citations, fines, and revocation of the registration. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. No material changes were found in the last 24 months. The unincorporated Coastal Zone near Half Moon Bay has a separate county ordinance.
Market Comparison
Against rough US benchmarks of about 55% occupancy and a $220 ADR, the San Francisco Bay Area STR market beats both. August 2026 occupancy of 78.4% is 23.4 points above the 55% benchmark. The $261 ADR is $41 above the $220 benchmark.
Revenue per available night, which is ADR times occupancy, works out to about $204. That is a derived figure, not a published one.
The market combines high occupancy with a high rate. The premium tiers go much further, with luxury listings at $643 and professionally managed listings at $426.
Top property manager data is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for San Mateo, so this profile omits it.
Frequently Asked Questions About San Mateo, California
Are short-term rentals legal in San Mateo?
How much do Bay Area Airbnbs earn?
What does it cost to register a San Mateo STR?
What is the San Mateo occupancy tax?
What is the best time of year for Bay Area short-term rentals?
How long do guests stay and how far ahead do they book?
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