San Rafael, California Short-Term Rental Market
San Rafael STRs must be a primary residence; Bay Area August 2026: $261 ADR, 78.4% occupancy, $5,511 monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: San Rafael, 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 Rafael. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to San Rafael.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
San Rafael allows short-term rentals only at the operator’s primary residence, and that rule shapes who can earn from this market. 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 Rafael 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 Rafael, so this profile omits it.
San Rafael is the largest city and county seat of Marin County, with a population of 59,961. It sits just north of San Francisco across the Golden Gate. It draws Bay Area day-trippers, outdoor recreation visitors, and cultural tourists, with attractions such as China Camp State Park, Mission San Rafael Arcangel, and the Marin County Civic Center. 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 Rafael 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 Rafael, so these counts are not San Rafael-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 Rafael?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for San Rafael 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 Rafael)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for San Rafael 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 Rafael — 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 Rafael permits short-term rentals of fewer than 30 nights only at the operator’s primary residence. The operator must be a permanent resident who occupies the unit at least 60 consecutive days with intent to make it their primary residence. Proof of residency takes three of five documents, such as a driver’s license, vehicle registration, voter registration, tax documents, or a utility bill.
Every STR must register annually with the City’s Short-Term Rental Program. The initial fee is $170 and the annual renewal is $135. The program has operated since January 1, 2020.
Hosts collect and remit a 12% Transient Occupancy Tax, made up of 10% city tax and 2% for the Marin County Business Improvement District. Airbnb remits automatically. On Vrbo and other platforms the host remits directly.
Renting all or part of a primary home is allowed, including a qualifying accessory structure. STRs are prohibited in income-restricted housing, student housing, and commercial or industrial zones. RVs, boats, tents, yurts, and van conversions cannot be used. Occupancy is two guests per bedroom plus two, never more than the vehicle capacity, with one off-street parking space per four guests.
Enforcement is rated strict. Three upheld citations within two years mean immediate loss of registration. Unincorporated Marin County has a separate licensing program that does not apply inside the city.
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 Rafael, so this profile omits it.
Frequently Asked Questions About San Rafael, California
Are short-term rentals legal in San Rafael?
How much do Bay Area Airbnbs earn?
What does it cost to register a San Rafael STR?
What is the San Rafael occupancy tax?
What happens if a San Rafael host breaks the rules?
How long do guests stay and how far ahead do they book?
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