Santa Barbara, California Short-Term Rental Market
Santa Barbara prohibits whole-home STRs in most residential zones; county area August 2026: $518 ADR, 67.1% occupancy, $9,549 monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Santa Barbara, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Santa Barbara market area is 60%. average monthly revenue in the Santa Barbara market area is $7,354. average daily rate in the Santa Barbara market area is $457. the top operator in the Santa Barbara market area is Paradise Retreats with 109 listings. market score is 88/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the wider Santa Barbara market, which covers 2 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Santa Barbara.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The City of Santa Barbara effectively prohibits whole-unit short-term rentals in most residential zones, and it enforces that rule actively. StaySTRA tracks Airbnb and Vrbo performance for Santa Barbara and Santa Maria as one shared series. The figures below describe the Santa Barbara County area STR market, not the city alone. They include rentals in places with different rules.
In August 2026, the Santa Barbara County area STR market averaged 67.1% occupancy and a $518 average daily rate (ADR). Average monthly revenue was $9,549 per listing. Compared with August 2025, occupancy is down 0.4%, ADR is up 3.1%, and revenue is up 7.3%.
The longer trend shows a 2021 surge and a partial reset. Annual average occupancy rose from 56.3% in 2019 to 71.6% in 2021, then settled at 59.3% in 2025. ADR kept climbing, from $253 in 2019 to $428 in 2025. Average monthly revenue was $3,619 in 2019, $6,427 in 2021, and $6,826 in 2025. The first eight months of 2026 average 61.9% occupancy, a $443 ADR, and $7,302 in monthly revenue.
Listing-type, bedroom, channel, and top property manager data is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Santa Barbara, so this profile omits it.
The city has a population of 87,779. The Santa Barbara South Coast received about 6.5 million visitors in 2023, who spent $2.24 billion. About 36% stayed overnight and 64% were day-trippers. Visitors come for Spanish Colonial architecture, the coast, wine country, and events at venues such as the Santa Barbara Bowl.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 49% |
| Feb | 59% |
| Mar | 61% |
| Apr | 61% |
| May | 59% |
| Jun | 66% |
| Jul | 71% |
| Aug | 67% |
| Sep | 60% |
| Oct | 58% |
| Nov | 56% |
| Dec | 54% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Santa Barbara are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Santa Barbara market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Santa Barbara market as a whole, which includes Santa Barbara, so these counts are not Santa Barbara-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paradise Retreats | 109 | 3,697 | ★ 4.84 |
| 2 | Ziprent | 91 | 4,717 | ★ 4.93 |
| 3 | Vacation Rentals of Santa Barbara | 81 | 1,850 | ★ 4.86 |
| 4 | WorldMark | 50 | 703 | ★ 4.92 |
| 5 | Casago | 48 | 2,335 | ★ 4.84 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Santa Barbara?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Santa Barbara 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 | 44.1% |
| vrbo | 6.3% |
| both | 49.6% |
Home Value Trends (Santa Barbara)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara — 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
Santa Barbara is one of the most strictly enforced STR markets in California. Under the current zoning code, STRs are effectively prohibited in most residential zones. The city has treated STRs as hotels since at least 2021. Enforcement strictness is rated strict.
In August 2023 the City Attorney launched an STR Enforcement Program with three investigators and a financial analyst. By mid-2025 it had investigated more than 150 properties, filed 25 Superior Court cases, and recovered about $596,000 in back taxes, fines, and penalties.
A licensing ordinance was nearing final City Council adoption as of mid-2026. It followed Planning Commission review on March 5, 2026, and Ordinance Committee review on April 14, 2026. The draft allows whole-unit STRs only in commercial and multi-residential zones and a defined coastal licensed zone. It keeps whole-unit STRs banned in detached-home and duplex zones. Hosted homeshares, with the owner on site from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., would be allowed in most residential zones. ADUs and affordable housing units are excluded.
Today a Business Tax Certificate is required, renewed annually. The city occupancy tax is 12%. In unincorporated Santa Barbara County, STRs are allowed in most commercial zones and homestays in residential zones, and Measure H raised the county tax from 12% to 14% in 2025. Confirm current rules with the city.
Market Comparison
Against rough US benchmarks of about 55% occupancy and a $220 ADR, the Santa Barbara County area STR market beats both by a wide margin. August 2026 occupancy of 67.1% is 12.1 points above the 55% benchmark. The $518 ADR is $298 above the $220 benchmark, about 2.4 times as high.
Revenue per available night, which is ADR times occupancy, works out to about $348. That is a derived figure, not a published one.
This market earns its income from a very high rate. The premium tiers go further, with luxury listings at $1,051 and professionally managed listings at $677. Those figures reflect the whole county area, where rules differ from the city.
Top property manager data is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Santa Barbara, so this profile omits it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Santa Barbara, California
Are short-term rentals legal in Santa Barbara?
How much do Santa Barbara County area Airbnbs earn?
How strictly does Santa Barbara enforce STR rules?
What is the best time of year for Santa Barbara short-term rentals?
What is the occupancy tax in Santa Barbara?
How long do guests stay and how far ahead do they book?
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