South Lake Tahoe, California Short-Term Rental Market
South Lake Tahoe STRs averaged $405/night at 24.7% occupancy in April 2026, with over 11,200 active listings across a year-round resort market.
Quick Answer: South Lake Tahoe, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Lake Tahoe market area is 59%. average monthly revenue in the Lake Tahoe market area is $6,904. average daily rate in the Lake Tahoe market area is $518. the top operator in the Lake Tahoe market area is Vacasa with 912 listings. market score is 45/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Lake Tahoe regional market, which includes South Lake Tahoe. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to South Lake Tahoe.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
South Lake Tahoe is one of California’s largest short-term rental markets, with over 11,000 active listings as of the latest snapshot. The market is dominated by entire-place rentals, which account for 10,974 of 11,243 tracked listings (97.6%), with private rooms representing just 269 units (2.4%). Bedroom distribution skews toward larger properties: 3-bedroom units lead with 3,717 listings, followed by 4-bedroom (2,305), 2-bedroom (2,238), 1-bedroom (1,993), and 5-bedroom (957).
In April 2026, the latest data month, the average daily rate was $405 and occupancy was 24.7%, consistent with April being the post-ski, pre-summer shoulder season. RevPAR was $100. Year over year, April occupancy fell 17.7% and revenue dropped 10.4%, while ADR rose 4.8%. These YoY swings reflect the market’s pronounced seasonality rather than a structural decline. On a 2025 full-year basis, the market averaged 47.3% occupancy, $474 ADR, and $5,993 in monthly revenue per listing.
Channel distribution shows meaningful diversification: 7,057 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, while 3,140 are Airbnb-only and 1,046 are VRBO-only. The market’s total score is 45.3 out of 100, with revenue growth (70.5) and regulation (69.3) scoring highest and seasonality (53.3) presenting the largest structural challenge for investors.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 48% |
| Feb | 56% |
| Mar | 44% |
| Apr | 33% |
| May | 40% |
| Jun | 61% |
| Jul | 70% |
| Aug | 58% |
| Sep | 40% |
| Oct | 31% |
| Nov | 38% |
| Dec | 55% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for South Lake Tahoe are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lake Tahoe market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Lake Tahoe market as a whole, which includes South Lake Tahoe, so these counts are not South Lake Tahoe-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 912 | 34,138 | ★ 4.41 |
| 2 | Tahoe Getaways | 353 | 10,145 | ★ 4.72 |
| 3 | Evolve | 216 | 11,511 | ★ 4.66 |
| 4 | Grand Welcome | 179 | 8,657 | ★ 4.54 |
| 5 | Tahoe Vacation Rentals | 177 | 4,621 | ★ 4.61 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in South Lake Tahoe?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for South Lake Tahoe 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 | 27.9% |
| vrbo | 9.3% |
| both | 62.8% |
Home Value Trends (South Lake Tahoe)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for South Lake Tahoe 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 South Lake Tahoe — 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
South Lake Tahoe requires a Vacation Home Rental (VHR) permit for all rentals shorter than 30 consecutive days. The current governing framework is Ordinance 2026-1203, effective April 23, 2026.
Residential zones are capped at 900 total VHR permits. Tourist Core, commercial, and recreational zones have no permit cap. The application fee is $548, with annual renewal fees ranging from $200 (non-residential, up to 4 occupants) to $3,485 (residential, 13 or more occupants). Permits renew annually.
Hosts collect and remit a 12% Transient Occupancy Tax directly to the city. Airbnb and VRBO do not collect TOT on hosts’ behalf in South Lake Tahoe. An additional $5.50 per night Tourism Improvement District fee applies to agent-managed properties.
Operational requirements in residential zones include: indoor noise monitors, exterior cameras, a 24/7 local property manager who must respond in person within 60 minutes to complaints, guest ID verification at check-in, signed Good Neighbor contracts, a minimum renter age of 25, and quiet hours from 10 PM to 8 AM for outdoor amplified sound and hot tub use. Commercial events such as weddings and large parties are prohibited. Three violations within 24 months results in permanent permit revocation. Owner-occupied and primary-residence requirements do not apply.
Context on recent changes: a 2018 ballot initiative (Measure T) that would have banned most residential VHRs was overturned by El Dorado County Superior Court in March 2025. The city subsequently adopted Ordinance 2025-1200 (effective July 2025) and amended it via Ordinance 2026-1203 (effective April 2026), which replaced a 150-foot residential buffer rule with the 900-permit cap, expanded attached condominium eligibility, and raised the minimum renter age to 25. Enforcement severity is rated strict.
Market Comparison
Relative to national STR benchmarks, South Lake Tahoe is a high-ADR, lower-occupancy resort market. The US STR median occupancy runs approximately 55% annually. South Lake Tahoe’s 2025 annual average of 47.3% runs about 7 percentage points below that benchmark. In contrast, the 2025 average ADR of $474 significantly exceeds the US median of approximately $220, placing South Lake Tahoe among the top-tier ADR markets nationally.
This combination of high rates and lower occupancy is characteristic of remote resort destinations where supply is permit-constrained and demand is heavily seasonal. RevPAR in April 2026 was $100, above the national monthly average during the shoulder season.
The professional management market is substantial and competitive. Vacasa leads with 912 listings and a 4.41 average rating across 34,138 reviews. Tahoe Getaways manages 353 listings with a 4.72 rating. Evolve holds 216 listings with a 4.66 rating and 11,511 reviews. Grand Welcome manages 179 listings (4.54 rating) and Tahoe Vacation Rentals manages 177 listings (4.61 rating). Together, the top 5 operators account for 1,837 listings, roughly 16% of total tracked inventory, indicating a market where the majority of hosts self-manage or use smaller local operators.
Frequently Asked Questions About South Lake Tahoe, California
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What is the occupancy rate in South Lake Tahoe?
What taxes do South Lake Tahoe STR hosts owe?
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