South Lake Tahoe, California Short-Term Rental Market
South Lake Tahoe caps residential STRs at 900 permits; Tahoe STRs averaged $547, 56.4% occupancy, $8,514 monthly in August 2026.
Quick Answer: South Lake Tahoe, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Lake Tahoe market area is 41%. average monthly revenue in the Lake Tahoe market area is $5,254. average daily rate in the Lake Tahoe market area is $471. 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 a California city of 21,186 residents on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. The area profile calls it the primary urban gateway to the basin, with the largest concentration of lodging, dining, and entertainment. The Tahoe basin draws about 15 million visitor days a year from roughly 2 million unique visitors. A South Lake Tahoe only visitor count is not published. Rental rules come first here: residential zones are capped at 900 vacation home rental permits.
Performance data for South Lake Tahoe is reported as a series shared with Tahoe City and Truckee. The figures below therefore describe the Tahoe-Truckee region STR market, not South Lake Tahoe alone.
In August 2026, the latest month in the data, the Tahoe-Truckee region STR market averaged $547 per night at 56.4% occupancy. Average monthly revenue was $8,514. Houses earned $9,807 per month, entire-place rentals earned $8,636, and apartments earned $6,090. Compared with August 2025, occupancy fell 5.6%, ADR rose 6.2%, and revenue fell 0.9%.
Over the longer term, average ADR rose from $452 in 2024 to $474 in 2025, and average monthly revenue rose 5.3%, from $5,692 to $5,994. Average occupancy was 47.2% in both years. The 2026 average through August is 49.1% occupancy, $511 ADR, and $6,745 in monthly revenue. That partial year leaves out the weaker fall months, so it is not comparable to a full year.
The destination has two seasons. Skiers arrive from December through April, with Heavenly Mountain Resort as the anchor, and summer visitors come from June through September for hiking, kayaking, and beaches. Tourism contributed an estimated $1.2 billion to the local economy in 2023.
Listing mix by bedroom count, booking channel, and listing type is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for South Lake Tahoe, so this profile omits it.
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 caps vacation home rentals in residential zones at 900 total permits, and a waitlist starts when the cap is reached. Tourist Core, commercial, and recreational zones have no cap. Ordinance 2026-1203, effective April 23, 2026, is the current framework. It removed the earlier 150-foot buffer between residential rentals. The area profile rates enforcement as strict.
Any rental shorter than 30 consecutive days needs a Vacation Home Rental permit. The application fee is $548. Annual renewal fees range from $200 for non-residential properties with 4 or fewer occupants to $3,485 for residential properties with 13 or more. Multi-unit dwellings are ineligible. Attached condominiums are eligible unless the HOA prohibits rentals. Minimum renter age is 25, and the permit number must appear in all advertising.
In residential areas, operators must install indoor noise monitors and exterior cameras, verify guest ID at check-in, use Good Neighbor contracts, and keep a 24/7 local property manager who responds in person within 60 minutes. Commercial events are prohibited. Three violations within 24 months lead to permanent permit revocation. No annual night cap applies.
Hosts collect and remit the 12% transient occupancy tax directly, because Airbnb and VRBO do not collect it in South Lake Tahoe. Agent-managed properties pay an additional $5.50 per night Tourism Improvement District fee. A 2018 ballot initiative, Measure T, banned most residential rentals until a court overturned it in March 2025.
Market Comparison
Against rough US norms of about 55% occupancy and a $220 ADR, the Tahoe-Truckee region STR market is a high-rate market. August 2026 occupancy was 56.4%, near the norm, while ADR of $547 was about 148% above it. The 2025 annual average was 47.2% occupancy, about 8 points under the norm, and $474 ADR, about 115% above it.
Two seasons set this market apart from beach-only or ski-only destinations. July occupancy of 69.9% and February occupancy of 56.3% both sit well above the October low of 30.9%. Annual figures blend two peaks with two long gaps.
Top property manager rankings and operator listing counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for South Lake Tahoe, so this profile omits operator names and market shares. Investors can search local management companies directly.
South Lake Tahoe’s permit rules also differ from the regional series. The city caps residential permits and requires monitoring equipment, while the performance data also covers Tahoe City and Truckee under their own rules. Check each jurisdiction before comparing returns.
Frequently Asked Questions About South Lake Tahoe, California
How many STR permits does South Lake Tahoe allow?
How much do Tahoe-Truckee region STRs earn per month?
What is the average nightly rate and occupancy near South Lake Tahoe?
When is the best time to rent out a South Lake Tahoe property?
What does a South Lake Tahoe vacation rental permit cost?
What taxes apply to South Lake Tahoe short-term rentals?
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