Sugarloaf, California Short-Term Rental Market
San Bernardino Mountains area STRs averaged $290 a night at 37.9% occupancy in August 2026, earning $3,198 a month.
Quick Answer: Sugarloaf, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Big Bear market area is 31%. average monthly revenue in the Big Bear market area is $2,464. average daily rate in the Big Bear market area is $287. the top operator in the Big Bear market area is Destination Big Bear with 486 listings. market score is 46/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Big Bear regional market, which includes Sugarloaf. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Sugarloaf.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Sugarloaf, California is an unincorporated community next to Big Bear City, and its short-term rental performance data is shared with Big Bear City and Lake Arrowhead. This page therefore reports the San Bernardino Mountains area STR market. In August 2026 that market averaged an ADR (average daily rate) of $290 at 37.9% occupancy, with average revenue of $3,198 for the month. Compared with August 2025, occupancy was down 5.4%, ADR was down 2.2%, and revenue was down 0.5%.
The San Bernardino Mountains area STR market has 8,411 tracked listings in the latest dimension snapshot. Entire places make up 8,324 of them (99.0%), private rooms make up 81 (1.0%), and shared rooms make up 6. Three-bedroom homes are the largest bedroom group at 2,929 listings (34.9%), followed by 2-bedroom homes at 2,509 (29.9%), 4-bedroom homes at 1,370 (16.3%), 1-bedroom units at 904 (10.8%), and 5-bedroom homes at 692 (8.2%). By channel, 5,176 listings (61.5%) appear on both Airbnb and Vrbo, 2,840 (33.8%) are Airbnb only, and 395 (4.7%) are Vrbo only.
Sugarloaf has a population of 2,037. The wider Big Bear Valley draws about 7 million visitors a year, mostly drive-in travelers from the Los Angeles Basin and Inland Empire, about 2 hours away. Sugarloaf is covered by the San Bernardino County short-term rental permit program, and enforcement is rated strict.
Annual averages show a market that peaked in 2020 and 2021. Average occupancy was 54.9% in 2020 and 35.8% in 2025. ADR was $339 in 2025, up from $307 in 2017. Average monthly revenue was $3,410 in 2025. January to August 2026 is running at 35.8% occupancy, a $324 ADR, and $3,342 in average monthly revenue.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 44% |
| Feb | 43% |
| Mar | 32% |
| Apr | 30% |
| May | 33% |
| Jun | 41% |
| Jul | 46% |
| Aug | 40% |
| Sep | 28% |
| Oct | 34% |
| Nov | 40% |
| Dec | 53% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Sugarloaf are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Big Bear market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Big Bear market as a whole, which includes Sugarloaf, so these counts are not Sugarloaf-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Destination Big Bear | 486 | 27,721 | ★ 4.72 |
| 2 | Big Bear Cool Cabins | 417 | 7,860 | ★ 4.50 |
| 3 | Big Bear Vacations | 416 | 7,402 | ★ 4.35 |
| 4 | Evolve | 269 | 11,248 | ★ 4.66 |
| 5 | Sky High Cabins | 189 | 9,233 | ★ 4.91 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Sugarloaf?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Sugarloaf 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 | 33.8% |
| vrbo | 4.7% |
| both | 61.5% |
Home Value Trends (Sugarloaf)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Sugarloaf 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 Sugarloaf — 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
Short-term rentals are legal in Sugarloaf but need a San Bernardino County Short-Term Residential Rental permit under Chapter 84.28, issued by Code Enforcement. Sugarloaf (ZIP 92386) is named as a covered area. Enforcement is rated strict. A permit is required before advertising or renting.
As of July 1, 2025, a new application costs $1,144. That covers a $600 application fee, a $285 permit fee, and a $259 notification fee for surrounding property owners. Annual renewal costs $550 with no changes. Changes to management or occupancy raise renewal fees to between $859 and $1,144. Properties receive an exterior inspection and a re-inspection every 2 years.
Eligible structures are detached houses, duplexes, guest houses, condominiums, and some ADUs. Apartment units in multi-unit buildings and alternative shelters such as RVs, yurts, and tents are not eligible. The limit is 1 permit per parcel under 2 acres and 2 permits for parcels of 2 acres or more. Occupancy is capped at 12 guests.
Owners must post the permit number, provide a 24-hour local contact who can arrive within 1 hour, and give guests the county Good Neighbor brochure. Quiet hours are 10 PM to 7 AM, and commercial events need separate approval. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. The transient occupancy tax is 7% for stays under 30 days, remitted quarterly. Voters rejected Measure K, which would have raised it to 11%, in November 2024.
Market Comparison
The US STR benchmark used here is about 55% occupancy and a $220 ADR. In August 2026 the San Bernardino Mountains area STR market ran at 37.9% occupancy, which is 17.1 points below that benchmark. Its $290 ADR is about 32% above the benchmark. The 2025 average occupancy was 35.8%, about 19.3 points below the benchmark, and the 2025 average ADR was $339.
In plain terms, the market earns its revenue from price rather than volume. A host here should expect occupancy well below the national figure and rates well above it.
The largest operators in the San Bernardino Mountains area STR market are:
Destination Big Bear leads with 486 listings, about 5.8% of the 8,411 tracked listings, with a 4.72 average rating across 27,721 reviews. Big Bear Cool Cabins has 417 listings (5.0%) and a 4.50 rating. Big Bear Vacations has 416 listings (4.9%) and a 4.35 rating. Evolve has 269 listings with a 4.66 rating, and Sky High Cabins has 189 listings with the highest rating of the top five at 4.91. The top five operators together hold 1,777 listings, about 21.1% of the market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sugarloaf, California
How much do Sugarloaf Airbnbs earn?
What is the best month for short-term rentals in Sugarloaf?
Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Sugarloaf?
What is the occupancy limit for a Sugarloaf short-term rental?
What tax do guests pay at Sugarloaf short-term rentals?
How much does a home cost in Sugarloaf?
How far ahead do guests book, and how long do they stay?
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