Big Bear Lake, California Short Term Rental Regulations
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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave
Last updated August 23, 2023
Big Bear Lake Short-Term Rental Regulations
Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.
City Code of Ordinances
On August 16, 2021, the City Council approved the Short-Term Rental Ordinance. On their listing, hosts must include the number of their vacation rental license. If operating without a license, there will be a fine of $5,000 for a first-time offense, and you will be permanently ineligible to operate a vacation rental property in the city.Business License Requirements
Before any property is advertised, offered for lease, or leased as a vacation rental property, the owner must have a current, valid yearly license issued by the city. The license must be posted within the vacation rental. Check out Section 4.01.030. for more information.Building and Housing Standards
Compliance with all applicable codes regarding fire, building, and safety, health and safety, zoning, lighting, and all other laws and regulations of the vacation rental property should be ensured by the owner and owner's agent.Tourist and Local Taxes
Hosting platforms will be responsible for collecting and remitting to the city any applicable transient occupancy taxes and tourism business improvement district assessments as of January 1, 2022. To collect and remit transient occupancy tax, the hosting platform must be considered an agent of the host.Other Rules
It is also essential to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as city requirements, leases, condo boards, co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. For more information, visit the City of Big Bear Lake, California, and the Short-Term Rental Ordinance.Is something not quite right? Registered users can suggest changes to this guide.
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Short Term City Rating5.1
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Competition
2.2 -
Real Estate Cost
5.3 -
STR Regulations
8.0 -
Seasonality
3.5 -
Rental Rates
6.6
Big Bear Lake, California Quick Stats
Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.
- Population
- 5,046
- STR License Required
- Yes
- Tourist Season
- County
- San Bernardino
- Airports
- Big Bear Airport (RBF)
- SBD International Airport (SBD)
Want to learn more about Big Bear Lake?
Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.
Check out our Big Bear Lake rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Big Bear Lake rental market.
Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Big Bear Lake.
The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.
Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.
What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Big Bear Lake guests.
Interested in other California cities?
Check out the California short term rental regulations directory
What makes Big Bear Lake a great place to invest?
- Big Bear Lake, California is a picturesque mountain destination that offers a wide variety of outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy, including hiking, fishing, boating, and skiing.
- The area is home to several popular tourist attractions, such as the Big Bear Alpine Zoo and the Big Bear Discovery Center, which provide visitors with a chance to learn about the local wildlife and ecosystem.
- Big Bear Lake is also home to several professional sports teams, including the Big Bear Grizzly football team and the Big Bear Bruins baseball team, making it a great destination for sports fans.
- The natural beauty of Big Bear Lake and the surrounding area is truly breathtaking, with miles of hiking trails, lush forests, and crystal-clear lakes that are perfect for exploring.
- With a wide variety of restaurants, shops, and other amenities, Big Bear Lake is a great place to visit for families, couples, and solo travelers alike, and offers something for everyone to enjoy.
Big Bear Lake Nearby Cities
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17 miles away
- Rating: 6.8
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19 miles away
- Rating: 6.7
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Local Real Estate
How expensive is the real estate in Big Bear Lake?
The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Big Bear Lake has decreased -10% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $433, which is higher than the national average.
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Median Sale Price
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$547,210
-10% YoY
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Median per Square Foot
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$433
-6% YoY
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Average Monthly Rent
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$2,069
0% YoY
Local Short-Term Rental News for Big Bear Lake
The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Big Bear Lake, California
Common terms for Big Bear Lake short term rental listings.
When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.
Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:
- Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
- Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
- Informative: The average listing in Big Bear Lake has a description approximately 2,938 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.
After reviewing more than 6,895 listings in Big Bear Lake, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Big Bear, Cabin, Bear Lake, Deck, Hot tub, Game, Maximum, Wood burning, Perfect, and Bear Mountain.
What are the most popular tourist activities in Big Bear Lake?
Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Big Bear Lake involve Snow Skiing, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Sledding, and Boating. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.
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Snow Skiing
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Hiking
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Mountain Biking
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Sledding
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Boating
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Zoo
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Marina
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Horseback Riding
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Kayaking
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Snowboarding
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Adventure Activities
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Water Skiing
Local Attractions
What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?
There are quite a few popular attractions in Big Bear Lake, including Snow Summit, Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain, Snow Valley Mountain Resort, Big Bear Visitor Center, and Big Bear Marina. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.
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Regional Landmark
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Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain
Included on 59% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Meadow Park
Included on 59% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Bear Mountain Golf Course
Included on 58% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Bear Mountain Express Lift
Included on 58% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Big Bear Visitor Center
Included on 55% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Snow Summit
Included on 55% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Pine Knot Marina
Included on 54% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Snow Valley Mountain Resort
Included on 54% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Boulder Bay Park
Included on 53% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Community Arts Theater Society
Included on 53% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Big Bear Marina
Included on 53% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Castle Rock Trail
Included on 47% of listings
What’s the weather like in Big Bear Lake, California?
The weather is generally milder than the national average, with an average high temperature of around 62°, while the average low is about 37°. It has normal rainfall, averaging about 4 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall can be rather heavy, averaging less than 20 inches per year. The humidity levels in Big Bear Lake are generally lower than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.
Winter
December through February
24° Low 46° High
Spring
March through May
35° Low 60° High
Summer
June through August
51° Low 79° High
Fall
September through November
39° Low 63° High
Cities Near Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake, California, is located in San Bernardino County. Some cities that are located nearby include:
