Santa Cruz, California Short Term Rental Regulations
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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave
Last updated September 03, 2023
Santa Cruz Short-Term Rental Regulations
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Short Term City Rating5.5
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Competition
5.6 -
Real Estate Cost
2.6 -
STR Regulations
N/A -
Seasonality
4.3 -
Rental Rates
9.6
Santa Cruz, 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
- 62,956
- STR License Required
- No
- Tourist Season
- May to September
- County
- Santa Cruz
- Airports
- Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Want to learn more about Santa Cruz?
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 Santa Cruz rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Santa Cruz rental market.
Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Santa Cruz.
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 Santa Cruz guests.
Interested in other California cities?
Check out the California Airbnb rules directory
What makes Santa Cruz a great place to invest?
- Prime Tourist Destination: Santa Cruz is a year-round tourist magnet, attracting visitors with its famous boardwalk, beautiful beaches, and iconic surf spots. The steady influx of tourists ensures a consistent demand for short-term rentals.
- Proximity to Major Cities: Its strategic location, just a short drive from major cities like San Francisco and San Jose, makes Santa Cruz a convenient getaway for city dwellers seeking a respite from urban life. This proximity increases the pool of potential renters.
- Diverse Attractions: From outdoor activities like hiking in the redwood forests and whale watching to exploring the local wineries and farmers' markets, Santa Cruz offers a wide range of attractions that appeal to a broad spectrum of visitors.
- Renowned Educational Institutions: Home to the University of California, Santa Cruz, the city attracts students, academics, and their families from around the world, creating a steady demand for short-term accommodation.
- Favorable Climate: The mild and temperate climate of Santa Cruz makes it a desirable destination throughout the year, ensuring a steady stream of visitors and, consequently, a consistent demand for short-term rentals.
Santa Cruz Nearby Cities
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25 miles away
- Rating: 5.1
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25 miles away
- Rating: 5.2
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Local Real Estate
How expensive is the real estate in Santa Cruz?
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 Santa Cruz has decreased -8% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $867, which is higher than the national average.
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Median Sale Price
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$1,239,218
-8% YoY
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Median per Square Foot
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$867
-4% YoY
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Average Monthly Rent
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$3,589
3% YoY
The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Santa Cruz, California
Common terms for Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz has a description approximately 1,759 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 1,581 listings in Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz, Beach, Deck, Outdoor, Beautiful, View, Patio, Hot tub, Family, and Perfect.
What are the most popular tourist activities in Santa Cruz?
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 Santa Cruz involve going to the Beach, Surfing, Hiking, Sailing, and Cycling. 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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Beach
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Surfing
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Hiking
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Sailing
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Cycling
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Adventure Activities
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Whale Watching
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Swimming
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Theme Parks
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Mountain Biking
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Antiquing
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Winery Tours
Local Attractions
What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?
There are quite a few popular attractions in Santa Cruz, including Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Monterey Bay, Capitola Beach, Mystery Spot, and University of California, Santa Cruz. 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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Pacific Avenue
Included on most listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Included on 91% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Santa Cruz Wharf
Included on 90% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Monterey Bay
Included on 90% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Capitola Beach
Included on 90% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Seacliff State Beach
Included on 88% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Ocean Street
Included on 86% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Capitola Wharf
Included on 84% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Pleasure Point Park
Included on 83% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Mystery Spot
Included on 82% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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University of California, Santa Cruz
Included on 80% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Rio Del Mar Beach
Included on 80% of listings
What’s the weather like in Santa Cruz, California?
The weather is generally milder than the national average, with an average high temperature of around 65°, while the average low is about 51°. It has normal rainfall, averaging about 18 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall is scarce, with an average year having no snowfall. The humidity levels in Santa Cruz 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
46° Low 60° High
Spring
March through May
51° Low 64° High
Summer
June through August
56° Low 68° High
Fall
September through November
53° Low 67° High
Cities Near Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California, is located in Santa Cruz County. Some cities that are located nearby include:
