San Bernardino County, CA

Big Bear Lake, CA short-term rental license

Big Bear Lake treats any home leased for 28 consecutive days at most as a vacation rental, which needs a city license. One owner may hold two licenses at most. A property with an accessory dwelling unit on it is not eligible in any zone.[8]

Every rule below links to the official source it comes from, verified October 1, 2026.

Can you rent short term in Big Bear Lake?

Get a license first

What you apply for: Vacation Rental License

Seasonal homes
7,101
Housing units
9,722
Residents
5,041

U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates

  • City ruleLicense required
  • City fee$635
  • Tax on each stay13%
  • Seasonal homes730 per 1,000

Big Bear Lake short-term rental license

Big Bear Lake requires a Vacation Rental License for each property before it is advertised or rented. You apply online with proof of ownership and proof of current liability insurance. The registration fee is $635, paid at the end of the application. The license expires one year after that payment, so renewal comes around annually. An inspection follows the application, and the whole process can take two to four weeks. Renting the home during that period is not allowed. Once approved, the license has to be printed and posted inside the rental. The city then expects a tax report every month, covering a total of 13% of gross receipts.[4]

What Big Bear Lake asks of you

  • A current annual license issued to the owner is required for each property before advertising it or leasing it as a vacation rental.[8]

  • The Master Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists the Vacation Rental Program at $635 per year per property. Fees are non-refundable.[7]

  • Homes outside zip code 92315 are not in the city's program. Their owners register with San Bernardino County.[4]

  • The application must include proof of current liability insurance. The city publishes no dollar minimum for that coverage.[4]

  • An owner may not hold more than two licenses. Owners who held more on September 16, 2021 may keep renewing them.[8]

  • A sale ends the license automatically, so the new owner has to apply before renting.[8]

  • Anyone handling check-in or 24/7 response must be certified by the city each year. The exam has 25 questions, all of which must be answered correctly.[4]

  • The license number goes on every advertisement, hosting sites and social media posts included.[8]

  • Occupancy stops at two adults per bedroom plus two more adults. Counting children, the limit is one person per 200 square feet of living space, with 16 people as the ceiling.[8]

  • Guests park only in designated driveways and garages. Vehicles on site, trailers and boats included, cannot outnumber the legal parking spaces.[8]

  • Outdoor spa use stops at 10:00 p.m. and may resume at 7:00 a.m. on the following day. Any activity that disturbs the peace is banned over the same hours.[8]

  • When the city sends a dispatch notice, the owner or an agent must be at the property in person within 30 minutes.[8]

  • One exterior sign of two square feet at most must be visible from the street. It shows the code compliance hotline, the 24/7 agent phone number and the occupant limit.[8]

  • Nobody under 18 may sign the rental contract.[8]

  • The city's FAQ says a host may advertise self check-in when guests register through a virtual procedure.[5]

  • Section 4.01.100 of the municipal code lists advertising that offers self-check-in among the acts subject to citation.[8]

  • Operating without a current license draws a $1,500 citation. A second within twelve months costs $2,500, and every later one $5,000.[8]

  • Other violations of the chapter cost $500 the first time. Within twelve months, a second costs $1,000 and a third $1,500. That third one can lead to suspension of the license.[8]

Apply on the Big Bear Lake site

What California asks wherever you host

These rules apply at this address whatever the city decides.

  • No state license exists for short-term rentals in California. The state's 2025 act on booking platforms says it does not preempt a local short-term rental ordinance.[1]

  • Since July 1, 2024, every mandatory fee has to sit inside the rate you advertise. Only government taxes and fees may be added later.[2]

  • State law caps city fines when a short-term rental violation threatens health or safety. The first ceiling is $1,500. A second violation within the year reaches $3,000, each later one $5,000.[3]

California short-term rental rules

What a guest pays on top of your nightly rate in Big Bear Lake

Each layer is set by a different authority, and not all of them are collected by the platform.

Short-term rental tax layers in Big Bear Lake
LayerRateRemitted to
Big Bear Lake transient occupancy tax[9]10%The city
Big Bear Lake Tourism Business Improvement District assessment[6]3%The city
Total on a taxable stay13%

The municipal code sets the tax at 10% as of January 1, 2025, while the city's FAQ still shows 9%. A report is due every month, even one with no income. The city says Airbnb collects the occupancy tax only, so hosts on Airbnb remit the 3% assessment themselves.[6]

Airbnb taxes for hosts

What the census counts

How much of Big Bear Lake is already a second home

The Census Bureau counts 7,101 of Big Bear Lake's 9,722 homes as vacant for seasonal, recreational or occasional use. That is 730 out of every 1,000. It ranks Big Bear Lake 1st of the 37 California cities on this site for the share of its housing stock kept for part-year use.

Rank in the state
1st of 37
Share of housing
730 per 1,000
Median home value
$576,700

U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, tables B25004, B25001, B01003 and B25077.

Nearby and comparable

Where Big Bear Lake sits among its neighbors

San Bernardino County, CA

Permit required

Only in the Mountain and Desert Regions. Anywhere else in unincorporated county land, short-term rentals are not allowed.

San Bernardino County short-term rental rules

Twentynine Palms, CA

License required

572 seasonal homes, 54 per 1,000 housing units.

Twentynine Palms short-term rental rules

Yucca Valley, CA

Permit required

475 seasonal homes, 47 per 1,000 housing units.

Yucca Valley short-term rental rules

Mammoth Lakes, CA

Allowed by zone

5,531 seasonal homes, 573 per 1,000 housing units.

Mammoth Lakes short-term rental rules
StatewideEvery California city on this site, in one tableState law, the tax stack and every city we cover in California, with what each one asks of a host.California short-term rental rules

Keep exploring

FAQ

Big Bear Lake short-term rental questions

How much does a vacation rental license cost in Big Bear Lake?

$635 per year per property under the Master Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2026. The same schedule lists a $74 fee for a transfer of vacation rental.[7]

How many vacation rental licenses can one owner hold in Big Bear Lake?

Two. The city's FAQ adds that an individual cannot join several LLCs to get past that number.[5]

Can I rent my Big Bear Lake home while the license application is pending?

No. The city says registration with its inspection can take two to four weeks, during which the home cannot be rented.[4]

Does Airbnb remit Big Bear Lake lodging taxes for me?

Only in part. The city says Airbnb agreed to collect the occupancy tax only, so you file the 3% district assessment yourself. A monthly report stays due either way.[6]
Read nextHow to start an AirbnbThe six steps in order, starting with the permit check.Read the guide

Sources

  1. Short-Term Rental Facilitator Act of 2025 (SB 346), Government Code sections 50990 to 50996, California Legislative Information, read on October 1, 2026
  2. Business and Professions Code section 17568.6, lodging price display, California Legislative Information, read on October 1, 2026
  3. Government Code section 36900, fines for city ordinance violations, California Legislative Information, read on October 1, 2026
  4. Vacation Rental Program, City of Big Bear Lake, read on October 1, 2026
  5. Frequently Asked Questions, Vacation Rental Program, City of Big Bear Lake, read on October 1, 2026
  6. Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) & BBLTBID, City of Big Bear Lake, read on October 1, 2026
  7. Master Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2026, City of Big Bear Lake, read on October 1, 2026
  8. Municipal Code, Chapter 4.01, Vacation Rentals, City of Big Bear Lake, read on October 1, 2026
  9. Municipal Code, Chapter 3.20, Transient Occupancy Tax, City of Big Bear Lake, read on October 1, 2026

This page is not legal advice. It summarizes the official sources listed on this page as they read on October 1, 2026. Rules can change after that date, so check with the issuing office before you apply or publish a listing.

Before you list

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