Short-term rental rules · Big Bear Lake, California
Short-term rentals in Big Bear Lake, explained properly.
The City of Big Bear Lake allows vacation rentals citywide with a permit, no owner-occupancy requirement, and no codified citywide permit cap, though renewal is required every year. Surrounding unincorporated communities (Big Bear City, Sugarloaf, Fawnskin) fall under a separate San Bernardino County short-term rental program, not this city's rules.
Draft. These rules were compiled from the official sources listed below but have not yet been checked line by line. Confirm with the city before making decisions.
At a glance
What you need to know before you buy or list
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Are vacation rentals allowed? | Yes, citywide with a permit; owner-occupancy is not required[1]Confirming |
| Permit required? | Yes — a Vacation Rental permit is required, with a mandatory inspection before approval[1]Confirming |
| Permit application/registration fee | $605[1]Confirming |
| Annual renewal | Permits expire September 30 each year and must be renewed annually[1]Confirming |
| Permit transferability | Permits are not transferable; a new owner must apply for a new permit upon sale of the property[1]Confirming |
| Occupancy limits | Capped based on bedrooms and square footage (e.g., a 3-bedroom/1,000 sq ft unit is capped at 5 people)[1]Confirming |
| 24/7 local contact requirement | A 24/7 local contact certified by the city is required, and owners/agents must pass an annual certification exam[1]Confirming |
| Combined lodging tax | 13% total — 10% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) plus 3% Big Bear Lake Tourism Business Improvement District tax; California state sales tax (7.25%) may also apply to certain bookings[1]Confirming |
| Penalty for violations | Fines start at $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second offense; violations include exceeding occupancy/parking limits, noise after 10 p.m., and amplified music[1]Confirming |
| Surrounding unincorporated areas use different rules | Big Bear City, Sugarloaf, Fawnskin, and other unincorporated communities around the lake are governed by San Bernardino County's own short-term rental program, not the City of Big Bear Lake's rules covered here[2] |
| Last researched | September 25, 2026 |
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Detailed rules
The full picture, section by section
Eligibility & zoning
| No owner-occupancy requirement | Unlike many California coastal and mountain markets, Big Bear Lake does not require the owner to live on-site — investor-owned, whole-home vacation rentals are allowed[1]Confirming |
|---|---|
| Parking requirement for new units | New vacation rental units must provide paved, on-site parking to be permitted; street parking for guests is not allowed[1]Confirming |
Licensing & application
| Application processing time | Typically 2-4 weeks; the property may not operate as a vacation rental until the permit is approved[1]Confirming |
|---|
Operations & requirements
| Guest eviction for rule violations | Guests who break occupancy, parking, or noise rules may be evicted from the property without a refund[1]Confirming |
|---|
Taxes & fees
| Monthly TOT filing requirement | Hosts must file monthly TOT returns with the city even when a platform (Airbnb, Vrbo) collects and remits the tax on their behalf[1]Confirming |
|---|
Changes
Recent and pending changes
The City of Big Bear Lake's own vacation-rental webpages returned fetch errors during this research pass (redirect/robots issues), so this market relies entirely on a secondary aggregator (getchalet.com) rather than the city's own site or the two known city ordinances (2021-495 and 2023-518). Every field here is flagged needs-review and should be checked directly against the city's Vacation Rental Program page and ordinance PDFs, both linked in sources, before being treated as reliable. Separately, San Bernardino County's own STR portal covers unincorporated communities around the lake and should be checked for changes affecting those areas.
Sources
Every rule above links to one of these
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This page is general information compiled from official sources, not legal or tax advice. HOA rules, deed restrictions and zoning for a specific property can be stricter. Confirm with the local permitting office and a qualified professional before buying or listing a property.