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California · Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake

city Allowed with registration Needs review · last verified 2026-07-15

Short-term (vacation) rentals are legal citywide in Big Bear Lake but require a current, valid annual city-issued Vacation Rental License before any advertising or renting. The program is governed by Big Bear Lake Municipal Code Title 4, Chapter 4.01 ("Vacation Rentals"), enacted by Ordinance No. 2023-518 (adopted December 19, 2023; effective January 18, 2024), which repealed and replaced prior Ordinances 2021-488 and 2021-495. A "vacation rental" is any residential dwelling unit (or portion) leased for 28 or fewer consecutive days. An owner may hold no more than two licenses (grandfathered if they held more as of September 16, 2021); there is NO citywide numeric cap on the total number of licenses (the City Council voted against a proposed cap in August 2021, and voters later defeated ballot Measure O, which would have capped permits). Occupancy is capped at two adults per bedroom plus two additional adults (not counting persons under 18), and total occupants (including minors) may not exceed one person per 200 sq ft of living space or 16 persons, whichever is less. The registration fee is $635, licenses are annual (expire one year from initial registration remittance), and a pre-approval inspection, annual owner/agent certification (25-question exam, 100% pass), and proof of liability insurance are required. Lodging taxes total 13% of gross receipts: 10% Transient Occupancy Tax (raised from 9% to 10% effective January 1, 2025 under voter-approved Measure P) plus a 3% Big Bear Lake Tourism Business Improvement District (BBLTBID) assessment. Since January 1, 2022, VRBO/HomeAway collect and remit both TOT and TBID on hosts' behalf, while Airbnb collects and remits only TOT (Airbnb hosts must still remit TBID directly to the City); owners must file monthly TOT/TBID reports regardless of platform, even for zero-income months. Only properties within city limits (zip 92315) fall under this program; properties outside city limits register with San Bernardino County. Operating or advertising without a valid license carries escalating administrative fines effective January 18, 2024: $1,500 (first violation), $2,500 (second within 12 months), and $5,000 (third within 12 months); repeated violations can lead to permanent permit revocation. NOTE: A claimed December 2025 amendment (Ordinance No. 2025-524) to the zoning-eligibility table could not be verified against the City's ordinance records and has been removed pending confirmation.

Not legal advice. Last verified 2026-07-15 · sources linked below.

Requirements checklist

  • city Vacation Rental License (Transient Private Home Rental license) Required
    Fee: $635 / year · Renewal: Annual. License term is no more than one year; the expiration date is one year from the initial registration remittance date. Owners get a courtesy notice ~60 days before expiration and have a window to complete renewal; renewal must be filed before expiration. · Applies to: Any residential dwelling unit or portion thereof rented for 28 or fewer consecutive days within Big Bear Lake city limits (zip 92315); each vacation-rental property on a site requires its own license. · official page ↗
  • city Pre-approval home inspection Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: City may inspect throughout the application process and at renewal to determine continued compliance. · Applies to: All new vacation-rental applicants (and re-inspection for continued compliance at renewal). · official page ↗
  • city Owner and Agent Annual Certification Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: Annual certification; currently a 25-question exam that must be passed with a 100% score. · Applies to: All owners (except those who hire a full-service management company and never self-rent) and all agents (check-in, 24/7 response, management staff). · official page ↗
  • city Proof of liability insurance Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: Required with application (insurance declaration pages). · Applies to: All vacation-rental license applicants. · official page ↗
  • city 24/7 local complaint-response agent / in-person response within 30 minutes Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: Ongoing operational requirement. · Applies to: Every licensed vacation rental; the 24/7 complaint-response contact must reside within 15 miles of the City's boundaries. · official page ↗
  • city Transient Occupancy Tax / BBLTBID registration and monthly remittance Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: Monthly reporting and remittance. · Applies to: All vacation-rental owners; monthly TOT/TBID report required even for zero-income months, even when a hosting platform remits the tax. · official page ↗
  • city City business license Conditional
    Fee: — · Renewal: — · Applies to: Appears expected for vacation-rental operators; the city Vacation Rental Registration Application collects a City Business License Number (or 'Applied For'). Not separately detailed in Municipal Code Ch. 4.01. · official page ↗

Taxes

TaxRateAdministered byAirbnb remitsVrbo remits
Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) — — — —
Big Bear Lake Tourism Business Improvement District (BBLTBID) assessment — — — —

Operating rules

Primary residence
No
Min stay (nights)
—
Max nights / year
—
Max occupancy
Two adults per bedroom, plus two additional adults (not counting persons under 18); total persons (including persons under 18) may not exceed one person per 200 square feet of living space or 16 persons, whichever is less.
Zoning-restricted
—
Cap on licenses
—

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Frequently asked questions

Is Airbnb legal in Big Bear Lake?
Short-term (vacation) rentals are legal citywide in Big Bear Lake but require a current, valid annual city-issued Vacation Rental License before any advertising or renting. The program is governed by Big Bear Lake Municipal Code Title 4, Chapter 4.01 ("Vacation Rentals"), enacted by Ordinance No. 2023-518 (adopted December 19, 2023; effective January 18, 2024), which repealed and replaced prior Ordinances 2021-488 and 2021-495. A "vacation rental" is any residential dwelling unit (or portion) leased for 28 or fewer consecutive days. An owner may hold no more than two licenses (grandfathered if they held more as of September 16, 2021); there is NO citywide numeric cap on the total number of licenses (the City Council voted against a proposed cap in August 2021, and voters later defeated ballot Measure O, which would have capped permits). Occupancy is capped at two adults per bedroom plus two additional adults (not counting persons under 18), and total occupants (including minors) may not exceed one person per 200 sq ft of living space or 16 persons, whichever is less. The registration fee is $635, licenses are annual (expire one year from initial registration remittance), and a pre-approval inspection, annual owner/agent certification (25-question exam, 100% pass), and proof of liability insurance are required. Lodging taxes total 13% of gross receipts: 10% Transient Occupancy Tax (raised from 9% to 10% effective January 1, 2025 under voter-approved Measure P) plus a 3% Big Bear Lake Tourism Business Improvement District (BBLTBID) assessment. Since January 1, 2022, VRBO/HomeAway collect and remit both TOT and TBID on hosts' behalf, while Airbnb collects and remits only TOT (Airbnb hosts must still remit TBID directly to the City); owners must file monthly TOT/TBID reports regardless of platform, even for zero-income months. Only properties within city limits (zip 92315) fall under this program; properties outside city limits register with San Bernardino County. Operating or advertising without a valid license carries escalating administrative fines effective January 18, 2024: $1,500 (first violation), $2,500 (second within 12 months), and $5,000 (third within 12 months); repeated violations can lead to permanent permit revocation. NOTE: A claimed December 2025 amendment (Ordinance No. 2025-524) to the zoning-eligibility table could not be verified against the City's ordinance records and has been removed pending confirmation.
Do I need a license or registration for a short-term rental in Big Bear Lake?
Yes — Big Bear Lake requires: Vacation Rental License (Transient Private Home Rental license); Pre-approval home inspection; Owner and Agent Annual Certification. See the requirements checklist for fees, renewal, and official links.
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Big Bear Lake?
Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), Big Bear Lake Tourism Business Improvement District (BBLTBID) assessment. Use the lodging-tax estimator on this page for a specific stay.

Official sources

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Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against the linked official sources.