Can You Make Money on a Big Bear Airbnb?

Can you make money on a Big Bear Airbnb? The honest answer is yes for many owners, but only with realistic expectations, the right property, and full respect for the rules. Big Bear is one of the busiest vacation rental markets in the West, yet plenty of cabins also lose money. Here is what the numbers actually say, from Holly Gardner, Your Big Bear Realtor.

Why the demand is real

Big Bear draws roughly seven million visitors a year against a resident population of about 6,000, and the valley has only around 1,000 hotel rooms. Most visitor lodging happens in vacation rentals, with more than 20% of the valley's roughly 9,400 housing units operating as short-term rentals. That persistent demand is what makes the market work at all.

The numbers that get people excited

Market data for Big Bear Lake (AirDNA, September 2026) showed about 2,686 active short-term rental listings earning an average of roughly $44,800 in gross revenue per year, at an average occupancy around 36% and an average daily rate near $398. Those figures explain the appeal: a well-placed cabin can bring in real money during peak weeks.

The costs the brochures skip

That $44,800 is gross, not profit. Out of it come property management (if you are not doing it yourself), utilities for a home that runs hard in winter, turnover cleaning between every guest, repairs on a home that sees constant use, and the taxes and fees the city charges. A realistic model subtracts all of that before you call it income.

The rules you must know

Big Bear regulates vacation rentals closely, and the rules shape which properties make sense. Key points for the lake side (zip 92315):

• Any home leased for 28 or fewer consecutive days needs a City of Big Bear Lake vacation rental license before it can be advertised or rented.
• One owner may hold at most two vacation rental licenses in the city.
• Occupancy is generally limited to two adults per bedroom plus two additional adults, with matching off-street parking.
• Owners remit a 10% transient occupancy tax plus tourism district assessments, and pay an annual licensing fee (about $635 per year as of 2026).
• Unlicensed rentals face fines of $1,500, $2,500, and $5,000 for repeat violations within a year.

Properties in outlying areas outside the city (such as zip 92314) register with San Bernardino County instead. Where a home sits changes what you can do with it, which is why zoning and rental status matter so much when you shop.

What makes a cabin actually rent well

After a lifetime in Big Bear and 20+ years of real estate, Holly has a clear read on what rents. Location near the lake, the resorts, or the village drives demand. A layout with real bedrooms, a good kitchen, and adequate parking appeals to the most guests. And winter access, a driveway a renter can manage in snow, protects your bookings all season long. A great view with a terrible driveway can cost you more than it earns.

The bottom line

A Big Bear Airbnb can make money, and many owners do well with it, treating it as a business that also pays for a family retreat. The owners who struggle are the ones who buy on hype, skip the rules, and forget the running costs. Buy the right property, plan for real expenses, and follow the city's licensing requirements, and you have a fair shot. Holly helps investors run those numbers honestly before they commit.