Lake Arrowhead, CA Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Regulations 2026
Everything you need to know about operating a legal short-term rental in Lake Arrowhead, California. Licensing, taxes, zoning, and 2026 compliance requirements.
Lake Arrowhead STR Regulation Overview
Lake Arrowhead is an unincorporated mountain community governed not by a city but by San Bernardino County, whose Land Use Services department administers short-term rentals under Development Code Chapter 84.28. STRs are legal and active here, with roughly 1,100 to 1,250 vacation rentals serving Los Angeles weekenders and winter-sports visitors. The regulatory picture sits in the moderate tier: operators must secure a county Short-Term Residential Rental Permit, post it on-site, observe 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. quiet hours, and respect occupancy limits that scale with parcel size plus per-parcel permit density caps. As of 2026 the County is accepting new Mountain-area applications, though it has used temporary permit pauses in the past to study neighborhood saturation, so prospective investors should confirm current intake status before buying. There is no primary-residence requirement, leaving the market open to non-resident investors, though no owner or entity may hold more than two STR permits. With strong winter seasonality and ADRs that scale with bedroom count, larger cabins can perform well despite Lake Arrowhead's relatively modest year-round occupancy.
Lake Arrowhead STR Quick Facts
| STR Legal? | Yes |
| License Required | Yes |
| License Cost | $1,144 new application; $550 standard annual renewal |
| Lodging Tax | 7% TOT |
| Occupancy / Density Caps | Maximum overnight occupancy is set by parcel size under Chapter 84.28: up to 10 persons on parcels under one-quarter acre, 12 persons under one-half acre, 15 persons on one-half to one acre, and 20 persons on parcels of one acre or more, subject to per-room square-footage and on-site parking limits. Permit density is limited to one STR permit per parcel under two acres and two permits per parcel of two acres or more, with a cap of two STR permits per owner/entity. |
| Primary Residence Required | No |
County permit required (Chapter 84.28)
Every Lake Arrowhead STR needs a Short-Term Residential Rental Permit from San Bernardino County Land Use Services before advertising or renting. A new application runs $1,144 (a $600 application fee, $285 permit fee, and $259 surrounding-property-owner notification fee, effective July 1, 2025), with a standard renewal at $550 when no changes are made. The permit and an informational brochure must be posted inside the unit at all times.
Occupancy limits scale with parcel size
Maximum overnight occupancy is tied to parcel size under Section 84.28.060: up to 10 persons on parcels under one-quarter acre, 12 persons under one-half acre, 15 persons on one-half to one acre, and 20 persons on parcels of one acre or more. A per-room standard (70 square feet for the first occupant, plus 50 square feet for each additional) and available on-site parking can further limit occupancy.
Per-parcel and per-owner density limits
The ordinance allows one STR permit on parcels under two acres and up to two STR permits on parcels of two acres or more. Separately, no individual or entity (including LLCs and trusts) may hold more than two STR permits, with owners exceeding that count grandfathered. The County has also used temporary permit moratoriums in the mountain region in the past to study density.
7% Transient Occupancy Tax
Operators must collect a 7% county TOT on the total rental price, including cleaning fees, for stays under 30 consecutive days, and remit it to the County Tax Collector. A Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate is required in addition to the STR permit.
Operating standards and quiet hours
Quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and the permit requires a 24-hour local responsible-party contact for complaints. Commercial uses such as weddings, corporate retreats, conferences, and filming are prohibited, along with parking, noise, and trash rules to limit neighborhood impact.
No primary-residence requirement
Unlike many California cities, San Bernardino County does not require an STR to be the owner's primary residence, so non-owner-occupied investment cabins are permitted, subject to the per-parcel density cap and the two-permit-per-owner limit.
Lake Arrowhead STR Market Performance
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Lake Arrowhead is unincorporated, so STRs are legal and governed by San Bernardino County under Development Code Chapter 84.28. Owners must obtain a county Short-Term Residential Rental Permit, register for transient occupancy tax, and comply with occupancy, density, and operating rules. The County has occasionally paused new permit intake to study neighborhood density, so verify current status before buying.
A new permit application costs $1,144, made up of a $600 application fee, a $285 permit fee, and a $259 surrounding-property-owner notification fee (rates effective July 1, 2025). A standard renewal with no changes runs $550, while renewals requiring inspection or re-notification cost more. The permit must be renewed periodically and posted visibly inside the rental at all times.
San Bernardino County imposes a 7% Transient Occupancy Tax on stays of fewer than 30 consecutive days, applied to the rental price including cleaning fees. Hosts must obtain a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate from the County Tax Collector, collect the tax from guests, and remit it to the county on the required schedule.
Maximum occupancy depends on parcel size under Chapter 84.28: up to 10 people on parcels under a quarter acre, 12 under a half acre, 15 on a half to one acre, and 20 on parcels of an acre or more. A per-room square-footage standard and available parking can lower that further. Quiet hours apply from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and commercial events like weddings or corporate retreats are prohibited.
No. San Bernardino County does not impose a primary-residence requirement, so non-owner-occupied investment properties can be operated as short-term rentals. However, density is capped at one permit per parcel under two acres and two permits per parcel of two acres or more, and no owner or entity may hold more than two STR permits.
Informational only — verify current rules with local authorities before investing. Sources: str.sbcounty.gov · str.sbcounty.gov · codelibrary.amlegal.com · codelibrary.amlegal.com · www.airroi.com
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