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Wrightwood

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Wrightwood, CA

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STR Regulations for Wrightwood, California

Note: Wrightwood is an unincorporated community in San Bernardino County. City-level rules do not apply; short‑term rentals (STRs) in Wrightwood are regulated by San Bernardino County.

Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Wrightwood, CA?

Yes. Short‑term private home rentals are allowed in Wrightwood and other unincorporated communities in the mountain and desert areas of San Bernardino County, provided the rental is 30 days or less and the owner holds a valid county STR permit. All hosts must comply with county ordinances and safety codes and meet the Good Neighbor Policy, occupancy and parcel caps, and ongoing compliance obligations.

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What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Wrightwood?

Wrightwood hosts earn a median $25,270/year with $224 ADR and 38% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $38,126+ per year.

See the full Wrightwood market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Wrightwood (Step-by-Step)

  1. Confirm eligibility
  • You must rent a private dwelling in the unincorporated mountain or desert region (Wrightwood qualifies).
  • rentals must be 30 days or less.
  • Strict caps and occupancy limits apply; see “Specific regulations” below.
  • Note: A 2022 temporary pause on new STR permits was in place for 45 days to implement new rules; the county resumed issuing permits after that window. Always verify current status.
  1. Prepare your property
  • Ensure compliance with Fire, Building, Zoning, and Health & Safety Codes.
  • Meet Good Neighbor Policy expectations for noise, trash, parking, and guest conduct.
  • Provide adequate off‑street parking and post quiet hours if local conditions warrant.
  1. Apply for the STR permit
  • Submit via the county’s Citizen Access portal: ezop.sbcounty.gov/citizenaccess/
  • You must list a 24/7 contact phone for complaint resolution (this is a permit condition).
  1. Register for Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)
  • Obtain a TOT certificate and remit TOT to the county (current rate cited at 7%).
  • Maintain records for remittance; the county provides guidance on TOT registration (confirm current process via the STR office).
  1. Activate enforcement readiness
  • Post your 24/7 contact number in the home and in your listing.
  • Brief guests on occupancy limits, quiet hours, parking, and trash/recycling rules.
  • Monitor compliance (noise monitors may be in use in some areas).
  1. Operational compliance
  • Keep your contact details current on the permit.
  • Remit TOT on time and maintain records for inspections.
  • Address complaints promptly to avoid citations or penalties.

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Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

  • San Bernardino County STR Permit

    • Application via county portal; requires property details and a 24/7 contact number.
    • Property must meet Fire, Building, Zoning, and Health & Safety Codes.
    • Must display the permit or maintain it for inspection upon request.

  • Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate

    • Registration with the county; remit TOT on gross rental income (current county‑wide TOT cited at 7%).
    • Keep detailed records (rental nights, rates, TOT collected) for audits.

  • Good Neighbor Policy Acknowledgment

    • Adhere to rules on noise, occupancy, parking, trash, and guest conduct.
    • Address any nuisance issues or face enforcement.

  • Other municipal codes as applicable

    • Fire safety, building, zoning, and health/safety compliance are mandatory.

  • Noise monitoring (where deployed)

    • Use of outdoor noise monitoring systems in some areas; violation may trigger fines.

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Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals (County/State)

San Bernardino County (applies to Wrightwood)

  • Eligible area: private homes in unincorporated mountain and desert areas rented for 30 days or less.
  • Occupancy limits
    • 1‑bedroom/studio: 4 guests.
    • Add 2 guests per additional bedroom, up to a maximum of 12 guests total.
  • Parcel caps
    • Up to 1 STR on parcels under 2 acres.
    • Up to 2 STRs on parcels 2 acres or larger.
  • Permit caps
    • 2 STR permits per individual/entity (owners with more than two are grandfathered).
  • Good Neighbor Policy (mandatory)
    • Noise, occupancy, parking, trash, and community conduct standards.
  • Enforcement tools
    • Outdoor noise monitoring program (areas may vary).
    • 24/7 complaint hotline: 1‑833‑SBC‑STR1 (1‑833‑722‑7871).
  • Permit status
    • New STR permits were temporarily paused for 45 days in 2022 to implement new rules; since then, the county has continued processing permits. Always verify current status before applying.

Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)

  • County TOT currently cited at 7% of gross rental income.
  • Register for a TOT certificate and remit on schedule.

State of California (high‑level)

  • Hosts must register for and remit any applicable TOT to local authorities.
  • STRs must meet state fire, building, health, and safety standards as enforced locally.
  • Local municipalities can add stricter rules; San Bernardino County’s rules apply in Wrightwood.

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Contact Information (Local Authority in Charge of STRs)

San Bernardino County Code Enforcement (Short‑Term Rentals)

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Source Links

Disclaimer: Regulations can change. Before operating an STR in Wrightwood, verify current requirements and permit status on the San Bernardino County STR website and contact the county directly for the latest guidance.

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Wrightwood

Market Saturation Score

036912
Moderate Saturation
7/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
5–7 declining months: moderate saturation risk - market may be nearing capacity.
View Full Wrightwood Market Analysis

Photos of Wrightwood

Overview of Wrightwood

Wrightwood is a small alpine village tucked into the San Gabriel Mountains in San Bernardino County, California, sitting at an elevation of roughly 6,000 feet. With a year-round population of just a few thousand residents, it has the feel of a quiet mountain hideaway rather than a busy resort town, with clapboard buildings, locally owned cafes, and a main street that runs through a single compact block of shops. The community is best known as a winter sports destination and a year-round outdoor recreation base, serving as a gateway to the surrounding national forest and the high country beyond. It lies about 75 to 90 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles, typically reached in roughly an hour and a half to two hours by car via Interstate 15 and State Route 138, and about 45 miles north of the city of San Bernardino.

Just a few minutes from the village center, Mountain High Resort anchors Wrightwood's winter identity, operating three interconnected ski areas with terrain for beginners through advanced skiers and snowboarders. During the snowy months it draws day-trippers from across Southern California, and many visitors choose to base themselves in the town overnight to make the most of the slopes. In the warmer seasons the same resort shifts to mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, and a terrain park, giving Wrightwood a dual-season rhythm that helps smooth out what would otherwise be a short winter booking window. More information is generally available on the resort's own website, and a brief overview can be found on its Wikipedia page.

Immediately surrounding the village, the Angeles National Forest offers an enormous playground of pine and fir forest, steep canyons, and high-desert overlooks. Popular pursuits include hiking to spots like the Mount Baden-Powell trail, horseback riding on forest roads, and rock climbing at the limestone crags of the Holcomb Valley area farther along the ridge. The forest is essentially at Wrightwood's doorstep, so any guest staying in town can be on a trail within minutes.

Wrightwood also lies along the route of the Pacific Crest Trail, the long-distance footpath that runs from Mexico to Canada. Each spring and summer the town functions as a beloved resupply and rest stop for thru-hikers, and the local stores, post office, and eateries have built a tradition of welcoming them. The trail itself is reachable directly from the village, giving visitors an easy way to walk a short section of one of America's most famous long paths without committing to a full thru-hike.

For short-term-rental investors, Wrightwood combines a strong and recognizable draw (Mountain High and snow play) with a quieter summer shoulder of hiking, mountain biking, and PCT-adjacent tourism, all within a manageable drive of the Los Angeles metro area. That mix of year-round outdoor appeal, a charming small-town base, and proximity to a massive Southern California population makes it a particularly resilient market for vacation rentals.

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