Short Term Rental
Management

Surge offers local full service vacation rental management for busy vacation rental owners and Airbnb hosts in Laguna Beach, California

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Laguna Beach, California Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
Laguna Beach presents an exceptional short-term rental investment opportunity driven by its unique combination of limited housing inventory, premium coastal positioning, and consistently high occupancy rates that typically exceed 75% during peak seasons. Property owners can capitalize on average daily rates ranging from $300-800 depending on proximity to Main Beach and property amenities, with annual gross revenues often reaching 8-12% of property value for well-positioned units. The city's strict development restrictions and artistic village charm create an artificial scarcity that maintains pricing power, while its location between Los Angeles and San Diego ensures year-round demand from both leisure travelers and business visitors seeking weekend retreats. Current market data indicates that oceanview properties within walking distance of downtown galleries and restaurants command premium rates 40-60% above comparable inland Orange County markets, with shoulder season occupancy remaining robust at 60-65% due to the destination's appeal for romantic getaways, art festivals, and corporate retreats. The convergence of limited supply, consistent demand from affluent travelers, and Laguna Beach's established reputation as a luxury coastal destination positions property owners to generate substantially higher returns than traditional long-term rental strategies while benefiting from property appreciation in one of California's most desirable micro-markets.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Laguna Beach maintains strict short-term rental regulations that require specific permits, business licenses, and compliance with complex zoning restrictions that vary by neighborhood and property type, with the city actively enforcing these rules through regular inspections and imposing substantial fines for violations that can reach thousands of dollars per incident. The regulatory landscape continues to evolve with frequent updates to occupancy limits, parking requirements, noise ordinances, and tax collection procedures, making it increasingly challenging for property owners to stay current with all compliance obligations while managing the intricate web of local, county, and state requirements. However, partnering with a professional short-term rental management service eliminates these compliance risks entirely, as experienced managers handle all aspects of licensing, permit renewals, tax remittance, regulatory monitoring, and legal adherence, ensuring your property operates within full compliance while you enjoy peace of mind and maximize your rental income without the stress of navigating complex municipal regulations.
Occupancy Rates
Laguna Beach Airbnb properties experience peak occupancy rates during summer months (June through August) when beach tourism is at its highest, with occupancy often exceeding 85-90%, followed by strong performance during spring break (March-April) and fall shoulder seasons (September-October) when weather remains favorable and crowds thin out. Winter months (November through February) represent the slowest period with occupancy rates typically dropping to 40-60% due to cooler temperatures, occasional rain, and reduced tourist activity, though holiday weekends can still command premium rates. Professional revenue management becomes crucial during these seasonal fluctuations, utilizing dynamic pricing strategies that maximize rates during peak demand periods while strategically lowering prices during slower months to maintain competitive occupancy levels. Effective revenue management systems analyze local events, weather patterns, competitor pricing, and booking lead times to automatically adjust nightly rates, ensuring properties capture maximum revenue during high-demand summer weekends while remaining attractive to budget-conscious travelers during the quieter winter season, ultimately achieving year-round occupancy rates of 70-80% compared to static pricing approaches that often result in significant revenue loss during both peak and off-peak periods.
Vacation Rental Management
Self-managing a vacation rental in Laguna Beach presents formidable operational challenges that can quickly overwhelm property owners and jeopardize their investment returns. The rapid guest turnover typical of this premium coastal destination demands precise coordination of housekeeping teams within narrow windows between check-outs and check-ins, often complicated by weekend traffic congestion on Pacific Coast Highway that can delay cleaning crews and maintenance personnel. The 24/7 communication demands are particularly intense, as guests paying premium rates for oceanfront accommodations expect immediate responses to requests ranging from Wi-Fi troubleshooting to recommendations for exclusive dining reservations, often across multiple time zones and during owners' personal time. Maintenance issues in Laguna Beach's salt-air environment are both frequent and urgent—from HVAC systems strained by coastal humidity to outdoor furniture requiring constant attention due to ocean exposure—while finding qualified local contractors during peak season can be nearly impossible without established relationships. The competitive landscape of luxury vacation rentals in this market means that even minor service lapses, delayed responses, or maintenance oversights can result in devastating reviews that immediately impact booking rates and revenue, making full-service property management not merely a convenience but an operational necessity for maintaining the consistent 5-star experience that commands top-tier nightly rates and ensures truly passive income generation.
Attractions and Amenities
Laguna Beach's primary tourist magnets include Main Beach with its iconic basketball court and Pageant of the Masters venue, the dramatic cliffs and tide pools of Heisler Park, the secluded coves of Crystal Cove State Park, and the vibrant art galleries concentrated along Forest Avenue and Coast Highway. To maximize revenue from guests visiting these attractions, properties must offer beach-specific amenities including complimentary beach chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, and snorkeling gear for Main Beach and Crystal Cove activities, along with secure storage for sandy equipment upon return. Given the artistic focus of many visitors exploring galleries and attending cultural events, high-speed Wi-Fi becomes essential for guests researching art purchases, sharing social media content, and planning gallery walks, while comfortable outdoor seating areas allow visitors to relax between cultural excursions. Properties should also provide tide pool exploration guides, waterproof bags for phones and cameras, and perhaps most critically, outdoor shower facilities and gear-washing stations to accommodate the sandy, salty nature of beach and tide pool adventures that define the Laguna Beach experience. Additionally, since many attractions require walking on uneven coastal terrain, properties benefit from offering beach wagons or carts to help guests transport supplies, and detailed local maps highlighting the best photography spots and hidden coves that make Laguna Beach a premier coastal destination.

Why choose Surge?

Surge is local Airbnb management that’s reliable, affordable and the best for your property.
Cost
Guest communications
Host Communications
Insurance
Contract
Cost
Starting at 15% fee
Guest communications
Guest response within 10 minutes, 24 hours a day
Host Communications
Designated host call in phone line
Insurance
Full damage protection for every reservation
Contract
No annual agreements
Other Property Mangers
Cost
25-40% fee
Guest communications
Sporadic guest communications
Host Communications
Bot response assistants
Insurance
Unreliable insurance coverage
Contract
Contract lock-ins

Understand Your STR Income

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Surge is geared towards maximizing potential

Be at ease with the knowledge that your vacation rental is being optimized to its fullest potential.
30%
In gross revenue
150 M
Potential guests
4.9
Superhost status
7+
Booking platforms
1
Property manager
The house was great. It accommodated our large group nicely. The owner was responsive and checked in on us throughout the trip. The gate around the home added privacy and security. The beds were comfortable as well. Extra linen, towels and washcloths. We are looking to book this home in the future!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
We really appreciated Surge. He was responsive, attentive, and went above to make sure our stay was seamless. You can tell he takes pride in providing a clean/organized place. Everyone loved the pool table and shuffleboard. This place is also very close to great restaurants. The place we went to had the best catfish. Would definitely rent from Surge again!!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
Our group really enjoyed our long weekend stay here! The property was very clean and spacious but also provided some privacy to accommodate our large family. Surge was responsive when we reached out to them and also accommodated an early check-in. We felt secure given that the property was gated and had smart locks on both entry doors. We strongly recommend this property and would love to stay here again!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
My family and I were here for my daughter’s graduation from UofH. Surge was very upfront, kept us informed and accommodating. The place was clean and fit my entire family comfortably. We have already made plans to come back. Great location, private and safe environment. Would highly recommend! Thank you Surge for making this stay memorable and stress free for our family!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
Great stay that accommodated all our needs for a successful for trip to Houston, i hope to Book in the coming future.
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
The host was great, he responded quickly when needed and checked in on us from time to time throughout the whole day. He was awesome and the place was great for my family of 16. Definitely will book with him in the future.
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about the product and billing.
Does Surge Property Management allow pets in its short term rentals?
Surge Property Management leaves that decision to the property owner. While allowing pets can be a big perk for some guests, Surge does not have any requirements for the property owner to allow it. Service animals are a different case. Surge is prohibited to refuse a reservation, charge pet fees, hold guests to different rules, apply differential treatment or use discriminatory language if a guest is accompanied by a service animal. A guests service animal must not be out of control, un-housebroken, left alone at the listing without prior approval, allowed into areas that are considered unauthorized by the guest and allowed in a public space without being harnessed, leashed, or tethered and not under the guests control.
Do I get access to an owner portal?
Surge Property Management has a tech leading owner portal to keep its property owners in the loop, instead of on the outside looking in. In the owner portal you can reserve days for personal use, see pending reservations, nightly pricing rates, owner statements, expense receipts, guest messaging and more!
Do you screen the guests that are staying in my property?
Our intelligent Guest Screening technology allows us to screen vacation rental guests before they enter your property, making it easier to keep bad guests out. We proactively assess the risk posed by each guest, through legal, non-discriminatory checks. Guests will be asked to submit some personal details including their name, date of birth, physical home address and contact details. We then verify by having the guest take a live selfie and submit a photo of their ID(either a drivers license or passport). This information will then be processed to determine the true identity of your guest, including whether the ID is fraudulent and if the provided details match those on the ID. This process will generate a risk report for us to review before the guest arrives.
Do you provide insurance for guest damages?
We partner with the premier provider of short term rental protection also offering guest screening and comprehensive insurance coverage. Our partner brings confidence and peace of mind to both Surge Property Management and its clients(homeowners). Our third party partner has protected over 60 billion in homeowner liability coverage and 1 million guest nights. Ask your Surge sales representative for more details.
What happens if there is guest damage to my property?
Each guest is required to make a $500 security deposit. Any damage above $500 we are able to document, submit, and follow a claim through on your behalf with our short term rental insurance partner covering up to $5,000,000.
How does Surge compare to a national provider like Vacasa?
While both Surge and Vacasa both have a full service model designed to be hands off from the property owner, Surge stands out above the rest by being more intentional and selective with the properties we decide to accept into our management portfolio. This allows us to give the required attention to the properties we manage instead of just "setting it and forgetting it" like the other property managers do. Once you go onboard with them you just become another number.
Does Surge handle the maintenance of the vacation rental?
Yes, Surge is able to handle any property maintenance(including hot tub & pool) for your property. We have a large network of service providers, additionally, if you have a preferred vendor we can assign and coordinate maintenance with them as well.
What services does Surge Property Management offer?

Surge is a full-service property manager and provides the following service to property owners:

  • Listing creating and management across multiple channels
  • Calendar management
  • Cleaning
  • Laundry
  • Restocking
  • Maintenance
  • Dynamic Pricing
  • Lock automation
  • Guest Portal
  • Owners Portal
  • Listing optimization
  • Photography
  • 24/7 guest communication
  • Check-in/out support
  • and more!
Is Surge Property Management a Superhost on Airbnb?
Yes, Surge Property Management is a Superhost on AirBNB. Airbnb defines a Superhost as a Host who goes above and beyond to provide excellent hospitality. Guests can easily identify a Superhost from the badge that appears on their Airbnb listing and profile. Superhosts have more visibility and earning potential.
How and when do I get paid?
Surge Property Management initiates ACH payment to its property owners once a month by the 10th day of the next month. Along with the ACH deposit sent to you, you also receive a highly detailed statement for review.
Are there any hidden fees?
Surge Property Management has the most transparent pricing in the industry. Our property owners are our Partners in business which is why we hold transparency at a very high standard. With your monthly statements you will be able to trace every dollar from when the guest paid for their reservation to when it was deposited into your bank account. Contact your Surge sales rep for a personal walk through of our statement structure.
Can I still use my property?
Yes of course. The biggest perk of a vacation rental is still retaining personal use of the property for your personal use. Inside of our Owner’s Portal you can reserve days for personal use.
How do you market my property?

We list your property on the major platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, Google Vacation rentals and more! We also allow direct bookings very popular among returning guests. Our integration technology is second to none and was awarded the following:

  • Airbnb Preferred + Software Partner
  • VRBO Elite Partner
  • Booking.com Premier Connectivity Partner
How do you handle complaints or disputes?
We aim to resolve issues quickly and fairly, protecting both the guests and the property owner’s interests. We mediate disputes and ensure a smooth resolution process.
How do I get started with your service?
Contact us to schedule a consultation. We'll discuss your property, our services, and how we can help you achieve your rental goals.
How do you handle waste management?
We coordinate with local services to ensure proper waste disposal and recycling, maintaining cleanliness and environmental responsibility.
What safety measures do you implement?
We ensure the property has functional smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and complies with all local safety regulations.
What does Surge’s full service property management mean?
Surge's comprehensive property management service allows property owners to be completely hands-off with the daily operations of their Airbnb properties. Surge takes care of all the daily tasks, including listings, guest interactions, cleanings, restocking, and maintenance, ensuring a stress-free experience for the property owner.

Still have questions?

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Please chat to our friendly team.
Get in touch
(713) 853-9573