PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Vacation rental must be located in Big Bear Lake jurisdiction (zip code 92315). Homes located outside of this zip code must contact San Bernardino County to register. Please feel free to contact the City of Big Bear Lake to verify the location of your property if needed.
Submit a Vacation Rental Program Registration Application with supporting documentation online. New applicants are required to provide proof of ownership (recorded deed or final closing statement from escrow). If ownership is under a trust, LLC, etc., documentation must be included to show all people involved with that entity (operating agreement, trust documents, etc.). Applicants must also include proof of current liability insurance coverage for the vacation rental (insurance declaration pages). The documentation listed above must be attached during the online application process or the application will be denied.
To get started, gather all documents. Next, use the link below to fill out the online application. Attach the proof of ownership, any LLC, corp. or trust documents, and proof of liability insurance with your online application. Forms must be attached in PDF format. Failure to include all required documents will result in a declined application and the need to repeat the process. Pay the registration fee of $635 at the end of the online application. Note: Do not remit the application and payment if the home is not ready for an inspection process at the time of remittance. The expiration date of the license will be one year from initial registration remittance date.
Vacation Rental Registration Form
If you want to transfer management only, please send an email to for instructions. Do not use the link above for transfers.
Owner and Agent Certification. All agents (check-in, 24/7 response, and management company staff) and owners (except those who hire a full-service management company and never rent the property on their own) must be certified by the City annually. Certification is currently in the form of a 25 question exam that must be passed with a 100% score. The answers to the questions can be found in the new vacation rental ordinance passed by City Council on 8/16/21. The ordinance can be downloaded from the link at the top of this page. Please include a copy of the Certificate with your application.
Owner & Agent Annual Certification Exam
Post Vacation Rental License. The registration process is complete after all requirements above are met, and an approval email is sent from the Govpilot system with the license attached. This license must be printed and posted in the vacation rental. The license must always remain current and valid if the home is being advertised or rented on a short-term basis. If the license is not kept current and valid the owner and/or management risk receiving penalties outlined in the vacation rental ordinance.
Remit Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) Assessment On a Monthly Basis. You are required to collect and remit a total of 13% of your gross receipts monthly. A report is required every month regardless of the booking platform used, and even to report zero income. Remittances and payments are due by the last day of the month following the reporting period. For questions regarding taxes and the remittance forms, please contact . Click here for more information regarding TOT and TBID.
APPROVED VACATION RENTAL LISTING
Below is a list of currently approved vacation rental homes in Big Bear Lake. Please note, this list changes frequently and will be updated when needed. To search the document, click Ctr. & F. If you have any questions regarding this list, please send an email to
| Filename | Size |
|---|---|
 Approved Vacation Rental List | 7-2-26 |
1.18 MB |