Following the council meeting on November 8^th, 2023, city council has taken the following action.

 

 

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.

 

Apply & 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. 

 

Additionally, if owners allow friends and family members to use the property without charging any fees (including cleaning fee), then a Friends and Family form should be included during the application process. Click here to download the Friends and Family Form.  

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, proof of liability insurance, and the Friends and Family form (if applicable) during the online application process. Forms need to 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 $550 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. 

* If you want to transfer management only, please send an email to for instructions. Do not use the link below for transfers.

 

Renewal of the vacation rental license is required annually. A reminder email should be sent out 45 days prior to the expiration date. This will come from our online portal (Govpilot) with specific instructions for each individual property on how to begin the renewal process. If the renewal notification is not received 45 days prior to the license expiration date it is the responsibility of the owner or management to contact the City of Big Bear Lake at to obtain instructions on how to start the renewal process. Do not use the link below for renewals.

 

 

Pass a Home Inspection. Once the City receives your initial application, you will be required to pass a home inspection. You will be emailed about scheduling your home inspection once your application is fully processed by staff. Please note: If you do not pass your first inspection, you will be given a set amount of time to complete any needed corrections. A second inspection can be scheduled by sending an email to . Click here to download the Vacation Rental Checklist. Please be advised, the registration and inspection process can take 2-4 weeks to complete. You are NOT allowed to rent your home during this period.

 

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. There is no longer a requirement for a notarized affidavit to be submitted.

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.

Good Neighbor Policy needs to be signed by all guests. Effective September 15, 2021, a Good Neighbor Policy must be signed by each responsible party during the in-person check-in process and prior to occupancy. A temporary policy can be downloaded and printed as a tri-fold brochure if printed double-sided. Alternatively, there is an MS Word version that can be used to copy and paste the rules into an electronic version for your check-in process and to insert into your rental agreement. Additionally, this version can serve as the internal notice that must be posted inside the residence in a visible place for the guests. Remember that a signed version of the Good Neighbor Policy must be presented to the City upon request.

Remit Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) On a Monthly Basis. You are required to collect and remit 11% of your gross receipts monthly.  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 Elsa Montes at (909) 866-5831 ext. 118. Click here for more information regarding TOT and TBID.

 

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 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