Vacation Rental Owner Frequently Asked Questions

• $550+ tax (valid for 1 year.)

• NEW APPLICATION FEE – $1,135+ Tax (valid for 1 year.)
  • $600 Application Fee
  • $285 Permit Fee
  • $250 Surrounding Property Owner Notification Fee
• RENEWAL Application with changes $1,135+ Tax (valid for 1 year.)
  • $600 Application Fee
  • $285 Permit Fee
  • $250 Surrounding Property Owner Notification Fee
• RENEWAL application with no changes – $550+ Tax (valid for 1 year.)
• Transfer Permit FREE

Note: A $150 one-time credit for the installation of an outdoor noise monitoring device. Verification of outdoor noise monitoring devices is required with application submission.

Housekeeping fees are taken from the guests and range from $95-$300 depending on the sq ft and bedroom number for your home. Owner cleaning fees are decreased cleaning fees as well as guest of owner cleaning fees. A guest of owner cleaning fee is slightly more than an owner cleaning fee. Owners may choose to clean the home themselves to not pay the cleaning fee. 

Quality Inspection fees come out of the housekeeping charges to the guest. An owner will not be charged for a quality inspection of their home before guests arrive.

We do all laundry at our office in the laundry room so that our owners are not additionally charged, this service is included in the commission we charge. We also provide all towels and linens. Your washer and dryer may be used by guests but rarely by us to save on your water bill.

Note: Big Bear Lakefront Cabins also provides all linens and towels for the cabins. Costs for washing owner provided comforters and blankets may occur.

Amenities guests will use during their stay are covered by a $25 per booking fee that is charged directly to the guest. These amenities include but are not limited to:

• Toilet Paper
• Paper Towels
• Dish Soap
• Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Soap
• Towels
• Linens
• Welcome basket with coffee and creamer + small rotating goodies
• Welcome Chocolates (on special occasions)
• Makeup Remover
• Sponges
• Trash Bags
• + More

Regular Weekly Cleaning: $120 per month / Back-to-Back Cleaning: $45. Dump-and-fill is around $55 and is needed occasionally as chemicals can only do so much after so much guest usage.

$80-200 per removal as needed depending on the amount of snow and size of the driveway. For up to 5” of snow, a plow is not needed. Additional fees are charged for hand shoveling decks, walkways, stairs etc. 

While there is maintenance that happens throughout the year there is also an annual maintenance list that must be completed. These can either be completed by the owner, a hired contractor, or by Big Bear Lakefront Cabins for additional charges. 

1. Flush water heaters that are not tankless
2. Clean Refrigerator Coils, Dryer Vent, and Vacuum Filters
3. Replace heater filters
4. Change smoke alarm / CO2 batteries with a ladder
5. Check fire Extinguishers
6. Dishwasher deep clean and filter clean
7. Sinks and shower drain cleaning
8. Check for carpet cleanings, landscaping, weeds gutter cleanings, and refer outside vendors to assist 
9. Additional items may be performed
   1. Total (estimated) annual maintenance price: $375 
   2. Additional, chimney sweep: $259 

Minimum twice yearly: 

Deep Cleaning/Spring Cleaning: Prices are normally 2-3 times the normal cleaning fee but can be completed by the owner for no charge. 

Weed abatement and yard clean up required by the city twice a year. Charges vary.

Owner pays for all home utilities.

Our per month website fee is $15. Additionally, online Travel Agents have fees when you list them. This fee will be billed to the owner, but to cover that cost Big Bear Lakefront Cabins increases the nightly rent by the travel agent fee percentage, essentially equaling it out.

Online Travel Agents have fees when you list them.

• Airbnb 3% per booking
• VRBO 5% per booking or $699 annually
• Homes and Villas by Marriott 15% per booking
• Booking.com 15% per booking

Registration of Vacation Rental / Permit Fees (subject to change)

City of Big Bear Lake Registration & Annual Renewal Fee (92315 zip code):

• $550+ tax (valid for 1 year.)

San Bernardino County Permit Fees (92314 zip code):

• NEW APPLICATION FEE – $1,135+ Tax (valid for 1 year.)
  • $600 Application Fee
  • $285 Permit Fee 
  • $250 Surrounding Property Owner Notification Fee
• RENEWAL Application with changes $1,135+ Tax (valid for 1 year.)
  • $600 Application Fee
  • $285 Permit Fee
  • $250 Surrounding Property Owner Notification Fee
• RENEWAL application with no changes – $550+ Tax (valid for 1 year.)
• Transfer Permit FREE

Note: A $150 one-time credit for the installation of an outdoor noise monitoring device. Verification of outdoor noise monitoring devices is required with application submission.

Damage deposits are collected at the time of guest booking to cover extreme damages and circumstances and minor accidents. Owners are responsible for items that were damaged due to normal wear-and-tear.

• Light bulbs and batteries will frequently need to be replaced.
• Pool sticks and tips break and will need to be replaced. Foosballs, ping-pong balls, paddles, and other game pieces will need to be replaced.
• Dishes, small appliances, and utensils will need replacing or become sparse.
• Shower curtains and liner replacement.
• VCR/DVDs will stop functioning and remotes will get lost or stop working.
• Lamp switches and shades get broken, or the lamp stops functioning.
• Carpets will need cleaning usually several times per year. In reference to having a pet-friendly home, guests are charged a pet fee of $35 per dog per night with 2 dogs maximum. This pet fee covers the cleaning of the pet hair or if needed a carpet cleaning.
• Vacuum cleaners can stop working for guests. Big Bear Lakefront Cabins housekeeping provides their own equipment for cleaning but requires a vacuum in each home.
• Toilets will become clogged and possibly flood the bathroom.
• Furnishings will become stained and need cleaning or replacing. Kitchen tables get dents, scrapes, and gouges. Kitchen chairs become loose on a regular basis and require Gorilla Glue and screws.
• Garbage disposal will become jammed and eventually need to be replaced.
• Charcoal BBQs are not allowed in San Bernardino County, only propane or natural gas.
• Window cleaning and screen replacement are frequently required.
• Paint for touch-ups is recommended for inside and out.

• 12’’, 8’’, 6’’ Saucepans with Lids
• Broiler Tray
• Baking Dishes
• Frying Pans and Skillets
• FULL Knife Set & Knife Block
• Kitchen Utensils: Ladle, Spatula, Potato Peeler, Scissors, Corkscrew, Bottle Opener, Can Opener, Cheese Grater, Pizza Cutter, Ice Cream Scooper, etc.
• Cutlery Divider and FULL Cutlery Set
• Serving Dishes (with Spoons and bowls)
• Baking essentials: Measuring Cups and Spoons, Baking Dishes, Baking Tray etc..
• Place Settings: Plates, Soup Bowls, Coffee Cups, Drinking Glasses, Wine Glasses, & Steak Knives (enough for the maximum number of people allowed, plus four)
• Tea Kettle
• Toaster
• Blender
• Oven Mitts
• Ice Cube Trays
• Chopping Board
• Coffee Maker (with auto shut off)
• Trash Can
• Meat Thermometer
• Microwave Oven

• Smart V. with Remotes and Downloaded Apps: Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, and more. (Personal login access does not need to be provided)
• Adequate Lighting
• Adequate Furnishings for the Desired Number of Guests
• Broom w/ Dustpan
• Fans for Each Level
• Artwork & Decorations
• All Windows Should be Screened and Have Curtains or Shades that are both Decorative and Provide

• Shower Curtains
• Rugs
• Plunger
• Toilet Brush

• Headboards for all beds
• Mattress Protector
• Comforters
  • A spare comforter for each bed, or ideally, one duvet with two duvet covers is required.
• Pillowcases
• Adequate Hangers
• 2 Extra Blankets Per Bed and Extra Pillows

• Non-Flammable Hearth Rug
• Fireplace Tools
• 5-Gallon Ash Can

• Weather Treated Deck
• Sturdy Patio Furniture (Weather treated)
• BBQ with a Chain and Protective Plate (Propane or Gas Line)

***Free Internet Access is Required***

***Please Remove All Food, Personal Items, and Items of Sentimental Value***

• Fire Extinguishers
• Smoke Detectors
• Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• Plug-in Emergency Flashlights

• Guest Book
• Fairy Lights (outdoor lighting)
• Private Hot Tub
• Outdoor Gas Fire Pit
• Game Room (Pool table, arcade games, air hockey, etc.)
• Additional Kitchen Equipment (Air Fryer, Garbage Disposal, Crockpot, and KitchenAid)
• Washer and Dryer
• EV Charger
• Smart TVs in Every Room (at least ONE Smart TV is required)

Vacation rental properties must be registered with either the City of Big Bear Lake or the County of San Bernardino depending on location. Big Bear Lakefront Cabins will arrange the inspections and complete any mandatory updates. You may or may not be notified, depending on the extent and cost of the update, prior to the completion of the work and will see charges on your statement. Big Bear Lakefront Cabins does not profit on any items that need updated to meet code. We have resources to have items fixed, or you can hire your own contractor if you prefer. Before any home can be rented, it must be inspected and pass with both Bear Valley Fire and either the city or county.

1. One (1) 2A:1OB: C type refillable fire extinguisher per level with current inspection certificate is required.  Fire extinguishers shall be mounted in visible locations with the tops of the extinguishers mounted between three (3′) feet and five (5′) feet above the floor and shall be accessible to occupants at all times. Yearly service is required.
2. A minimum of one (1) smoke detector is required per level: in the kitchen, in each sleeping room, and the hallway between bedrooms, and must be located within twelve inches of the ceiling's peak.
3. One (1) carbon monoxide detector is required per level.
4. Emergency lights must be provided so that there is a reasonable level of illumination to light exit routes.
5. No gaps of four inches or more between railings on any decks for child safety.
6. No tree branches within ten inches of the chimney.
7. Yard abatement must be complete.
8. Handrails on all stairways. (Mushroom grip with returns/T-stops at top and bottom)
9. All sleeping areas must have screens on the windows without any holes. Furnishings cannot block window egress.
10. Wood-burning fireplaces must be equipped with screens and a 5-gallon metal ash can. On a gas log fireplace, the damper must be permanently fixed in the open position.
11. Charcoal BBQs must have a lid, metal ash can, and wire brush.
12. No permanent use of extension cords with lighting, heaters, appliances, etc.
13. Hot tubs and spas must have 2 clips on 2 sides of an approved cover.  A combo lock is also recommended to keep neighbors out. A rail extension is required as well if the hot tub has less than 36" clearance to the railing and if the deck is 3 feet or more above ground.
14. There must not be any exposed wiring or overloaded electrical circuits.
15. Switch plates on all outlets.
16. No horizontal slats on decks that are higher than 3 feet. Ask the office for details on what to do.
17. Spark arrestors must be put on all fireplace flues.
18. Any locking mechanism on outside doors must be operable from inside the unit without the use of a key.  Any locking mechanism must be located no higher than four feet above the ground.
19. Property address, exterior light, and exterior sign must all be plainly visible from the street.
20. There must be at least a 54″ minimum clearance between furniture/combustible material and the fireplace opening and a 30″ clearance between combustibles and wall heaters.
21. No leaking fixtures or clogged waste lines.  All appliances must be operational, and water heater tanks must be secured with earthquake straps on the top and bottom thirds of the tank.
22. Garbage disposal must have a stress (Romex) clamp installed.
23. Snow removal must be provided.

• Interior wood, wood pellets, gas fireplace, fireplace inserts, and stoves are okay and exempt from AQMD restrictions in Big Bear.
  • Big Bear Properties are above 3000' (AQMD Exemptions for elevations above 3000 feet. Rule 445-f-7-d)
  • Fireplaces must be used in accordance with manufacturers' guidelines, properly installed, and maintained.
• Propane and gas fire pits are okay
  • with 15 feet of clearance from anything combustible
• Charcoal burning and propane/gas barbeques are okay
  • with 4 feet of clearance from a structure
  • and 15 feet of clearance from any flammable vegetation
• Wood-burning fire pits require 25 feet of clearance from anything combustible, including vegetation and structures
  • If the 25-foot requirement can be met, a permit is required and can be obtained through Big Bear Fire Department for a $75 fee
  • The permit is valid for 3 months but can be temporarily suspended at any time due to high fire danger

• Smoke Detectors: One per level, in the kitchen, in each bedroom, in the hall between bedrooms.
• Carbon Monoxide Detectors: One per level
• If HARD WIRED: Smoke Detector AND CO2 must be combined in one (same) unit.
• Exit Lights
• Illuminated Address Sign
• Fire Extinguisher (Do NOT purchase/install prior to inspection. There are strict regulations)
• 5 gallons locking, metal ash can for each fireplace
• BBQ must have a lid, metal ash can, and wire brush

Understanding the rental rules as an owner in Big Bear when considering your vacation home is essential. The City of Big Bear Lake (92315 zip code) and the County of San Bernardino (92314 zip code and others) each have different ordinances that must be followed. Our management services uphold all ordinances on behalf of owners to ensure that the vacation rental industry is preserved and to uphold the quiet integrity of our residential neighbors and neighborhoods. Both Big Bear Lake and the County of San Bernardino strictly enforce their ordinance codes by posing fines and even evicting guests that are not adhering to a quiet relaxing vacation in the mountains,

Big Bear Vacation Rental Owner Checklist

City and County Ordinance Information

Vacation rental properties must be registered with either the City of Big Bear Lake or the County of San Bernardino, depending on the cabin's zip code. Big Bear Lakefront Cabins will arrange the inspections and complete any mandatory permit requirements.

Occupancy shall not exceed two adults per bedroom, plus two additional adults, not including persons under eighteen (18) years of age, but the total number of persons, including persons under eighteen (18) years of age, may not exceed one person per two hundred (200) square feet of living space or sixteen (16) persons, whichever is less. Section 4.01.060 (C)

Example #1: A 3,500 sf home with 5 bedrooms has a maximum occupancy of 16 people. Only 12 of those can be adults. The remaining 4 people can be children.

Example #2: A 1,000 sf home with 3 bedrooms has a maximum occupancy of 5 people. All 5 of those can be adults, and no additional people are allowed.

1 person per 70 square feet in a room plus 50 additional square feet for every additional person in a room. 12 people per cabin maximum regardless of sq ft.

Per legal sleeping room or legal sleeping area, including pull-out sofas in living rooms, lofts, etc.

• 800 sq. ft. or less max rental occupancy is 6 guests
• 1,200 sq. ft. or less max rental occupancy is 8 guests
• 70 sq. ft. = 1 guests
• 120 sq. ft. = 2 guests
• 170 sq. ft. = 3 guests
• 220 sq. ft. = 4 guests

The county no longer monitors the maximum occupancy for cars, only requires they park within a garage or paved driveway and parking area. The county additionally requires that no cars are parked on the street.