Brea Eyes a Temporary “Airbnb Pilot” for the World Cup and Olympics – What That Could Mean for Coastal OC
A new report out of North County caught our eye because it’s a familiar pattern: a city that currently bans short-term rentals is now looking at temporarily legalizing a tightly controlled set of STRs – largely because major global events are coming to Southern California and local leaders don’t want to miss the lodging (and tax) opportunity.
What Brea is considering
According to the Voice of OC, Brea’s City Council is moving toward a pilot program that would allow up to 100 short-term rental licenses, distributed by lottery and geographically capped by city sectors.
A few notable details from the proposal:
Brea’s municipal code currently prohibits STRs, but staff told the Council they believe around 50 are operating illegally today.
The city’s mayor and staff framed the pilot as a way to crack down on illegal operations while allowing a limited number to operate “above board.”
Requirements would include a minimum 2-night stay, acknowledgement of a “good neighbor” policy (noise, trash, parking), and on-site parking (with overnight street parking prohibited).
The pilot would run through December 31, 2029 (if adopted) and includes an explicit “offramp” if it doesn’t work.
Staff estimated about $400,000/year in lodging taxes, plus $1,000 per application (another ~$100,000 if fully subscribed).
ADUs would be prohibited from being used as STRs under the pilot.
Why this matters to Newport Beach STR owners
Brea isn’t doing this because it suddenly “loves STRs.” They’re doing it because they believe the region is heading into a lodging crunch tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 LA Olympics.
Here’s the part coastal OC should be paying attention to: a lot of Olympic activity will be within easy reach of Newport Beach, and Orange County is officially part of the venue map.
A few examples:
Surfing is slated for Trestles State Beach (San Clemente) – a straight shot down the coast.
Indoor volleyball is set for the Honda Center in Anaheim.
Long Beach is hosting a cluster of venues/events, which means lots of visitor spillover throughout coastal OC.
The 2028 Olympic Games run July 14 – July 30, 2028 (with Paralympics August 15 – August 27, 2028).
And before we even get there:
The 2026 World Cup runs June 11 – July 19, 2026, and Los Angeles is scheduled to host eight matches, including the U.S. opener at SoFi Stadium on June 12, 2026.
Quick question for members: are you seeing this yet?
We’re now inside the window where World Cup travel planning starts to become real – and Olympic planning will follow right behind it.
Are you seeing any uptick in inquiries or booking interest around June–July 2026 World Cup dates?
And looking ahead: are you planning anything special for the July 2028 Olympics window, given how many events will be near Newport Beach (and throughout Orange County)?
If you’re willing, drop us a line at info@nbstra.com and let us know:
Whether you’ve seen increased interest for June–July 2026
Whether you’re planning to adjust minimum stays, pricing, or house rules for those periods
Any early signals you’re hearing from repeat guests, travel groups, or booking platforms
(Please note that we will use this for internal planning purposes only for future programs to assist members, and for dialog with the City. For competitive and anti-trust reasons, we don’t share any info you send with other members.)
The bigger takeaway
Cities that ban STRs often argue there’s “no need” for home-sharing – right up until the biggest tourism moments in a generation show up on the calendar. Then, suddenly, the same cities start talking about “pilot programs,” “controlled permits,” and “capturing lodging tax revenue.” Meanwhile Newport Beach benefits to the tune of nearly $10 million per year through taxes generated by STRs.
We’ll keep tracking how Brea’s pilot proceeds (and whether other OC cities start making similar moves). For now, the most helpful thing you can do is share what you’re seeing on the ground so we can all plan ahead.
