Homeowners in the Las Vegas area are finding new ways to make money from property they already own. In North Las Vegas, some residents are renting their backyard swimming pools by the hour, creating a new type of side business during the hot summer months. The trend comes as Las Vegas deals with changes in tourism and concerns about the rising cost of visiting the city. A similar idea is happening in California, where state ADU laws have made it easier for homeowners to convert existing spaces, including garages, into small housing units that can provide additional living space or rental income.
Las Vegas Homeowners Are Making Money From Their Pools
In North Las Vegas, having a swimming pool is becoming more than just a way to cool down during the summer. Some homeowners are turning their pools into small businesses by renting them to other people.
Homeowners are using services such as Swimply, which works somewhat like Airbnb but focuses on pools and other private spaces. Instead of renting an entire house overnight, customers can reserve someone’s backyard pool for a few hours.
The idea can be especially attractive in Las Vegas, where summer temperatures regularly make swimming pools popular.
One North Las Vegas homeowner featured by news outlets has been renting her pool for nearly four years. She said she earned more than $15,000 so far in 2026 and sometimes rents the pool twice in one day. Over roughly four years, she said the pool has generated close to $50,000.
The extra income has allowed her family to travel more and has reduced her need for a separate part-time job.
Homeowners can also establish rules that customers must agree to before booking. This gives owners some control over how their property is used.
A Backyard Can Become Another Source of Income
The pool rental trend shows how homeowners are looking at their properties differently.
Traditionally, homeowners made money from their property mainly by selling it or renting out a bedroom, apartment or entire house. Online rental platforms have created additional possibilities.
A pool that might sit unused for much of the week can now generate income without requiring the homeowner to rent out the entire property.
For homeowners with large yards, pools or other amenities, that can turn unused space into something that helps pay the mortgage, property taxes, utilities or other household expenses.
The North Las Vegas homeowner interviewed by news outlets is even considering expanding the idea. She and her husband have discussed buying another property and using it for both short-term home rentals and pool rentals.
However, homeowners considering something similar still need to check local rules, insurance requirements, and any homeowners association restrictions before renting part of their property.
California Is Doing Something Similar With ADUs
California homeowners are also finding ways to get more use out of property they already own, although the state’s approach is focused more heavily on housing.
California has expanded its Accessory Dwelling Unit laws over the years to make ADUs easier to build and approve.
An ADU is a smaller home located on the same property as a main residence. It can be a detached backyard home, an attached addition, or a conversion of existing space.
Importantly, California law allows certain existing structures, including garages, to be converted into ADUs. State rules have also limited when local governments can require homeowners to replace parking spaces lost because a garage was converted.
That means a homeowner with a garage may be able to turn that space into a legal housing unit, as long as the project meets applicable building, safety and permitting requirements.
The California Energy Commission also specifically recognizes the conversion of existing unconditioned spaces, such as garages and storage areas, into conditioned ADU living spaces.
These changes are meant primarily to increase California’s housing supply. But for individual homeowners, an ADU can also create another valuable use for their property. Depending on local rules and how the unit is used, it could provide housing for relatives or potentially become a long-term rental.
The idea has something in common with what is happening with backyard pools in Nevada: homeowners are finding ways to make better use of space they already have.
Las Vegas Is Also Dealing With a Tourism Slowdown
The pool rental trend comes at an interesting time for Las Vegas.
The city has traditionally attracted visitors partly because travelers could find inexpensive hotel rooms, cheap food, affordable entertainment and other deals. That image has changed as the cost of visiting Las Vegas has increased.
Visitors now regularly encounter resort fees, parking charges and higher prices for restaurants, drinks, shows and attractions.
Tourism numbers have also weakened. Las Vegas received about 38.5 million visitors in 2025, a decline of approximately 7.5% from 2024, according to Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority figures cited by Reuters. That represented a loss of roughly 3.1 million visitors and was the largest annual decline outside the pandemic since the agency began keeping records.
High prices are not necessarily the only reason for the decline. Economic uncertainty and weaker international travel have also affected Las Vegas tourism.
Still, affordability has become an important issue for travelers. Some visitors have complained that the traditional inexpensive Vegas vacation is becoming harder to find.
Even one of the city’s most famous bargains, the inexpensive casino buffet, has become less common. Many buffets disappeared after the pandemic, while some remaining high-end buffets now cost around $80 or more per person.
That creates an opportunity for alternatives outside the traditional Strip experience.
Renting a private backyard pool for several hours, visiting neighborhoods away from Las Vegas Boulevard, or staying at residential properties could appeal to travelers looking for a different experience.
Homeowners Are Finding New Value in Their Properties
The trends in Nevada and California point to a larger change in how homeowners think about their properties.
A backyard pool can become a small hourly rental business. A garage in California can potentially become an ADU. A backyard can sometimes provide enough space for an entirely separate housing unit.
Technology and changing housing laws have made some of these options easier than they were in the past.
For homeowners, the attraction is easy to understand. Housing, insurance, utilities and everyday expenses have become more expensive. Finding a way to earn additional income from something that is already part of the property can help offset some of those costs.
In Las Vegas, a homeowner who once viewed a swimming pool mainly as an expense may now see it as an income-producing feature. In California, a garage that was mainly used for storage could potentially become additional housing.
At the same time, Las Vegas itself is facing pressure to remain attractive to visitors who are increasingly concerned about how much a vacation costs.
If high prices continue pushing some travelers away from the traditional Las Vegas experience, smaller businesses and homeowners may find new opportunities by offering visitors alternatives.
The result is a changing idea of what a home can provide. Instead of simply being a place to live, unused parts of a property can sometimes become an additional source of income, whether that means renting a pool in Nevada or creating an ADU in California.
