Earn $1000+ Renting Your Backyard for Money (Use These Apps…)

Your backyard could be making you money instead of just costing you money.

People are renting out fenced yards for dogs, pools for parties, land for campers, and even unused space for RV storage. Some make a little extra each month. Others earn $8,000 to $15,000 a year!

In this guide, I’ll show you the best backyard rental platforms, how much they pay, what they charge in fees, and which one is the best fit for your property.

Which Backyard Rental Platform Fits Your Yard Best?

There’s no single best backyard rental platform. The right one depends on what your yard has to offer.

Here’s my recommendation based on platform features, host earnings, fees, and real host experiences:

• Got a fenced yard? Sniffspot.
• Got a pool? Swimply.
• Got open land? Hipcamp.
• Got a yard that looks great in photos? Peerspace or Giggster.
• Got unused space for an RV, boat, or trailer? Neighbor.

Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison:

Platform	Best For	Typical Pricing	Host Fee
Sniffspot	Private dog park	$5–$30 per dog per hour	22% + processing fees
Swimply	Pools, backyards, sports courts	$15–$300 per hour	15%–30% (varies)
Hipcamp	Camping and glamping	$25–$75 per night	15%
Peerspace / Giggster	Events, parties, photo and film shoots	$80–$250 per hour	20% / 19%
Neighbor	RV, boat, trailer, and vehicle storage	You set the monthly price	4.9% + $0.30

The best part? Every platform on this list is free to join. You only pay a fee after you get a booking.

Let’s start with the easiest option for most homeowners: turning a fenced backyard into a private dog park with Sniffspot.

1. Turn Your Yard Into a Private Dog Park With Sniffspot

If you have a fenced backyard, Sniffspot is probably the easiest way to start making money from it.

Think of it as Airbnb for dog owners. Instead of renting out a room, you rent out your yard by the hour so dogs can play off-leash in a safe, private space.

It’s also one of the easiest backyard side hustles to get started with.

You don’t need extra buildings or expensive equipment, just a secure yard that dogs and their owners can enjoy.

Why Do People Pay for a Private Dog Yard?

Many dogs don’t do well at public dog parks. They may be reactive, anxious, elderly, recovering from surgery, or simply prefer a quieter environment. One of my beloved dogs was like that.

A private yard gives owners a safe place where their dogs can run, play, and explore without worrying about other animals.

That’s helped Sniffspot grow to more than 28,000 listings, with roughly 90% located in the United States.

Hosting is surprisingly hands-off. Sniffspot has several rules that help protect hosts:

• Only one booking can happen at a time.
• Guests must clean up after their dogs.
• Dogs must be current on vaccinations and flea prevention.
• You don’t have to supervise guests or even meet them in person.

How Much Can You Make on Sniffspot?

You set your own hourly rate.

And according to Fortune, most hosts charge around $15 per dog per hour, although some charge up to $30.

Fully fenced, private yards usually earn the most because they’re in the highest demand.

Here’s how the pay works:

• Most hosts charge $5 to $30 per dog per hour.
• Sniffspot keeps a 22% commission plus payment processing fees.
• You receive payouts by monthly direct deposit.
• Extra dogs are automatically charged at 50% of your first-dog rate.

Example: Charge $15 per dog per hour and host ten one-hour visits a week. That’s about $600 a month before fees for simply letting people use your yard.

Insurance & Protection

Every booking includes $1 million in liability coverage plus up to $5,000 in damage protection, giving hosts extra peace of mind when renting out their property.

If your backyard’s biggest feature is a pool instead of a fence, the next platform can earn you considerably more per booking.

2. Rent Out Your Pool (or Backyard) by the Hour With Swimply

If your backyard has a pool, Swimply can be one of the highest-paying ways to make money from it.

Often called the “Airbnb for pools,” the platform lets people book private pools, backyards, sports courts, and other outdoor spaces by the hour.

Guests use Swimply for birthday parties, family gatherings, swimming lessons, photo shoots, and relaxing afternoon swims.

The platform now has about 15,000 listings across the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

How Much Can You Make on Swimply?

Most hosts charge anywhere from $15 to $300 per hour, depending on their location, pool size, amenities, and local demand.

Here’s how payouts work:

• You set your own hourly rate.
• Swimply’s host fee typically ranges from 15% to 30%, depending on the booking.
• Your exact payout is shown before you accept a reservation.
• Payouts are sent through Stripe, usually within 48 hours after the booking.

Insurance & Legal Considerations

Every booking includes a $1 million liability guarantee and up to $10,000 in property damage protection.

If you live in Minnesota, check with your local health department before listing your pool. The state considers some short-term pool rentals to be public pools, which may require additional permits or licenses.

Now, if you don’t want to deal with that, you can still rent out your backyard without including pool access.

If you don’t have a pool but you do have extra land, the next platform lets you earn money by hosting campers instead.

3. Turn Your Yard or Land Into a Paid Campsite With Hipcamp

If you have extra land, Hipcamp lets you make money by hosting campers.

It’s the largest marketplace for private camping, connecting landowners with people looking for tent sites, RV parking, and glamping stays.

Many travelers choose Hipcamp because they want a quieter, more unique camping experience than a traditional campground. Even a simple property can attract guests if it’s clean, safe, and in a good location.

You don’t need luxury amenities to get started, but campers must have access to a toilet, either one you provide or a self-contained RV toilet. A lot of new hosts begin by accepting only self-contained RVs, then add a portable toilet later to welcome tent campers.

How Much Can You Make on Hipcamp?

According to Hipcamp, the average active host earns between $8,000 and $15,000 per year.

Their busiest hosts make well into six figures, although most backyard hosts earn far less.

Affordable campsites priced under $75 per night typically get the most bookings.

Here’s how payouts work:

• You set your own nightly rate.
• Hipcamp charges a flat 15% commission on each booking.
• You keep 85% of the booking price.
• Payouts are sent through Stripe.

Insurance & Protection

Every booking includes $1 million in liability insurance and up to $10,000 in property protection, giving hosts extra peace of mind when welcoming campers.

Camping means guests usually stay overnight, so it’s best suited for people who are comfortable having visitors on their property after dark. If you’d rather host shorter daytime bookings, the next platforms specialize in parties, events, and photo shoots.

4. Rent Out Your Backyard for Parties, Events, and Photo Shoots

If your backyard looks great on camera, you can rent it out by the hour for parties, weddings, baby showers, engagement photos, and even TV or film productions.

Features like mature trees, a landscaped garden, a pool, a covered patio, or a unique design can make your property much more attractive to renters. The nicer your space looks, the more you can usually charge.

The two biggest platforms for this are Peerspace and Giggster. Many hosts list on both to reach more potential renters.

Peerspace

Peerspace is the larger marketplace for private events, business meetings, photo shoots, and film productions.

Here’s how it works:

• Listing your space is free.
• Hosts pay a 20% service fee.
• You review every booking request before accepting it.
• Payouts are sent within seven days of the booking date.

Giggster

Giggster focuses more on film, TV, commercial, and professional photo productions. These bookings are often longer and can pay more than typical parties or events.

Here’s how it works:

• Hosts pay a 19% commission.
• Payouts are typically sent within seven days of the production start date.
• Giggster recommends starting around $150–$250 per hour for most private homes, then adjusting your rates as demand grows.

If you don’t want people using your yard for events, you can still earn passive income by renting it out as storage for RVs, boats, and trailers. The next platform specializes in exactly that.

5. Get Paid to Store RVs, Boats, and Trailers With Neighbor

If you have extra space beside your house or in your backyard, Neighbor lets you rent it out for vehicle storage.

People pay monthly to park RVs, boats, trailers, cars, and other vehicles on your property.

Unlike the other platforms in this guide, Neighbor generates recurring monthly income instead of one-time bookings.

That makes it a good option if you’d rather have steady passive income than hosting new guests every week.

How Much Can You Make With Neighbor?

Your earnings depend mostly on your location, the size of your space, and what you’re storing.

And apparently you can make really good money. Of course a lot depends on your location.

One California host told The U.S. Sun he earns about $1,700 per month renting out his backyard for storage.

Here’s how payouts work:

• You set your own monthly rental price.
• Neighbor charges just 4.9% plus $0.30 per payout, so you keep about 95% of your earnings.
• Reservations are month-to-month.
• You can end a reservation with 30 days’ notice.

Protection & Host Benefits

• Every reservation includes a $1 million Host Guarantee.
• Payout Protection covers up to two months of missed payments on qualifying rentals of $500 per month or less.

If you’re looking to rent out your driveway or garage for parking rather than long-term storage, check out my guide to the best apps for renting out your parking spot.

Now that you’ve seen the best platforms, let’s look at how much you can realistically expect to earn from renting out your backyard.

How Much Can You Actually Make Renting Out Your Backyard?

Most people won’t get rich renting out their backyard, but it can be a solid side hustle.

Depending on your property, location, and how often you accept bookings, earning a few hundred dollars a month is realistic.

Some hosts earn $1,000 or more each month, while the busiest Hipcamp hosts have turned their land into six-figure businesses.

Hosting Activity	Typical Monthly Income
Occasional bookings	$100–$500
Regular weekend or evening bookings	$500–$1,500
High-demand properties	$1,500+

For example, if you charge $15 per dog per hour on Sniffspot and host 20 one-hour visits each month with an average of 1.5 dogs per booking, you’d earn about $450 before fees. After Sniffspot’s commission, you’d keep roughly $330.

Your actual earnings depend on several factors, but these have the biggest impact:

• Location: Properties near cities and neighborhoods with lots of apartments usually get more bookings.
• What your yard offers: A fenced yard, swimming pool, bathroom access, shade, seating, and attractive landscaping can all increase demand and let you charge higher rates.
• Photos: Bright, wide-angle photos are often the difference between getting booked and being overlooked.
• Reviews: Listings with more positive reviews generally rank higher in search results and receive more bookings.
• Pricing: Competitive pricing helps new listings gain momentum. Once you’ve built a solid reputation, you can gradually increase your rates.

The good news is that getting started doesn’t take much time. In many cases, you can create your listing and start accepting bookings the same day.

Zoning, Insurance, and Taxes: Check These Before You List

In most U.S. cities, renting out your backyard is perfectly legal.

But before you accept your first booking, make sure you’ve checked these three things.

A little preparation now can save you from expensive problems later.

1. Check Local Rules and Your HOA

Start by checking your city’s zoning or home business rules. Most occasional backyard rentals are allowed, but some cities require permits or a business license.

If you live in a neighborhood with a homeowners association (HOA), review your CC&Rs before listing your property. Some HOAs restrict short-term rentals, commercial activity, or long-term vehicle storage.

2. Review Your Homeowners Insurance

Most platforms include liability protection, but that coverage is meant to supplement, not replace, your homeowners insurance.

Call your insurance company before you start hosting. Explain what you’ll be renting, how often you expect guests, and ask whether you need additional coverage or a policy rider.

It’s a quick phone call that could save you a major headache if you ever need to file a claim.

3. Understand the Tax Rules

Money you earn from renting out your backyard is generally taxable.

The IRS usually treats it as rental income, which is commonly reported on Schedule E.

Depending on your situation, you may also be able to deduct expenses related to maintaining or improving the space.

Some platforms may send you a 1099-K, but you’re still responsible for reporting the income even if you don’t receive one. If you expect to earn a significant amount, it’s worth talking to a tax professional.

Mistakes to Avoid When You Rent Out Your Yard

Most backyard rental problems don’t come from the yard itself.

They come from small mistakes that cost hosts money, bookings, or unhappy neighbors.

1. Accepting a Booking Without Checking the Payout

Platform fees can vary from one booking to the next. Before accepting any reservation, check the final payout so you know exactly how much you’ll earn after fees.

2. Taking Too Long to Reply

Fast responses can help you get more bookings and better reviews. Try to answer messages quickly, and keep all conversations inside the platform so there’s a record if you ever need support.

3. Forgetting About Your Neighbors

Even if your rental is allowed, unhappy neighbors can create problems. Let nearby neighbors know what you’re doing, set clear quiet hours, and give guests simple parking instructions.

4. Keeping Your Price Too Low

Starting with a lower price can help you get your first reviews. But once your listing has a solid rating and steady demand, review your pricing regularly and increase your rates when appropriate.

5. Skipping a Safety Check Before Guests Arrive

Walk through your yard before every booking. Remove hazards, check fences and gates, clear branches, and point out any uneven areas. A quick inspection can prevent accidents and bad reviews.

6. Using Poor Photos for Your Listing

Your photos are often the first thing potential guests see. Take bright, clear pictures that show the entire space, highlight the best features, and help people understand exactly what they’re booking.

FAQ: Renting Out Your Backyard for Money

Is Renting Out Your Backyard Worth It?

For many homeowners, renting out your backyard can be a simple way to turn unused space into extra income.

You don’t need a perfect property or a huge yard to get started. You just need to figure out what makes your space useful and whether people in your area are willing to pay for it.

The same logic applies indoors if you have a spare room you can rent out

Start small. Test the demand. Pay attention to what guests ask for, improve your listing, and adjust as you learn what works.

For some homeowners, a backyard rental can become a nice side income stream. For others, it may simply cover a few bills each month. Either way, your unused space has more potential than you might think.

Have you rented out your backyard or tried one of these platforms? I’d love to hear about your experience and how much you made renting your yard. Please comment below.