Arlington, Virginia Short-Term Rental Market
Arlington, VA STRs averaged $185/night at 69.2% occupancy in April 2026, with a primary-residence requirement limiting the investor pool.
Quick Answer: Arlington, Virginia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 69%. average monthly revenue is $3,504. average daily rate is $185. the top operator is Blueground with 664 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Arlington, Virginia is an inner-ring DC suburb of 236,000 residents, one of the most transit-connected markets on the East Coast, and a gateway for visitors to Washington, D.C. The county drew 7.1 million visitors in 2023, generating $4.5 billion in visitor spending. As of April 2026, the STR market averaged $185/night ADR with 69.2% occupancy, producing a RevPAR of $128.15 and average monthly revenue of $3,504.
Year-over-year metrics in April 2026 show essentially flat performance: occupancy up 0.2%, ADR down 2.6%, and revenue essentially flat (-0.1%). The market is mature and stable rather than in growth mode at this point in the cycle.
Entire-place listings account for 14,881 of roughly 20,122 active listings (74%). Private-room listings add 5,173, reflecting a higher share of hosted and room-rental formats than in most comparable markets. Channel distribution is Airbnb-dominant: 13,486 Airbnb-only listings, 5,656 cross-listed, and only 980 VRBO-only. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom units dominate with 11,396 listings, reflecting the apartment-heavy inventory mix. 2-bedroom (4,304) and 3-bedroom (2,184) units follow.
The market’s overall score of 50.34 is anchored by a strong seasonality score (83.90) and solid rental demand (78.25), but investability (49.76) and revenue growth (46.64) are more modest, reflecting the high home values relative to STR revenue.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52% | $118 | $1,792 |
| Feb | 59% | $118 | $1,810 |
| Mar | 70% | $143 | $2,663 |
| Apr | 67% | $150 | $2,777 |
| May | 70% | $148 | $2,806 |
| Jun | 75% | $149 | $2,947 |
| Jul | 72% | $138 | $2,713 |
| Aug | 66% | $138 | $2,545 |
| Sep | 66% | $136 | $2,452 |
| Oct | 69% | $146 | $2,784 |
| Nov | 60% | $135 | $2,277 |
| Dec | 58% | $130 | $2,152 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Arlington
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blueground | 664 | 514 | ★ 4.36 |
| 2 | WeHost | 373 | 6,479 | ★ 4.28 |
| 3 | Sojourn | 323 | 13,478 | ★ 4.75 |
| 4 | Global Luxury Suites | 231 | 2,897 | ★ 4.20 |
| 5 | Evolve | 223 | 5,141 | ★ 4.39 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Arlington?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 11,396 |
| 2 bed | 4,304 |
| 3 bed | 2,184 |
| 4 bed | 1,234 |
| 5 bed | 915 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $222 |
| Luxury | $391 |
| Professionally Managed | $223 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,550 |
| Entire Place | $4,187 |
| House | $3,462 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 67% |
| vrbo | 4.9% |
| both | 28.1% |
Investment Analysis
Arlington STR investment is constrained by both the regulatory framework and the cost structure. The primary-residence requirement means non-resident investors cannot legally operate an accessory homestay permit here — the host must live in the property as their primary residence at least 185 days per year. This is the most important filter for prospective investors.
Typical home value as of April 2026 was $825,820, with a median sale price of $710,667. The sale-to-list ratio of 1.184 indicates that properties regularly close above list price; median days to pending is 7. This is a competitive market.
At $3,504 average monthly revenue in April 2026, annualized revenue projects to approximately $42,053. Against the typical home value of $825,820, the implied gross yield is approximately 5.1%. This is modest relative to most STR markets and reflects the very high entry cost. The investability score of 49.76 reflects this compression.
The tier gap is notable: luxury-tier listings averaged $391/night versus $185 for all listings, more than doubling the market ADR. Professionally managed listings averaged $223/night, a 21% premium. Entire-home listings averaged $222/night. For an owner-occupant who can legally operate here, optimizing toward the luxury tier can materially improve yield relative to the all-market baseline.
An unusual feature of this market: apartment listings average $3,550/month, slightly above house listings at $3,462/month, reflecting the premium placed on well-located DC-area apartments for shorter business and government-sector stays.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Arlington bookings average a 36.54-day lead time as of April 2026, consistent with a government and business travel market where guests typically plan roughly 5 weeks in advance. This is close to the market norms for the broader DC metro area.
Average length of stay is 4.80 nights, above the national average and reflecting the significant share of multi-night business, government, and military travel in the market. This longer stay reduces turnover frequency and associated cleaning costs.
For peak demand periods (spring cherry blossom season in late March and early April, major congressional hearings or national events, and summer tourist season), booking windows may compress for last-minute availability. Operators who open their calendars early and use dynamic pricing for the March-April and June windows can capture the pricing premium from advance-planning travelers.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Arlington County regulates STRs under an Accessory Homestay framework, first adopted in December 2016 and revised January 2017. The most important restriction for prospective operators: the host must use the property as their primary residence, occupying it at least 185 days per year. Both owner-occupants and renters (tenants) may apply, but non-resident investors cannot legally operate an accessory homestay.
A biennial Accessory Homestay Permit is required, with a $63 filing fee, obtained from the County Zoning Administrator. Hosts must also obtain a county business license from the Commissioner of the Revenue. Before a permit is issued, certified-mail notification must be sent to all immediately adjacent neighbors and, in multifamily buildings, to across-the-hall units and units directly above and below. A 24/7 local contact within 30 miles must be designated.
STRs are permitted by right across all residential and commercial zoning districts. In multifamily buildings, the greater of one unit or 25% of total building units may operate STRs concurrently. Guest occupancy is capped at the greater of 6 persons or 2 per bedroom, with a hard maximum of 12. Individual stays must be under 30 days. There is no annual cap on total rental nights. Commercial events, weddings, and parties are prohibited.
Transient Occupancy Tax is 8.25%, composed of a 5% local base, 0.25% local tourism levy, and 3% Northern Virginia assessment. Since 2022, platforms like Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit this tax directly; hosts no longer carry the remittance obligation individually.
Market Comparison
Arlington’s $185 ADR is below the US median STR ADR of approximately $220, reflecting the dominance of 1-bedroom apartment units in the inventory mix. However, its 69.2% occupancy is well above the national median of approximately 55%, producing a RevPAR of $128.15 that is competitive with markets commanding higher ADR.
The primary-residence requirement effectively caps the investor market, which accounts for the modest revenue growth (46.64 score) and investability (49.76 score) relative to markets where non-resident operators are unrestricted.
Professional management is substantial here. Blueground leads with 664 listings and 514 reviews (4.359 average rating), operating primarily in the furnished corporate apartment segment. WeHost holds 373 listings with 6,479 reviews (4.284 rating). Sojourn has 323 listings with 13,478 reviews (4.750 rating), the highest rating among the top operators. Together the top three operators hold 1,360 listings, or approximately 6.8% of the estimated 20,122 active listings. The operators here skew toward corporate and furnished-apartment management models rather than traditional vacation rental management.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arlington, Virginia
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What permit is required for an STR in Arlington, VA?
What is the average daily rate for STRs in Arlington, VA?
What is the Transient Occupancy Tax for Arlington STRs?
What is the occupancy cap for Arlington STR guests?
What is the average monthly STR revenue in Arlington, VA?
What drives STR demand in Arlington, VA?
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