Lafayette, Louisiana Short-Term Rental Market
Lafayette, LA STRs averaged $146/night at 58.8% occupancy in April 2026, with one of the flattest seasonal curves in this market set.
Quick Answer: Lafayette, Louisiana is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 59%. average monthly revenue is $2,264. average daily rate is $146. the top operator is Acadiana with 110 listings. market score is 80/100 (grade B).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Lafayette is the center of Acadiana and the cultural capital of Cajun and Creole Louisiana, drawing visitors for Festival International de Louisiane (the largest non-ticketed Francophone outdoor festival in the US), Festivals Acadiens et Creoles, food tourism, and oil and gas business travel. The STR market recorded a $146 average daily rate in April 2026 at 58.8% occupancy, producing a RevPAR of $86. Year-over-year, occupancy held essentially flat (down less than 0.1%), ADR rose 8.5%, and revenue grew 5.8%.
Entire-place listings account for 868 of 1,017 active tracked listings. Private rooms add 149 listings. The bedroom mix is smaller-unit-oriented: 1-bedroom leads at 419 listings, followed by 2-bedroom (274), 3-bedroom (225), 4-bedroom (65), and 5-bedroom (32). Channel distribution is strongly Airbnb-driven: 585 Airbnb-only listings, 402 on both platforms, and just 30 VRBO-only.
The market’s seasonality score of 98.5 out of 100 reflects one of the flattest year-round demand curves in this batch of markets. Occupancy across the 12 calendar months ranges from 47.97% (January) to 57.85% (April) in the historical average, a very narrow band. This makes Lafayette a strong candidate for year-round income stability. The total market score is 80.4, with an investability score of 86.2.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48% | $97 | $1,412 |
| Feb | 57% | $105 | $1,504 |
| Mar | 58% | $109 | $1,795 |
| Apr | 58% | $114 | $1,715 |
| May | 49% | $107 | $1,515 |
| Jun | 55% | $107 | $1,605 |
| Jul | 56% | $104 | $1,651 |
| Aug | 51% | $96 | $1,407 |
| Sep | 56% | $101 | $1,501 |
| Oct | 57% | $106 | $1,666 |
| Nov | 52% | $106 | $1,555 |
| Dec | 54% | $104 | $1,617 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lafayette
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acadiana | 110 | 570 | ★ 3.59 |
| 2 | Courtesy Properties | 47 | 2,742 | ★ 4.97 |
| 3 | Lodgeful | 38 | 1,905 | ★ 4.84 |
| 4 | ReHive | 28 | 935 | ★ 4.88 |
| 5 | Acadiana Rentals | 21 | 135 | ★ 3.83 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lafayette?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 419 |
| 2 bed | 274 |
| 3 bed | 225 |
| 4 bed | 65 |
| 5 bed | 32 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $152 |
| Luxury | $212 |
| Professionally Managed | $163 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,870 |
| Entire Place | $2,417 |
| House | $2,427 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 57.5% |
| vrbo | 2.9% |
| both | 39.5% |
Investment Analysis
Lafayette offers an exceptionally low entry price point among this batch of markets. The typical home value is $225,000 as of April 2026, with a median sale price of $225,000 and a median list price of $248,000. Properties go under contract in a median of 29 days, and the sale-to-list ratio is 0.906, suggesting moderate negotiability.
Annualized revenue at the April 2026 run rate is approximately $27,167 per listing ($2,264 per month times 12). Against a typical home value of $225,000, that implies a gross yield of roughly 12.1% before expenses and the combined Louisiana tax burden. This is among the highest gross yield ratios in this batch of markets, reflecting the combination of low property values and consistent occupancy.
ADR tiers in April 2026: all-listing average is $146, entire-home listings average $152, professionally managed properties average $163 (a 12% premium), and the luxury tier averages $212 per night. Revenue by listing type: houses average $2,427 per month, entire-place listings average $2,417, and apartments average $1,870.
A critical regulatory development: the City of Lafayette enacted an ordinance in September 2023 that banned STRs in Residential Single-Family (RS) districts, effective October 6, 2024. RS districts cover approximately 75% of the city’s residential land. This means a significant portion of previously operating STR inventory has been removed from the legal market, and new investors must verify zoning before purchase.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Lafayette STR bookings average a lead time of 53 days, reflecting a mix of festival travelers who book one to two months ahead and business travelers who book closer to their stay. The major festivals (Festival International in April, Festivals Acadiens et Creoles in October) drive the longest lead times, with peak festival weekend dates often reserved 60 to 90 days in advance.
Average length of stay is 3.6 nights, consistent with a mix of short weekend and extended business stays. At 3.6 nights and 58.8% occupancy, a property handles approximately five to six bookings per month on average throughout the year. The flat seasonal profile means operators can expect relatively consistent booking velocity year-round, unlike coastal markets where the summer fills instantly and winter drags.
Operators should adjust minimum stay requirements around major festivals (raise to three or four nights during Festival International week) while keeping minimums at one or two nights during weekday and off-festival periods to maintain consistent occupancy.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Lafayette adopted its short-term rental ordinance on September 5, 2023, with the licensing program effective January 1, 2024 and full enforcement of the ban in Residential Single-Family (RS) zones beginning October 6, 2024. STRs are prohibited in RS districts (approximately 75% of residential land), Industrial, and Public districts.
STRs are permitted as an accessory use in Residential-Mixed (RM), mixed-use, and commercial zones, subject to a cap of four guest rooms with a maximum of two persons per room in RM zones. Paid events and private parties are prohibited in RM zones. Owner-occupancy and primary residence are required.
Operators must obtain a Short-Term Rental License plus a Sales and Use Tax license from the City-Parish. The license fee is $100 (non-refundable, non-transferable) for a two-year term. Each STR must designate a local STR Agent reachable 24 hours a day who can respond within 30 to 60 minutes. Licenses are non-transferable between properties or owners. There is no annual rental night cap. Operating without a required permit in restricted zones carries fines of $500 to $1,000 per day; revoked permits cannot be reissued for one to two years.
Lafayette Parish levies a 4% hotel occupancy tax on STR bookings, on top of the 4.45% Louisiana state sales tax and applicable parish and city sales taxes. Operators must register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Lafayette’s $146 ADR is below the US STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the market’s positioning as an affordable Cajun cultural destination rather than a premium resort or coastal market. At 58.8% occupancy, Lafayette exceeds the US annual median of approximately 55%, demonstrating strong baseline demand.
The total market score of 80.4 and investability score of 86.2 reflect a favorable investment profile, particularly given the low property cost basis. The seasonality score of 98.5 is exceptional and sets Lafayette apart from most STR markets as a year-round income generator.
Acadiana leads the Lafayette operator market with 110 listings and 570 reviews at a 3.59 average rating. Courtesy Properties manages 47 listings with 2,742 reviews at a near-perfect 4.97. Lodgeful has 38 listings with 1,905 reviews at 4.84. ReHive holds 28 listings with 935 reviews at 4.88. Acadiana Rentals rounds out the top five with 21 listings and a 3.83 rating. The top five collectively manage 244 listings, a relatively small operator concentration in this urban market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lafayette, Louisiana
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