Gig Harbor, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Gig Harbor STRs averaged $149/night at 57.2% occupancy in April 2026 across approximately 3,789 active listings.
Quick Answer: Gig Harbor, Washington is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 73%. average monthly revenue is $3,834. average daily rate is $205. the top operator is Evolve with 103 listings. market score is 61/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Tacoma/Olympia regional market, which includes Gig Harbor. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Gig Harbor.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Gig Harbor is a maritime community on Puget Sound in Pierce County, Washington, serving as a regional destination for Seattle-Tacoma metro visitors drawn to its historic waterfront, harbor dining, and views of Mount Rainier. The short-term rental market counts approximately 3,789 active listings, with entire-place rentals comprising 3,034 (80%), private rooms at 750, and shared rooms at 5. Channel distribution shows a strong Airbnb tilt: 2,209 listings are Airbnb-only, 1,420 appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, and 160 are VRBO-only.
As of April 2026, the market averaged $149.03 per night with a 57.2% occupancy rate, producing average monthly revenue of $2,329. RevPAR was $85.20. Year-over-year changes are modest: occupancy edged down 0.49%, ADR improved 3.62%, and revenue was essentially flat at -0.19%.
Bedroom distribution is notably skewed toward 1-bedroom units (1,733 listings), followed by 2-bedroom (830), 3-bedroom (704), 4-bedroom (353), and 5-bedroom-plus (167). Market scores rate rental demand at 82.3 out of 100 and seasonality at 75.8, with investability at 55.5 reflecting the moderate overall market score of 60.8.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55% | $121 | $1,889 |
| Feb | 61% | $128 | $1,936 |
| Mar | 62% | $125 | $2,139 |
| Apr | 62% | $123 | $2,077 |
| May | 67% | $134 | $2,381 |
| Jun | 75% | $155 | $2,948 |
| Jul | 77% | $161 | $3,344 |
| Aug | 75% | $160 | $3,299 |
| Sep | 67% | $144 | $2,608 |
| Oct | 59% | $126 | $2,107 |
| Nov | 58% | $127 | $1,949 |
| Dec | 59% | $131 | $2,131 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Gig Harbor
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 103 | 4,812 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 65 | 2,033 | ★ 4.63 |
| 3 | Amera Property Management | 25 | 641 | ★ 4.89 |
| 4 | Tip Top Management | 19 | 2,260 | ★ 4.87 |
| 5 | Blizzard Realty | 13 | 228 | ★ 4.75 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Gig Harbor?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,733 |
| 2 bed | 830 |
| 3 bed | 704 |
| 4 bed | 353 |
| 5 bed | 167 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $234 |
| Luxury | $345 |
| Professionally Managed | $285 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,088 |
| Entire Place | $4,414 |
| House | $4,067 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 58.3% |
| vrbo | 4.2% |
| both | 37.5% |
Investment Analysis
Gig Harbor’s nightly rate of $149.03 sits well below the national STR median of approximately $220, but the market benefits from consistent regional demand driven by proximity to the Seattle-Tacoma metro and the Olympic Peninsula corridor. Professionally managed properties command $192.44/night (a 29% premium over the market average), and luxury listings reach $245.15/night.
At the April 2026 average revenue of $2,329/month, annualized gross revenue projects to approximately $27,948. No current Zillow home value data is available in this dataset for Gig Harbor, so a gross yield calculation cannot be stated with confidence.
Revenue has grown steadily from $1,761/month (2017 annual average) to $2,837 (2025 annual average), a 61% increase over eight years. The post-pandemic peak was 2022 at $2,828/month, and performance has held close to that level since. ADR has risen from $111 in 2017 to $162 in 2025, while occupancy has settled from its pandemic-era high of 73.7% (2021) to 62.4% in 2025, indicating the market has normalized after the 2020-2021 surge rather than declining.
The one-permit-per-operator rule (detailed in the regulatory section) limits portfolio scaling by individual owners and may keep the supply of permitted STRs more constrained than in markets without such limits, which could support occupancy over time.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Gig Harbor guests book an average of 33.3 days in advance as of April 2026, approximately one month of lead time. This relatively short booking window compared to destination markets reflects the regional day-trip and weekend-getaway profile of the visitor base, where travelers are making spontaneous or near-term plans from Seattle and Tacoma rather than scheduling well in advance.
Average length of stay is 4.72 nights, which is above the typical national STR average. The longer stays suggest that while many guests are regional, a meaningful share are making extended trips, possibly combining Gig Harbor with Olympic Peninsula travel. The 4.7-night average also means fewer turnovers per month, reducing cleaning and coordination costs per booking.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Gig Harbor legalized short-term rentals under Ordinance 1507, effective March 8, 2023. The city defines an STR as a dwelling unit rented to guests for fewer than 30 consecutive nights and treats it as a distinct land-use type, not a home occupation.
Key requirements: operators must obtain a Type II STR permit ($650 fee), a Washington State business license, and a City of Gig Harbor business license. The permit number and city business license must be posted on every listing platform. Annual renewal requires a signed, notarized affidavit confirming ongoing compliance and a fire and safety re-inspection.
There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. STRs are permitted in all residential and commercial zones where dwelling units are allowed. However, each operator (whether an individual or an LLC/business entity) may hold only one STR permit, and permits are non-transferable to another person or address. This one-permit-per-operator limit caps portfolio growth for any single owner.
The lodging tax rate is 2% (city-level; Washington state and local sales taxes apply separately). No annual night cap is stated in the ordinance. Enforcement is classified as moderate. Live-aboard vessels are excluded from the STR definition.
The city’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan update was expected to include further review of the STR framework; operators should monitor for any changes.
Market Comparison
Gig Harbor’s ADR of $149.03 is below the national STR median of approximately $220/night, consistent with its position as a regional rather than premium-destination market. Occupancy at 57.2% is modestly above the U.S. median of approximately 55%, reflecting reliable regional demand from the Seattle-Tacoma metro.
RevPAR of $85.20 is below national averages, and revenue at $2,329/month is more consistent with a mid-tier regional market than a premium Pacific Northwest destination.
The management landscape is led by Evolve with 103 listings and 4,812 reviews (average rating 4.73), followed by Vacasa with 65 listings and 2,033 reviews (rating 4.63). Amera Property Management holds 25 listings (rating 4.89, 641 reviews), Tip Top Management has 19 listings (rating 4.87, 2,260 reviews), and Blizzard Realty manages 13 listings (rating 4.75, 228 reviews). The top 5 operators account for 225 listings, roughly 5.9% of the approximately 3,789 total market listings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gig Harbor, Washington
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