Ocala, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Ocala STR market averaged $154/night at 49.1% occupancy in April 2026, with strong equestrian and springs-driven demand across roughly 2,200 listings.
Quick Answer: Ocala, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 49%. average monthly revenue is $2,230. average daily rate is $154. the top operator is Evolve with 105 listings. market score is 64/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Ocala, Florida short-term rental market is a mid-size destination shaped by two distinct demand drivers: the World Equestrian Center (the largest equestrian complex in the United States) and a network of natural springs including Silver Springs State Park and Ocala National Forest. The market totals approximately 2,185 active listings, of which 1,990 are entire-place listings, 190 are private rooms, and 5 are shared rooms.
In April 2026, the market averaged $154 per night with 49.1% occupancy, producing average monthly revenue of $2,230 per listing. RevPAR was $76. Year-over-year trends are essentially flat: occupancy rose 1.2 percentage points, ADR edged down less than 0.1%, and revenue grew 0.9% — a stable but low-growth trajectory.
By bedroom count, three-bedroom properties lead the market at 724 listings, followed by one-bedrooms at 642, two-bedrooms at 534, four-bedrooms at 240, and five-bedrooms at 41. The channel mix skews heavily toward Airbnb: 1,179 listings are Airbnb-only, 870 appear on both platforms, and 136 are VRBO-only. Market scores highlight Ocala’s strengths: seasonality rates at 88.18 (indicating relatively consistent year-round demand), investability at 83.37, and a total market score of 63.99 — above average relative to comparable mid-size Florida markets.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63% | $129 | $2,212 |
| Feb | 76% | $135 | $2,537 |
| Mar | 70% | $139 | $2,709 |
| Apr | 50% | $135 | $1,980 |
| May | 49% | $129 | $1,771 |
| Jun | 57% | $141 | $2,116 |
| Jul | 58% | $139 | $2,242 |
| Aug | 48% | $128 | $1,780 |
| Sep | 47% | $123 | $1,582 |
| Oct | 49% | $126 | $1,712 |
| Nov | 53% | $135 | $1,848 |
| Dec | 53% | $140 | $2,078 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Ocala
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 105 | 2,667 | ★ 4.70 |
| 2 | Lake Kerr Rentals | 30 | 182 | ★ 4.91 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 13 | 145 | ★ 4.29 |
| 4 | H&H Vacation Rentals | 13 | 391 | ★ 4.88 |
| 5 | Landing | 10 | 1 | ★ 1.50 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Ocala?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 642 |
| 2 bed | 534 |
| 3 bed | 724 |
| 4 bed | 240 |
| 5 bed | 41 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $163 |
| Luxury | $273 |
| Professionally Managed | $169 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,838 |
| Entire Place | $2,344 |
| House | $2,415 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 54% |
| vrbo | 6.2% |
| both | 39.8% |
Investment Analysis
Ocala’s entry cost is among the lowest of Florida’s major STR markets. Typical home values sit at $269,002 (Zillow, April 2026), while average monthly STR revenue was $2,230 in April 2026. Annualizing produces approximately $26,760 per year, implying a gross STR yield of roughly 9.9% before operating expenses, management fees, and taxes.
Property type drives meaningful revenue differences. Houses generated $2,415 per month versus $1,838 for apartments, a $577 monthly spread. The entire-place segment averaged $2,344. The professionally managed tier averaged $169 per night versus $154 for the overall market, a $15/night premium. The luxury tier averaged $273 per night.
The investability score of 83.37 is one of the stronger signals in this data, and the seasonal consistency score of 88.18 suggests demand is spread more evenly across the year than in pure beach or snowbird markets. Annual average occupancy has held in the 54-56% range for 2023-2025, with ADR steady at $151-$153. The 2025 annual average revenue of $2,313 closely matches 2024’s $2,328, indicating a stable revenue floor. The sale-to-list ratio of 0.839 and 58 median days to pending (April 2026) indicate a buyer’s market, which may support negotiated entry pricing. The World Equestrian Center zip code (34482) is identified in the regulatory profile as the highest-demand STR corridor.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Ocala guests book an average of 35 days in advance, notably shorter than Florida’s coastal resort markets. This compressed lead time reflects a mix of event-driven bookings (equestrian competitions, springs recreation) and regional drive-market visitors who plan shorter in advance. Average length of stay is 4.6 nights.
The shorter booking window creates both risk and opportunity for operators. Last-minute pricing adjustments can capture demand spikes around World Equestrian Center event dates, but properties left unbooked 2-3 weeks out have limited time to fill. Operators who track the equestrian event calendar and adjust minimum-stay requirements around competition dates are better positioned to capture event-premium rates. The 4.6-night average stay is shorter than Naples or Gulf Coast markets but longer than typical urban weekend markets, reflecting Ocala’s destination-tourism character.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Ocala and Marion County operate under Florida’s state preemption framework, which bars local governments from enacting outright STR bans or duration restrictions for ordinances adopted after June 1, 2011. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirements apply under either city or county rules.
Operators must obtain two licenses. A Florida DBPR Vacation Rental License is required statewide: approximately $170 per year for a single dwelling unit, plus a $50 application fee on the first application and a $10 HEP fee. Properties within the incorporated City of Ocala also require a City of Ocala Business Tax Receipt. Marion County requires separate registration for the 4% Tourist Development Tax (TDT), which applies to all rentals of six months or less. Notably, neither Airbnb nor VRBO remits this county TDT on behalf of Marion County operators; owners must register with the Marion County Tax Collector and file monthly returns.
Total tax on a guest stay is 7.5% Florida sales tax (6% state plus 1.5% local surtax, increased from 1% as of January 1, 2025) plus 4% TDT, for a combined 11.5%. There is no maximum nights-per-year cap. HOA covenants in specific communities, notably Marion Oaks, may restrict short-term use and carry independent legal weight. Operating without a DBPR license is a second-degree misdemeanor with fines up to $500 per day. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Ocala’s $154 average daily rate in April 2026 runs below the US STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the market’s inland, mid-price positioning. However, its 49.1% April occupancy is comparable to national norms for a shoulder month, and the 2025 annual average occupancy of 54.4% tracks near the national median of approximately 55%.
The market’s investability score of 83.37 and seasonality score of 88.18 are genuine competitive strengths relative to higher-cost Florida coastal markets. The gross yield of approximately 9.9% on a $269,002 typical home is more accessible to entry-level investors than markets like Naples ($549,494 entry) at a similar yield.
Evolve leads the Ocala market with 105 listings and 2,667 reviews at a 4.70 rating. Lake Kerr Rentals ranks second with 30 listings and a notably high 4.91 rating across 182 reviews, reflecting a local specialist’s strong guest satisfaction. Vacasa holds 13 listings (4.29 rating) and H&H Vacation Rentals 13 listings (4.88 rating, 391 reviews). Together, the top 4 meaningful operators (excluding Landing’s single review) manage about 161 listings, approximately 7.4% of the total market — meaning over 90% of supply is independently managed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ocala, Florida
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