Dothan, Alabama Short-Term Rental Market
Dothan STRs averaged $198/night at 47.7% occupancy in April 2026, anchored by regional event and military tourism.
Quick Answer: Dothan, Alabama is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Alabama Area market area is 55%. average monthly revenue in the Alabama Area market area is $3,645. average daily rate in the Alabama Area market area is $245. the top operator in the Alabama Area market area is Evolve with 254 listings. market score is 77/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Alabama Area regional market, which includes Dothan. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Dothan.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Dothan, Alabama serves as the commercial and tourism center of the Wiregrass region in southeast Alabama. The STR market recorded a $197.89 average daily rate and 47.7% occupancy in April 2026, producing a RevPAR of $94.44. Average monthly revenue per listing came in at $2,531.
The Dothan STR supply totals approximately 7,599 active listings. Entire-place rentals make up the overwhelming majority at 7,252 units (95% of supply), with 346 private rooms and 1 shared room. Bedroom distribution centers on 3-bedroom properties (2,198 listings), followed by 2-bedroom (2,004) and 1-bedroom (1,883) units. Larger properties with 4 bedrooms (959 listings) and 5+ bedrooms (540 listings) serve group travel demand.
Airbnb leads platform distribution with 3,323 Airbnb-only listings, while 3,493 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO and 783 list exclusively on VRBO. Year-over-year, occupancy declined a marginal 0.95% while ADR rose 0.88% and revenue grew 2.0%, showing the market is maintaining rate discipline. The overall market score is 76.57 out of 100, with investability leading all sub-scores at 95.13.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 36% |
| Feb | 46% |
| Mar | 53% |
| Apr | 49% |
| May | 50% |
| Jun | 59% |
| Jul | 59% |
| Aug | 46% |
| Sep | 45% |
| Oct | 46% |
| Nov | 45% |
| Dec | 38% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Dothan are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Alabama Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Alabama Area market as a whole, which includes Dothan, so these counts are not Dothan-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 254 | 8,558 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Smith Lake | 65 | 556 | ★ 4.73 |
| 3 | Magnolia Linen Company | 53 | 4,687 | ★ 4.90 |
| 4 | Mentone Mountain Getaways | 45 | 3,537 | ★ 4.81 |
| 5 | 360 Destinations | 44 | 717 | ★ 4.73 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Dothan?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Dothan are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 43.7% |
| vrbo | 10.3% |
| both | 46% |
Home Value Trends (Dothan)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Dothan are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Dothan — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Dothan adopted its first formal STR framework on October 4, 2022 via Ordinances 2022-267 and 2022-268. All STRs must obtain a $100 annual city business license and remit a 14% lodging tax (4% Alabama state, 1% Houston County, and 9% city, with 4% of the city portion funding the CVB).
Two license categories apply. Short-Term Residential Rentals (STRRs) are owner-occupied single-family homes renting one or more rooms for up to 30 consecutive days, permitted by right in most residential and agricultural-commercial zones. Short-Term Commercial Rentals (STCRs) are non-owner-occupied properties rented for up to 30 days, requiring a Special Exception from the Board of Zoning Adjustment in most residential zones, though permitted by right in R-A and B-1 zones.
STCRs must maintain a 250-foot separation from other STCRs; properties registered before October 4, 2022 are grandfathered. Occupancy is capped at 2 guests per bedroom (excluding children under 12), with a 1.5x allowance for STCRs. Quiet hours are 8 PM to 7 AM. Enforcement is handled by a third-party contractor (Avenu Insights and Analytics) that actively identifies unlicensed operators. Fines reach $500 per occurrence per day for operating without a license.
Market Comparison
Dothan’s 47.7% occupancy in April 2026 runs below the national STR median of approximately 55%, and its $197.89 ADR sits below the national median of approximately $220. These numbers reflect Dothan’s profile as a mid-size regional city rather than a high-demand leisure destination.
Where Dothan stands out is in yield relative to home values. The typical home value of $205,339 is significantly below many STR markets, while revenue performance tracks closely with larger Alabama markets, producing above-average gross yields. The investability score of 95.13 reflects this.
Evolve leads the professional management market with 254 listings and 8,558 reviews at a 4.73 rating. Magnolia Linen Company operates 53 listings with the highest rating in the top group at 4.90. Smith Lake (65 listings, 4.73 rating), Mentone Mountain Getaways (45 listings, 4.81 rating), and 360 Destinations (44 listings, 4.73 rating) round out the major operators. Evolve accounts for roughly 3.3% of all active listings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dothan, Alabama
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