Elberta, Alabama Short-Term Rental Market
Elberta, AL sits in the Baldwin County STR market averaging $402/night at 64.0% occupancy in May 2026.
Quick Answer: Elberta, Alabama is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 82%. average monthly revenue is $11,156. average daily rate is $495.
Market data reflects the Gulf Shores/Mobile regional market, which includes Elberta. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Elberta.
Market Overview
Elberta is a small inland town of approximately 2,293 residents in coastal Baldwin County, Alabama, located roughly 15 miles north of the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach beaches. It is not a primary beachfront destination but participates in the broader Alabama Gulf Coast tourism market and draws visitors on its own through the Original German Sausage Festival, held twice yearly in March and October, with roughly 20,000 attendees per event.
The STR data for Elberta reflects the Baldwin County regional market. In May 2026, the regional market recorded an average daily rate of $402 and occupancy of 64.0%, producing a RevPAR of $257 and average monthly revenue of $6,876 per active listing. Year-over-year, occupancy slipped 0.54 percentage points, ADR declined 1.44%, and revenue fell 1.22% versus May 2025, all modest changes consistent with incremental supply normalization.
Breakdown by listing type and bedroom count is not available in the current data snapshot. The regional market has grown from an average monthly revenue of $2,283 in 2017 to approximately $5,290 in 2025, an increase of roughly 132% over eight years.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $198 | $1,985 |
| Feb | 64% | $208 | $2,589 |
| Mar | 69% | $293 | $4,489 |
| Apr | 49% | $297 | $4,090 |
| May | 63% | $335 | $5,372 |
| Jun | 80% | $396 | $8,308 |
| Jul | 79% | $362 | $7,688 |
| Aug | 54% | $297 | $4,604 |
| Sep | 52% | $261 | $3,701 |
| Oct | 53% | $248 | $3,502 |
| Nov | 34% | $225 | $2,194 |
| Dec | 30% | $221 | $1,901 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Elberta?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $498 |
| Luxury | $679 |
| Professionally Managed | $557 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $10,705 |
| Entire Place | $11,247 |
| House | $12,564 |
Investment Analysis
The Baldwin County regional STR market has delivered consistent long-run revenue growth. Average monthly revenue rose from $2,283 in 2017 to $5,290 in 2025. The 2025 annual average ADR of $328 reflects a step-up from $279 in 2022, though it has eased in early 2026 as the market normalizes.
Elberta specifically is considered investor-friendly: no owner-occupancy requirement, no night cap, and a modest regulatory hurdle (annual business license). Investors acquiring in Elberta rather than beachfront Gulf Shores can expect lower acquisition costs while still accessing the same regional visitor demand.
Housing price data for Elberta is not available in the current snapshot, so a gross yield estimate cannot be computed here. Tier-level ADR data (entire-home, luxury, professionally managed) and subtype revenue breakdowns are not available in this data pull. The year-over-year declines in May 2026 (ADR -1.44%, occupancy -0.54 pp, revenue -1.22%) are narrow and do not indicate structural demand weakness in the region.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Booking lead time and average length-of-stay data are not available in the current data snapshot for this market. In the broader Gulf Coast region, peak summer bookings for the June to July window typically see lead times of 4 to 8 weeks, while the winter trough months see much shorter booking windows, often under 2 weeks.
Elberta’s German Sausage Festival (last Saturday of March and October) draws approximately 20,000 attendees each, creating two predictable demand spikes outside the summer peak. Operators should consider minimum-night exceptions and rate premiums around those festival weekends to capture the short-duration, high-density demand.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Elberta is considered a low-restriction environment for short-term rentals. The town has no dedicated STR ordinance, no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, and no cap on annual rental nights. Operators need an annual Town of Elberta business license, required of all businesses operating within town limits or the police jurisdiction.
On taxes, hosts must register and remit Alabama’s 4% state lodging tax (Baldwin County falls outside the Mountain Lakes region) plus Baldwin County’s 2% county lodging tax, for a 6% combined baseline. A separate municipal lodging tax may also apply; operators should confirm the current combined rate directly with the Town (251-986-5995) and the Alabama Department of Revenue. The occupancy_tax_pct in available data reflects the 6% combined rate.
No STR-specific zoning ordinance has been identified for Elberta town limits. The Baldwin County Land Development Code Section 16-75 governs unincorporated county areas and does not apply to properties inside Elberta. Enforcement is classified as minimal. Permit cost is not published in available sources.
Market Comparison
The Baldwin County regional STR market, in which Elberta participates, recorded 64.0% occupancy and a $402 ADR in May 2026. Both figures are above US national median benchmarks of approximately 55% occupancy and $220 ADR, positioning the region as an above-average performer nationally.
Elberta itself is a smaller, inland submarket of Baldwin County and may see lower absolute listing counts and activity than Gulf Shores or Orange Beach. Top property manager data is not available for this market in the current snapshot, so operator concentration specific to Elberta cannot be reported.
Frequently Asked Questions About Elberta, Alabama
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