Foley, Alabama Short-Term Rental Market
The Alabama Gulf Coast STR market posted a $339 ADR, 56.4% occupancy and $5,092 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Foley, Alabama is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Gulf Shores/Mobile market area is 56%. average monthly revenue in the Gulf Shores/Mobile market area is $5,092. average daily rate in the Gulf Shores/Mobile market area is $339. the top operator in the Gulf Shores/Mobile market area is Vacasa with 1,878 listings. market score is 82/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Gulf Shores/Mobile regional market, which includes Foley. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Foley.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers the Alabama Gulf Coast STR market, the region that includes Foley and the nearby beach towns of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Every performance figure below refers to that regional market rather than to Foley alone. Foley itself is a city of 28,043 residents in Baldwin County, just inland from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. It works as a shopping and entertainment hub, anchored by OWA Parks & Resort, a 520-acre theme park and indoor waterpark, and Tanger Outlets Foley with more than 120 retailers. The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival adds a draw each May.
As of September 2026 the Alabama Gulf Coast STR market averaged an ADR of $339 and occupancy of 56.4%, producing average monthly revenue of $5,092 per listing. Year over year, occupancy is up 12.5%, ADR is up 4.9% and revenue is up 11.0%. Entire-home listings averaged $341 per night, slightly above the all-listings figure. Across the first nine months of 2026 the region has averaged 63.5% occupancy, a $356 ADR and $6,229 in monthly revenue, ahead of the full-year 2025 figures of 56.3%, $327 and $5,304. Summed across the seasonal calendar, annualized revenue comes to $51,033 per listing.
The longer record shows steady growth. In 2017 the market averaged 38.6% occupancy, a $211 ADR and $2,282 in monthly revenue. Occupancy reached 62.9% in 2021, and ADR stepped up from $271 in 2023 to $328 in 2024. Bedroom, booking channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Foley, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 39% |
| Feb | 64% |
| Mar | 69% |
| Apr | 49% |
| May | 64% |
| Jun | 80% |
| Jul | 80% |
| Aug | 54% |
| Sep | 52% |
| Oct | 53% |
| Nov | 34% |
| Dec | 30% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Foley are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Gulf Shores/Mobile market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Gulf Shores/Mobile market as a whole, which includes Foley, so these counts are not Foley-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 1,878 | 81,402 | ★ 4.37 |
| 2 | Brett Robinson Vacation Rentals | 1,775 | 15,937 | ★ 4.53 |
| 3 | Liquid Life | 898 | 23,604 | ★ 4.59 |
| 4 | My Beach Getaways | 443 | 10,896 | ★ 4.58 |
| 5 | Beachball Properties | 420 | 13,232 | ★ 4.62 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Foley?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Foley 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 | 14.9% |
| vrbo | 17.8% |
| both | 67.3% |
Home Value Trends (Foley)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Foley 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 Foley — 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
Short-term rentals are legal in Foley, but they are regulated through a structured city process. An operator must first obtain a City of Foley business license, which covers all of that owner’s STRs in the city, and then apply for a separate Short Term Rental Permit for each individual rental unit. Applications are submitted online through the city’s CitizenServe portal. Each permit requires designating an owner, a property manager, a 24-hour contact and an emergency contact, which the city shares with Police and Fire. The city must approve the application and the Fire Inspector must complete a fire and safety inspection before the license and permits are issued. The business license renews annually, and gross STR revenue is reported each year.
There is no owner-occupancy requirement and no primary-residence requirement, so non-resident owners may operate. Zoning is handled under city rules, and operators should confirm a property’s zoning with Planning and Zoning before starting. HOA, condo and subdivision covenants often impose their own restrictions, so check those separately.
Operators must collect and remit lodging tax. Foley’s municipal lodging tax is 7%. Adding Alabama’s 4% state lodging tax and Baldwin County’s 2% lodging tax brings the all-in rate paid by guests to about 13%. No cap on nights per year was found in the city’s published instructions. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. The city’s current online instructions are dated January 2024, and no major ordinance change was identified in recent years.
Market Comparison
Occupancy is up 12.5% year over year and revenue is up 11.0%, so the market is gaining ground. The tradeoff is seasonality. This coast swings from 30.4% occupancy in December to 80.4% in June, so an investor needs to plan for a concentrated earning season.
As noted above, operator rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Foley, so this profile omits them. Buyers weighing Foley against beach towns should compare entry cost as well. Foley’s typical home value is $302,708 and inland location, with attractions such as OWA Parks & Resort and Tanger Outlets Foley, gives it a demand base that does not depend only on beach access.
Frequently Asked Questions About Foley, Alabama
What is the average Airbnb ADR in the Foley, Alabama area?
What is the occupancy rate for short-term rentals in the Foley area?
Do you need a permit to run a short-term rental in Foley, AL?
What lodging taxes apply to STR stays in Foley?
Do I have to live in my Foley short-term rental?
What is the best month to earn STR revenue near Foley?
What does a home cost in Foley for an STR investor?
Analyze Foley Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Foley.
Free Foley STR Calculator →
