Lake Havasu City, Arizona Short-Term Rental Market
Lake Havasu City STRs averaged $227/night at 52.7% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 3,400 active listings.
Quick Answer: Lake Havasu City, Arizona is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Lake Havasu/Kingman market area is 50%. average monthly revenue in the Lake Havasu/Kingman market area is $3,912. average daily rate in the Lake Havasu/Kingman market area is $275. the top operator in the Lake Havasu/Kingman market area is Evolve with 306 listings. market score is 45/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Lake Havasu/Kingman regional market, which includes Lake Havasu City. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lake Havasu City.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Lake Havasu City, Arizona is a water-recreation destination on the Colorado River with an estimated 835,000 annual visitors and a population of approximately 57,000 permanent residents. The city draws spring break visitors, winter snowbirds, boaters, and off-road enthusiasts year-round. Its short-term rental market is anchored by about 3,400 to 3,418 active listings, making it a moderately sized STR market by national standards.
In April 2026, the average daily rate was $227 and occupancy was 52.7%, generating $120 in revenue per available room. Year-over-year performance showed marginal occupancy growth of 0.11 percentage points, a slight ADR decline of 1.70%, and net revenue growth of 2.67%.
Entire-place listings dominate at 3,313 (97% of the market), with 105 private rooms. The bedroom mix centers on three-bedroom properties (1,611 listings), followed by two-bedroom (579), four-bedroom (517), and one-bedroom (513), with 194 listings at five or more bedrooms. Three-bedroom homes represent 47% of the market, reflecting the group and extended-stay character of lake and river recreation demand.
Channel distribution shows strong dual-platform presence: 1,845 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 1,292 on Airbnb only, and 281 on VRBO only. The 54% dual-platform rate suggests active distribution management across channels. The overall market score of 44.5 out of 100 and investability score of 68.9 reflect a functional but not standout investment market relative to top-tier national vacation destinations.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 59% |
| Feb | 70% |
| Mar | 72% |
| Apr | 53% |
| May | 46% |
| Jun | 55% |
| Jul | 57% |
| Aug | 45% |
| Sep | 39% |
| Oct | 41% |
| Nov | 42% |
| Dec | 43% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Lake Havasu City are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lake Havasu/Kingman market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Lake Havasu/Kingman market as a whole, which includes Lake Havasu City, so these counts are not Lake Havasu City-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 306 | 12,409 | ★ 4.75 |
| 2 | Desert Concierge Management | 86 | 3,385 | ★ 4.81 |
| 3 | StayEasyLLC | 68 | 2,968 | ★ 4.88 |
| 4 | Integrity Arizona Real Estate Sales | 60 | 785 | ★ 4.65 |
| 5 | Help U Sell Real Estate | 39 | 248 | ★ 4.61 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lake Havasu City?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Lake Havasu City 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 | 37.8% |
| vrbo | 8.2% |
| both | 54% |
Home Value Trends (Lake Havasu City)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Lake Havasu City 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 Lake Havasu City — 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
Lake Havasu City regulates short-term rentals under City Code Chapter 5.20 (Ordinance No. 16-1142), effective March 1, 2023. Any residential property rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days must obtain a city Vacation Rental Permit for each property before being listed or offered for rent. The permit costs $250 per year and renews annually.
To qualify, owners must hold a valid Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax license, provide proof of neighbor notification of intent to rent, carry insurance, provide a 24/7 emergency contact, and acknowledge Chapter 5.20. The permit number and TPT number must be displayed on all listings and advertisements. Failing to display permit information can result in a $250 fine. Operating without a permit entirely can draw fines of approximately $500 per day.
The combined lodging tax is 10.5%: 5.5% state transient lodging tax plus a combined 5.0% in city hotel and motel taxes. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no cap on annual rental nights. Arizona state law bars municipalities from banning STRs or restricting them by zoning, so non-owner-occupied investor properties are explicitly permitted. Private HOA or CC&R restrictions may still apply independently of city rules. Enforcement is rated moderate, focused on nuisance complaints such as noise, parking, and trash.
Market Comparison
Nationally, STR markets average approximately 55% occupancy and $220 in ADR. Lake Havasu City’s April 2026 occupancy of 52.7% is modestly below the national average, while the $227 ADR is slightly above the national median. The market’s unique seasonal profile means occupancy in February and March (70% to 72%) is well above national norms, while October through December falls well below.
Revenue growth of 2.67% year-over-year is positive but below the pace of top-performing resort markets. The revenue growth score of 52.5 out of 100 places the market in the moderate range nationally, suggesting neither strong tailwinds nor headwinds for established operators.
Evolve leads the Lake Havasu City market with 306 listings and 12,409 reviews at a 4.75 average rating, accounting for roughly 9% of the market. Desert Concierge Management holds 86 listings with 3,385 reviews (4.81 rating). StayEasyLLC manages 68 listings with 2,968 reviews and a 4.88 rating. The top three operators together account for 460 listings, approximately 13.5% of the estimated market. The 696 for-sale properties and modest market concentration suggest meaningful room for new operators to enter or scale, compared to more consolidated resort markets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Havasu City, Arizona
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