Fruita, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Fruita STRs averaged $179/night at 40.9% occupancy in May 2026, with July peak occupancy reaching 72.4%.
Quick Answer: Fruita, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Colorado Area market area is 65%. average monthly revenue in the Colorado Area market area is $4,125. average daily rate in the Colorado Area market area is $244. the top operator in the Colorado Area market area is Evolve with 552 listings. market score is 67/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Colorado Area regional market, which includes Fruita. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Fruita.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Fruita, Colorado operates under a strict citywide cap of 65 permitted short-term rentals, yet the data platform tracks a broad regional market of approximately 11,109 active listings across the Grand Junction/Western Slope corridor. The market recorded a $179 average daily rate and 40.9% occupancy in May 2026, generating average monthly revenue of $2,184 per listing. Year-over-year, all three core metrics moved higher: occupancy up 2.54 percentage points, ADR up 2.92%, and revenue up 2.39%.
The listing mix skews heavily toward entire-place rentals, which account for 10,381 of 11,109 tracked listings (93.4%). Private rooms add 723 listings; shared rooms are negligible at 5. By bedroom count, the market is well-distributed: 1-bedroom units lead at 3,557 listings, followed by 3-bedroom (3,021), 2-bedroom (2,842), 4-bedroom (1,119), and 5-bedroom-plus (550). Channel distribution shows Airbnb dominance: 4,614 Airbnb-only listings and 914 VRBO-only, with 5,581 cross-listed on both platforms. The market’s composite score of 66.7 out of 100 reflects solid rental demand (73.3) and investability (70.7) tempered by moderate seasonality and revenue growth scores.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 42% |
| Feb | 50% |
| Mar | 54% |
| Apr | 41% |
| May | 57% |
| Jun | 67% |
| Jul | 72% |
| Aug | 63% |
| Sep | 59% |
| Oct | 51% |
| Nov | 45% |
| Dec | 51% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Fruita are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Colorado Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Colorado Area market as a whole, which includes Fruita, so these counts are not Fruita-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 552 | 35,001 | ★ 4.77 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 218 | 11,513 | ★ 4.60 |
| 3 | Vacation Rental Collective | 164 | 8,344 | ★ 4.82 |
| 4 | Pinon Vacation | 111 | 8,032 | ★ 4.82 |
| 5 | VIP Vacation Services | 94 | 3,083 | ★ 4.83 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Fruita?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Fruita 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 | 41.5% |
| vrbo | 8.2% |
| both | 50.2% |
Home Value Trends (Fruita)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Fruita 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 Fruita — 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
Fruita permits short-term rentals (rentals of 28 days or fewer) but enforces a hard citywide cap of 65 units. Nearly all permitted STRs must be located within the downtown triangle bounded by Ottley Avenue, Highway 6 and 50, and Pine Street. Most neighborhoods outside the triangle are HOA-governed developments that prohibit STRs at the association level.
Operators must obtain a Short-Term Rental Permit through the city’s CloudPermit system plus an annual Business License for each property. The combined annual fee is $30 (non-refundable). Permits expire December 31; operators must update information in November and renew by December 1. Owner-occupancy is not required: properties may be operated by a property manager. There is a minimum 45-day annual rental requirement but no published maximum nights per year.
The tax burden is material: a 6% city lodging tax plus 8.27% retail sales tax applies to stays under 28 days, remitted monthly by the 20th. Operators may deduct a 3.33% collection fee. Enforcement is described as moderate: the city uses STR compliance software, and operating without a permit can result in municipal court proceedings and fines up to $1,000 per day. Permits may be revoked for false information, excessive complaints, or tax failures.
The current framework was established by Ordinance 2021-11. The city added compliance monitoring software around late 2023 or early 2024. Because the 65-unit cap is binding, prospective operators should confirm cap availability before purchasing.
Market Comparison
The US short-term rental market typically posts median occupancy around 55% and a median ADR near $220. Fruita’s May 2026 occupancy of 40.9% sits below the national median, partly reflecting a May seasonal trough for an outdoor-recreation market where July is the true peak (72.4%). The $179 ADR also trails the national median, consistent with a small-city mountain town rather than a coastal or resort destination.
The market’s total score of 66.7 is mid-tier nationally, anchored by above-average rental demand (73.3) and investability (70.7). The lower revenue growth score (64.4) signals that this market is mature rather than rapidly expanding, with single-digit YoY gains across occupancy, ADR, and revenue.
On the operator side, Evolve leads with 552 listings and a 4.77 average rating across 35,001 reviews. Vacasa manages 218 listings (4.60 rating, 11,513 reviews). Vacation Rental Collective holds 164 listings with a 4.82 rating. Pinon Vacation manages 111 listings at 4.82, and VIP Vacation Services rounds out the top five at 94 listings and a 4.83 rating. These five operators collectively manage approximately 1,139 listings, representing roughly 10% of the total tracked listing pool.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fruita, Colorado
What is the average nightly rate for a short-term rental in Fruita, CO?
How many short-term rentals are permitted in Fruita?
What is the peak season for Fruita short-term rentals?
What permits and fees are required to operate a short-term rental in Fruita?
What is the average monthly revenue for a short-term rental in Fruita?
Who are the largest short-term rental managers in the Fruita area?
How far in advance do guests typically book in Fruita?
Analyze Fruita Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Fruita.
Free Fruita STR Calculator →
