Vail, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Vail requires a town STR license (about 2,506 active) plus $1M insurance; June 2026 averaged $519/night at 49.4% occupancy.
Quick Answer: Vail, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Vail/Avon market area is 49%. average monthly revenue in the Vail/Avon market area is $4,865. average daily rate in the Vail/Avon market area is $519. the top operator in the Vail/Avon market area is Vacasa with 386 listings. market score is 40/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Vail/Avon regional market, which includes Vail. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Vail.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Vail requires a Town of Vail Short-Term Rental License before any residential unit can be advertised or rented for stays under 30 days, under a comprehensive ordinance in effect since January 1, 2023. As of May 2024 there were about 2,506 licensed STRs town-wide, concentrated in Vail Village, Lionshead and Cascade. The town imposes no zoning-district restrictions specific to STRs and no cap on the number of licenses, but individual HOAs and condo associations can and often do impose their own private restrictions, which investors should check separately from town rules.
In June 2026, Vail’s STR market averaged 49.4% occupancy and a $519 ADR, producing $4,865 in average monthly revenue per listing. Year over year, occupancy is down 7.4 points and revenue is down 7.3%, even though ADR rose 5.5%, a sign fewer nights are being booked at higher prices this shoulder season.
Vail’s seasonal swing is the most extreme in this batch: winter months (January-March) run $862-922 ADR and generate $11,413-14,668 in monthly revenue, while the April-May and September-October shoulder seasons (‘mud season’) collapse to as low as 18.6% occupancy and $3,394 in monthly revenue.
Vail is one of North America’s premier ski destinations, with Vail Mountain the largest single ski mountain in North America (5,000+ skiable acres). A strong second season has grown around summer hiking, mountain biking and festivals, supported by 350,000+ acres of surrounding White River National Forest. The permanent population of about 4,500 is dwarfed by peak-season visitor volume; StaySTRA does not have a city-specific annual visitor count, though the wider Vail Valley draws an estimated 2.8 million visitors a year.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 54% |
| Feb | 64% |
| Mar | 61% |
| Apr | 19% |
| May | 31% |
| Jun | 52% |
| Jul | 57% |
| Aug | 43% |
| Sep | 36% |
| Oct | 25% |
| Nov | 34% |
| Dec | 60% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Vail are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Vail/Avon market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Vail/Avon market as a whole, which includes Vail, so these counts are not Vail-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 386 | 13,357 | ★ 4.63 |
| 2 | East West Destination Hospitality | 260 | 1,441 | ★ 4.90 |
| 3 | The Charter | 253 | 247 | ★ 4.59 |
| 4 | Gondola Resorts | 184 | 154 | ★ 4.57 |
| 5 | CoralTree Residences | 173 | 3,027 | ★ 4.80 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Vail?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Vail 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 | 17% |
| vrbo | 10% |
| both | 73% |
Home Value Trends (Vail)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Vail 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 Vail — 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
Vail explicitly permits short-term rentals (any residential dwelling or room leased under 30 consecutive days) but requires an approved Short-Term Rental License before advertising or operating, under a comprehensive ordinance in effect since January 1, 2023. Applications are filed online through the MuniRevs/town portal.
The standard registration fee is $260, reduced to $50 for properties with 24/7 on-site management. New registrations must pass a life-safety inspection, which should be scheduled at least 60 days before the intended rental start date. Every STR must designate a natural-person local representative who stays within a 60-minute travel distance and is reachable 24/7. Owners must carry at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance.
There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, no cap on the number of licenses, and no explicit annual night limit. As of the current ordinance, Vail applies no zoning-district restrictions specific to STRs; they are broadly permitted across residential zones town-wide. As of May 2024 there were about 2,506 licensed STRs, heavily concentrated in Vail Village, Lionshead, and Cascade. Individual HOAs and condo associations may impose their own private restrictions independent of town rules.
Licenses are renewed annually; all current licenses were due for renewal by February 28, 2026. Taxes on STR stays total roughly 10.8%, about 9.4% combined state, county, RTA and town sales tax plus a 1.4% Vail Local Marketing District lodging tax. Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit these on marketplace bookings; owners must remit directly on their own bookings.
A November 2025 ballot measure to add a 6% STR excise tax (which would have raised the total to 16.8%) narrowly failed, so the 10.8% rate remains current.
Market Comparison
National benchmarks put the median U.S. short-term rental market at roughly 55% occupancy and a $220 ADR. Vail runs below the occupancy benchmark but far above the ADR benchmark, at 49.4% occupancy and a $519 ADR in June 2026 (itself a shoulder-adjacent month), reflecting Vail’s identity as a premium, high-ADR destination rather than a high-occupancy, budget market.
Vail’s roughly $1,747,500 typical home value is far above Tulsa’s ($222,900) or Tuscaloosa’s ($231,700) in this batch, which is why Vail’s estimated gross yield (about 4.9%) runs lower than either despite dramatically higher nightly rates; high revenue per night does not automatically mean a high percentage return when entry cost is this elevated.
Vacasa leads local property managers with 386 listings and a 4.63 rating, followed by East West Destination Hospitality (260 listings, a 4.90 rating), The Charter (253 listings), Gondola Resorts (184 listings), and CoralTree Residences (173 listings, a 4.80 rating); together the top five hold roughly 1,256 listings, a meaningfully consolidated operator landscape typical of a major resort market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vail, Colorado
Do I need a license to run a short-term rental in Vail?
Is there a cap on the number of short-term rentals allowed in Vail?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Vail?
Did Vail recently vote on a new short-term rental tax?
What is the gross rental yield for a typical Vail STR?
When is peak season for short-term rentals in Vail?
Does Vail require owner-occupancy for a short-term rental license?
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