Lewes, Delaware Short-Term Rental Market
Lewes, DE STRs averaged $269/night at 35.3% occupancy in April 2026; July peaks at 79% occupancy and $6,758 avg monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Lewes, Delaware is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Delaware/Maryland Beaches market area is 68%. average monthly revenue in the Delaware/Maryland Beaches market area is $6,346. average daily rate in the Delaware/Maryland Beaches market area is $409. the top operator in the Delaware/Maryland Beaches market area is Vacasa with 2,346 listings. market score is 49/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Delaware/Maryland Beaches regional market, which includes Lewes. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lewes.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Lewes is a historic Delaware coastal town at the mouth of Delaware Bay, serving as a gateway to Cape Henlopen State Park and the broader Southern Delaware beach region. As a beach-destination market, Lewes operates on sharp summer seasonality: April data shows 35.3% occupancy, while July and August average 79% and 78% respectively.
In April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $268.61 and occupancy of 35.3%, producing RevPAR of $94.77. Average monthly revenue per active listing was $2,084. Year-over-year, ADR increased 9.2%, while occupancy declined 12.5% and revenue fell 9.4%. These metrics reflect a soft April comparison to a strong prior year, not a sustained downward shift: the 2025 full-year average revenue was $3,858 per month, up from $3,728 in 2024.
The listing mix is almost exclusively entire-home properties (14,952 units), with private rooms at 154 units and shared rooms at 1. The bedroom mix skews toward 2-bedroom (4,712 units) and 3-bedroom (4,397) properties, consistent with a beach vacation rental market. One-bedroom units account for 2,126 listings and larger 4- and 5-bedroom properties represent 2,232 and 1,628 units respectively.
VRBO has a strong presence in this market (3,920 units), complemented by a large cross-listed segment (8,577 units on both platforms) and a smaller Airbnb-only pool (2,610 units).
Market scores show a revenue-growth standout (91.54) alongside moderate rental demand (47.47) and a seasonality score of 42.57 reflecting the pronounced summer concentration. The investability score is 69.59 and total market score 48.70. Note: listing counts represent the broader Sussex County/Delaware beach region served by this data feed.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 25% |
| Feb | 35% |
| Mar | 39% |
| Apr | 39% |
| May | 46% |
| Jun | 70% |
| Jul | 79% |
| Aug | 78% |
| Sep | 45% |
| Oct | 26% |
| Nov | 25% |
| Dec | 31% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Lewes are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Delaware/Maryland Beaches market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Delaware/Maryland Beaches market as a whole, which includes Lewes, so these counts are not Lewes-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 2,346 | 60,626 | ★ 4.36 |
| 2 | Coastal Resort Rentals | 355 | 1,646 | ★ 4.39 |
| 3 | Shoreline Properties | 349 | 1,861 | ★ 4.28 |
| 4 | Central Reservations | 328 | 4,890 | ★ 4.53 |
| 5 | VacayHome Connect | 312 | 593 | ★ 4.18 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lewes?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Lewes 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 | 17.3% |
| vrbo | 25.9% |
| both | 56.8% |
Home Value Trends (Lewes)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Lewes 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 Lewes — 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
Lewes regulates short-term rentals under Chapter 150 of the City Code (Rental Licensing), adopted October 10, 2022 and effective January 1, 2023. Every STR must hold a valid City of Lewes rental license; the $100 application fee covers a calendar-year term (January 1 through December 31) with annual renewal. Fees are prorated 50% for terms under three months, and licenses are non-transferable between owners or properties.
There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement in Lewes, making non-owner-occupied investment STRs permissible under current city rules.
Key operating conditions include:
– Maximum overnight occupancy is two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons (children 12 and under are not counted).
– A designated local contact must be reachable 24/7 and able to respond within two hours.
– Each rental must display its rental ID number in all advertising.
– Safety requirements include smoke and CO detectors, a fire extinguisher, and GFCI outlets near sinks.
On taxes, Lewes operators owe the city’s 5% Gross Receipts Rental Tax (GRRT), Delaware’s state lodging tax (4.5% as of January 1, 2025), and a possible Sussex County lodging tax of up to 3%. Combined taxes may reach up to approximately 12.5%. Note: at an April 8, 2025 public hearing, the city proposed raising the GRRT from 5% to 5.5%; operators should confirm the current GRRT rate with the City of Lewes before filing.
Enforcement escalates from written warning to fines to license revocation. Three repeat violations, six total notices of violation during a license term, or any revocation can bar re-licensing for 12 months.
Market Comparison
Lewes’s April 2026 occupancy of 35.3% is below the US STR median of approximately 55%, but this reflects the off-season timing for a beach market. The 2025 annual average occupancy was 44.5%, and peak months (July-August) reach 78-79%. The ADR of $269 is above the national median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium commanded by Delaware beach vacation properties.
Relative to other Mid-Atlantic beach markets, Lewes competes with Cape May, NJ, Ocean City, MD, and the Rehoboth Beach/Dewey Beach corridor within Sussex County. Its historic downtown, Cape Henlopen State Park access, and the Lewes-Cape May Ferry connection differentiate it as a more characterful option than pure-resort beach towns.
The revenue growth market score of 91.54 reflects a strong long-term ADR trend, even against near-term occupancy softness.
Among active property managers, Vacasa dominates with 2,346 listings and 60,626 reviews at a 4.36 rating. Coastal Resort Rentals operates 355 listings (4.39 rating), Shoreline Properties 349 listings (4.28), Central Reservations 328 listings (4.53), and VacayHome Connect 312 listings (4.18). The heavy Vacasa presence reflects the market consolidation typical of established East Coast beach rental corridors.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lewes, Delaware
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