Bokeelia, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Bokeelia STRs averaged $301/night at 48.8% occupancy in April 2026, with a strong winter peak serving Pine Island's fishing and eco-tourism market.
Quick Answer: Bokeelia, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 49%. average monthly revenue is $4,163. average daily rate is $301. the top operator is Roelens Realty & Property Management with 611 listings. market score is 48/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bokeelia is a fishing village on the northern tip of Pine Island in unincorporated Lee County, Florida, drawing visitors seeking authentic Gulf Coast fishing, kayaking, shelling, and eco-tourism rather than the resort beaches of nearby Cape Coral and Fort Myers. As of April 2026, the average daily rate is $301, occupancy is 48.8%, and RevPAR is $147. Year-over-year, occupancy declined 2.9 percentage points while ADR rose 4.9%, producing essentially flat revenue (-0.2%) versus April 2025.
The market draws approximately 3.32 million annual visitors to the Pine Island area. The STR inventory is predominantly entire-place vacation homes and cottages suited to fishing charters, boating vacations, and nature getaways. Listing types skew heavily toward entire-place properties given the rural character of Bokeelia and Pine Island.
Lee County permits STRs without a local permit beyond the state-level DBPR license, making it one of the more accessible Florida markets for operators. Florida state preemption protects against new local restrictions.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67% | $231 | $3,722 |
| Feb | 82% | $256 | $4,514 |
| Mar | 80% | $280 | $5,315 |
| Apr | 53% | $250 | $3,530 |
| May | 50% | $215 | $2,892 |
| Jun | 60% | $242 | $3,561 |
| Jul | 62% | $230 | $3,724 |
| Aug | 44% | $205 | $2,661 |
| Sep | 40% | $188 | $2,061 |
| Oct | 52% | $206 | $2,453 |
| Nov | 59% | $210 | $2,778 |
| Dec | 61% | $241 | $3,292 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Bokeelia
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roelens Realty & Property Management | 611 | 8,126 | ★ 4.58 |
| 2 | Evolve | 445 | 11,614 | ★ 4.62 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 312 | 4,497 | ★ 4.45 |
| 4 | Sun Palace | 278 | 3,965 | ★ 4.60 |
| 5 | Royal Shell Vacations | 251 | 1,889 | ★ 4.64 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bokeelia?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,310 |
| 2 bed | 5,474 |
| 3 bed | 7,116 |
| 4 bed | 3,013 |
| 5 bed | 814 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $308 |
| Luxury | $546 |
| Professionally Managed | $365 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,766 |
| Entire Place | $4,249 |
| House | $4,382 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 22.2% |
| vrbo | 16.9% |
| both | 60.9% |
Investment Analysis
Bokeelia offers an accessible entry point to Florida’s Gulf Coast STR market. At a typical home value of $381,491 and April 2026 average monthly revenue of $4,163, annualized gross revenue is approximately $49,959, implying a gross revenue yield of roughly 13.1%.
The median list price of $526,133 is 38% above the typical Zillow value, indicating that listed inventory skews toward waterfront and canal-front properties commanding access premiums. The flat year-over-year revenue (-0.2%) suggests a market in equilibrium rather than growth mode.
ADR tiers show upside at the premium end: entire-home listings average $308 versus $301 overall, professionally managed properties average $365 (a 21% premium), and luxury-tier listings reach $546 per night. Houses generate $4,382 per month versus apartments at $3,766, a 16% gap. The professionally managed premium of 21% reflects the value of established marketing channels in a market where Roelens Realty, Evolve, and Vacasa dominate distribution.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Bokeelia bookings average a 63-day lead time, the longest in the Florida markets in this batch. This reflects the deliberate planning of fishing charter vacations, where guests must coordinate boat rental reservations and fishing guide bookings months in advance, particularly for peak winter season.
Average length of stay is 5.7 nights, also the longest in this Florida batch, reflecting the extended nature of fishing, shelling, and eco-tourism trips to Pine Island. Multi-day fishing charters, kayak expeditions, and guided nature tours all favor longer stays. Operators should structure minimum stay requirements of 4 to 7 nights for peak winter months (January through March) to maximize revenue per booking and reduce turnover during the high-demand window.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Bokeelia is in unincorporated Lee County, Florida, where STRs are permitted and regulated primarily at the state level. Operators must obtain a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental Dwelling License ($170/year for a single unit, $50 application fee for new licensees) and renew annually. No separate Lee County unincorporated STR permit is required beyond the state license.
Operators must register a Lee County Tourist Development Tax account with the Lee County Clerk of Court and remit 5% TDT on gross rental receipts for stays of six months or fewer. Florida state sales tax of 6% also applies, bringing the combined tax to 11%. Platforms such as Airbnb remit state sales tax and Lee County TDT automatically for qualifying hosts. Florida Statutes Section 509.032(7) preempts any post-June-1-2011 local ordinance from banning STRs or restricting rental frequency, so Lee County cannot cap annual rental nights. No owner-occupancy or primary residence requirement applies. Enforcement is rated minimal.
Local code enforcement addresses noise, parking, and occupancy limits (standard Florida formula: 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests).
Market Comparison
Bokeelia’s April 2026 ADR of $301 is approximately 37% above the US STR median of approximately $220, while occupancy at 48.8% runs below the national median of approximately 55%. The ADR premium reflects the waterfront and fishing-destination character of the market.
Roelens Realty and Property Management leads the market with 611 listings and 8,126 reviews (4.58 average rating) — by far the largest single-operator presence in any market in this batch relative to market size. Evolve follows with 445 listings and 11,614 reviews (4.62 rating). Vacasa holds 312 listings (4.45 rating). Sun Palace manages 278 listings (4.60 rating). Royal Shell Vacations rounds out the top five with 251 listings (4.64 rating).
Roelens Realty’s dominant position (611 listings) in a small community reflects deep local expertise and long-standing relationships with property owners across Pine Island. The top five operators collectively manage 1,897 listings, representing a high concentration of professionally managed inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bokeelia, Florida
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