Bonita Springs, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Bonita Springs STRs averaged $301/night at 48.8% occupancy in April 2026, with a dominant February-March snowbird peak reaching 80%+ occupancy.
Quick Answer: Bonita Springs, 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
Bonita Springs is a Gulf Coast city in Lee County, Florida with a population of approximately 56,229 and about 288,000 annual visitors. The city sits between Naples and Fort Myers, drawing snowbirds, beach visitors, and boating enthusiasts to its Estero Bay waters and beach access. 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.
Bonita Springs requires a multi-layer permitting stack for STR operators: a City Rental Permit from Neighborhood Services ($100, valid 3 years, requires inspection), a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental License (state-level, annual), and a Lee County Local Business Tax Receipt. The city has moderate enforcement and does not impose an owner-occupancy requirement.
The listing inventory is predominantly entire-place units, consistent with the vacation home market in this Gulf Coast corridor. The market draws visitors from the Northeast and Midwest, generating a classic Florida winter peak.
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 Bonita Springs
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 Bonita Springs?
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
Bonita Springs offers a solid Gulf Coast investment thesis with accessible entry costs relative to Naples to the south. At a typical home value of $510,942 and April 2026 average monthly revenue of $4,163, annualized gross revenue is approximately $49,956, implying a gross revenue yield of roughly 9.8%.
The median sale price of $569,500 reflects the waterfront premium in this market, and the for-sale inventory of 1,419 units provides more options than most coastal markets in this batch. Median days to pending is 78, indicating moderate buyer competition that gives investors time to conduct due diligence.
ADR tiers show clear upside for premium properties: 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.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Bonita Springs bookings average a 63-day lead time, roughly nine weeks in advance. This reflects the snowbird and destination visitor nature of the market, where winter visitors from the Northeast and Midwest plan Gulf Coast stays well in advance to secure February and March availability.
Average length of stay is 5.7 nights, the longest in the Florida markets in this batch, reflecting extended winter vacation stays and multi-week snowbird visits. The long stay combined with the 63-day lead time means operators can set firm pricing for the January through March peak window as early as October and expect strong advance booking fill rates.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Bonita Springs requires three separate authorizations for non-owner-occupied residential STR operators. First, a City Rental Permit from Neighborhood Services ($100 per unit, valid 3 years, requires inspection against the 2015 International Property Maintenance Code). Second, a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental License (annual, approximately $170 for a single-unit dwelling plus a $50 application fee for new licensees). Third, a Lee County Local Business Tax Receipt (renewed annually by September 30).
The combined tax burden is 11%: 5% Lee County Tourist Development Tax plus 6% Florida state sales tax on gross rental receipts for stays under 6 months. Platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit TDT automatically for qualifying hosts. No owner-occupancy or primary residence requirement applies. Florida state preemption (Fla. Stat. 509.032(7)) prevents new local ordinances from restricting rental frequency or duration. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Bonita Springs’ 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 Gulf Coast waterfront character and snowbird destination positioning.
Roelens Realty and Property Management leads with 611 listings and 8,126 reviews (4.58 average rating). 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).
The top five operators collectively manage 1,897 listings, representing a high concentration of professionally managed inventory. Roelens Realty’s dominant position reflects deep local expertise across the Lee County Gulf Coast corridor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bonita Springs, Florida
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