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 in the Cape Coral/Fort Myers market area is 55%. average monthly revenue in the Cape Coral/Fort Myers market area is $4,159. average daily rate in the Cape Coral/Fort Myers market area is $294. the top operator in the Cape Coral/Fort Myers market area is Roelens Realty & Property Management with 611 listings. market score is 48/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Cape Coral/Fort Myers regional market, which includes Bonita Springs. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bonita Springs.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA 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 |
|---|---|
| Jan | 67% |
| Feb | 82% |
| Mar | 80% |
| Apr | 53% |
| May | 49% |
| Jun | 60% |
| Jul | 61% |
| Aug | 44% |
| Sep | 40% |
| Oct | 52% |
| Nov | 59% |
| Dec | 61% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Bonita Springs are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Cape Coral/Fort Myers market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Cape Coral/Fort Myers market as a whole, which includes Bonita Springs, so these counts are not Bonita Springs-only figures.
| # | 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 nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Bonita Springs 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 | 22.2% |
| vrbo | 16.9% |
| both | 60.9% |
Home Value Trends (Bonita Springs)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Bonita Springs 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 Bonita Springs — 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
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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