Captiva, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Captiva Island STRs averaged $301/night at 48.8% occupancy in April 2026 with $4,163 average monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Captiva, 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 Captiva. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Captiva.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Captiva Island sits within unincorporated Lee County on Florida’s Gulf Coast, a low-density island destination accessible only via bridge from Sanibel. The market is characterized by high-end accommodations and a well-defined peak season from December through April. As of April 2026, the average daily rate was $301 and occupancy was 48.8%, producing average monthly revenue of $4,163 per active listing. RevPAR came in at $147.09.
The market carries approximately 19,750 active listings. Entire-place properties dominate at 19,050 units (96.5% of total), with 684 private-room listings and 7 shared-room units. By bedroom count, 3-bedroom properties are the most common at 7,116, followed by 2-bedroom (5,474), 1-bedroom (3,310), 4-bedroom (3,013), and 5-bedroom (814).
Channel distribution reflects strong VRBO presence relative to other markets: 12,026 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 4,376 are Airbnb-only, and 3,339 are VRBO-only. This dual-platform saturation points to a mature, professionally-oriented inventory.
Year-over-year, occupancy declined 2.92% while ADR rose 4.87%, resulting in a near-flat revenue change of -0.19% versus April 2025. This pattern, where rate growth offset occupancy softness, suggests pricing power remains intact. The market’s revenue growth score of 76.36 out of 100 reflects the multi-year upward ADR trend visible in annual data.
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 Captiva 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 Captiva, so these counts are not Captiva-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 Captiva?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Captiva 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 (Captiva)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Captiva 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 Captiva — 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
Captiva Island operates under a state-driven regulatory framework through unincorporated Lee County. The primary licensing requirement is a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental License, required for any property rented more than three times per year for stays under 30 days. License types are Vacation Rental Dwelling (single-family or up to four-unit building) or Vacation Rental Condominium. The first-year combined cost is approximately $230 (state application fee $50, Hospitality Education Program fee $10, annual license fee approximately $170).
No separate unincorporated Lee County STR permit has been confirmed as of May 2026. Operators must register with the Lee County Clerk of Court for the 5% Tourist Development Tax (TDT) on all rentals of six months or less. Florida state sales tax at 6% also applies, for a combined guest tax burden of 11%. Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit both taxes on behalf of hosts.
A 7-night minimum stay applies to Captiva condos and homes under Lee County code. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement exists at the county level. Individual HOAs and resort communities such as South Seas Island Resort may impose stricter rental restrictions; buyers should review HOA documents carefully before purchase.
Enforcement is minimal, primarily tax-compliance focused. Florida state preemption under F.S. 509.032(7)(b) limits Lee County’s ability to add new restrictions. Hurricane Ian (September 2022) significantly impacted Captiva Island’s property inventory and permanent population; some properties are still in various stages of reconstruction or sale.
Market Comparison
Captiva Island’s April 2026 occupancy of 48.8% is below the US STR median of approximately 55%, reflecting the island’s pronounced seasonality and premium positioning. Its ADR of $301 is significantly above the US median of roughly $220, consistent with a luxury Gulf Coast destination. RevPAR of $147 is competitive despite lower occupancy, driven by the high-rate base.
The overall market score of 47.78 is below average, dragged down by seasonality (53.94) and rental demand scores (59.60). Revenue growth is the standout at 76.36 out of 100, reflecting steady ADR appreciation over the past eight years.
Operator concentration is modest given the market size. Roelens Realty and Property Management leads with 611 listings and 8,126 reviews (average rating 4.58). Evolve holds 445 listings with 11,614 reviews (4.62 rating). Vacasa manages 312 listings with 4,497 reviews (4.45 rating). The top three operators together account for 1,368 listings, or approximately 7% of the roughly 19,750-listing market, indicating that independent operators hold the vast majority of inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions About Captiva, Florida
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