Cedar Key, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Cedar Key STRs averaged $179/night at 55.8% occupancy in April 2026 with $2,828 average monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Cedar Key, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Florida Central Area market area is 55%. average monthly revenue in the Florida Central Area market area is $2,878. average daily rate in the Florida Central Area market area is $189. the top operator in the Florida Central Area market area is Evolve with 358 listings. market score is 60/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Florida Central Area regional market, which includes Cedar Key. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Cedar Key.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Cedar Key is a small island community in Levy County on Florida’s Gulf Coast, with a permanent population of approximately 732. The town is known for its working waterfront, commercial clam aquaculture (over 90% of Florida’s farmed clam production), and nature-based tourism centered on the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. As of April 2026, the STR market posted an average daily rate of $179 and an occupancy rate of 55.8%, producing average monthly revenue of $2,828. RevPAR came in at $99.99.
The market carries approximately 8,090 active listings. Entire-place properties dominate at 7,621 units (94.2% of total), with 468 private-room listings and just 1 shared-room unit. By bedroom count, 2-bedroom (2,787) and 3-bedroom (2,801) properties are the most common segments, followed by 1-bedroom (1,799), 4-bedroom (551), and 5-bedroom (129).
Channel distribution is predominantly Airbnb: 4,046 listings appear on both platforms, 3,067 are Airbnb-only, and 977 are VRBO-only. Year-over-year, occupancy declined 4.07% while ADR rose 3.03%, for a net revenue change of -1.16% versus April 2025. The annual data shows 2024 and 2025 both produced average annual revenue near $2,755 per listing, suggesting the market has been in a consolidation period.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 65% |
| Feb | 80% |
| Mar | 78% |
| Apr | 58% |
| May | 53% |
| Jun | 60% |
| Jul | 64% |
| Aug | 52% |
| Sep | 48% |
| Oct | 54% |
| Nov | 58% |
| Dec | 57% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Cedar Key are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Florida Central Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Florida Central Area market as a whole, which includes Cedar Key, so these counts are not Cedar Key-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 358 | 13,225 | ★ 4.74 |
| 2 | A&J Home Concierge | 160 | 633 | ★ 4.74 |
| 3 | McCormick Management Vacation Rental | 106 | 3,510 | ★ 4.84 |
| 4 | Village Valet Property Management, LLC | 102 | 1,251 | ★ 4.68 |
| 5 | Down Home Properties | 87 | 1,128 | ★ 4.69 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Cedar Key?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Cedar Key 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 | 37.9% |
| vrbo | 12.1% |
| both | 50% |
Home Value Trends (Cedar Key)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Cedar Key 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 Cedar Key — 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
Cedar Key STRs are permitted under Florida state law, which preempts local bans and duration restrictions under Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b). The primary requirement is a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental License (Dwelling type for 1-4 unit residential properties), costing approximately $230 combined for the first year ($50 application fee, $10 Hospitality Education Program fee, $170 annual license fee for a single unit). Annual renewal is required. Operators renting more than three times per year for periods under 30 days must hold this license.
Operators must also obtain a Cedar Key City Business License and a Local Business Tax Receipt from the city. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies.
The combined tax burden on gross rental receipts is 11%: 6% Florida state sales tax, 1% Levy County discretionary sales surtax, and 4% Levy County Tourist Development Tax. The Levy County TDT increased from 2% to 4% effective January 1, 2020. Tax remittance is due monthly. Levy County administers the TDT separately from the state sales tax; operators must register and file with the county directly.
Governor DeSantis vetoed SB 280 in June 2024, preserving the current framework where state preemption covers bans and duration limits, while local governments retain the ability to impose operational rules (registration, safety, occupancy, noise, parking). Enforcement in Cedar Key is rated minimal. No maximum nights-per-year cap has been identified.
Market Comparison
Cedar Key’s April 2026 occupancy of 55.8% is near the US STR median of approximately 55%, slightly above average for its market size. Its ADR of $179 is below the US median of roughly $220, consistent with a small inland-coastal community rather than a major beach destination. RevPAR of $100 reflects the lower price point.
The market’s investability score of 83.88 is notably strong, driven by a favorable regulatory environment and modest competition. Rental demand at 74.95 and seasonality at 81.80 both read as solid for a market this size. Revenue growth at 47.48 is below average.
Operator concentration is moderate. Evolve leads with 358 listings and 13,225 reviews (average rating 4.74). A&J Home Concierge holds 160 listings with 633 reviews (4.74 rating). McCormick Management Vacation Rental manages 106 listings with 3,510 reviews and the highest rating among top operators at 4.84. Together, the top three operators account for 624 listings, roughly 7.7% of the market, with independent operators controlling the vast majority of inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cedar Key, Florida
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