Crystal River, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Crystal River restricts residential rentals under 90 days; September 2026 ADR $161, occupancy 45.4%, revenue $2,024.
Quick Answer: Crystal River, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Florida Central Area market area is 45%. average monthly revenue in the Florida Central Area market area is $2,024. average daily rate in the Florida Central Area market area is $161. 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 Crystal River. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Crystal River.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile uses the west-central Florida STR market as its frame. Crystal River’s performance series is tracked at a shared regional level, so every performance figure below describes that wider market rather than Crystal River alone. Regulation comes first: a 2005 city ordinance prohibits rentals shorter than three consecutive months (90 days) outside the waterfront commercial zoning district, so nightly use in residential neighborhoods is generally not permitted unless a property is grandfathered.
In September 2026 the west-central Florida STR market posted an average daily rate of $161, occupancy of 45.4%, and average monthly revenue of $2,024 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 6.8%, ADR is up 5.6%, and revenue is up 2.5%. Entire-place rentals averaged $166 per night. September is the softest month of the year in this market by occupancy and revenue, so these readings sit below the annual pattern. Summing the twelve seasonal months gives annualized revenue of $30,111 per listing.
Crystal River has about 3,640 residents and draws demand from Kings Bay, Three Sisters Springs, the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, and guided manatee swim tours. Between 500 and 1,000 manatees winter in the bay from November through April, with the peak from December through February. The town sits about one hour north of Tampa, which supports short drive-in stays. Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Crystal River, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 65% |
| Feb | 80% |
| Mar | 78% |
| Apr | 58% |
| May | 53% |
| Jun | 60% |
| Jul | 64% |
| Aug | 51% |
| Sep | 48% |
| Oct | 54% |
| Nov | 58% |
| Dec | 57% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Crystal River 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 Crystal River, so these counts are not Crystal River-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 Crystal River?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Crystal River 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 (Crystal River)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Crystal River 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 Crystal River — 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
Crystal River is unusually restrictive for STR investors. Short term rental is not permitted as a general matter. A 2005 city ordinance bars rentals shorter than three consecutive months (90 days) in all areas except the waterfront commercial zoning district. Short term rentals in residential zones are not allowed unless the owner can prove the property operated as an STR before the 2005 ordinance, which makes it grandfathered. Because the ordinance predates Florida’s 2011 state preemption, it keeps that grandfather protection.
Operators who qualify must hold a Florida DBPR vacation rental (transient public lodging) license and a city transient rental license, and must register for bed and tourist tax. The permit renewal period is annual. The occupancy tax is 5%, and the local summary also notes 6% state sales tax, for 11% in total, on stays of six months or less.
The profile lists no owner occupancy requirement and no primary residence requirement. Enforcement severity is rated minimal. City officials have acknowledged very little enforcement because illegal listings are hard to identify. In 2022 the council weighed paying Granicus about $13,000 per year for listing detection, after a preliminary scan flagged about 73 potential violations against staff estimates of fewer than 10.
No major ordinance change has been confirmed since 2005. The city appears wary that amending the rule could forfeit its grandfather protection. Verify a specific parcel’s zoning and grandfather status with the Crystal River City Clerk before purchase.
Market Comparison
In September 2026 the west-central Florida STR market ran at 45.4% occupancy and a $161 ADR. September is the market’s weakest month, so this reading is harsher than the annual picture.
The annual figures look better. The 2026 year to date average through nine months is 58.4% occupancy at a $179 ADR. The February peak reached 80.4% occupancy, while the September trough was 47.9%.
Luxury listings averaged an ADR of $286 and professionally managed listings averaged $180, against $161 for all listings. Rate growth of 5.6% and occupancy growth of 6.8% year over year show the market improving against its own past.
The market score data rates investability at 83.9 and seasonality at 81.8 out of 100, with regulation at 51.0 and revenue growth at 47.5. The overall score is 60.1. Top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Crystal River, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crystal River, Florida
Are short term rentals legal in Crystal River, Florida?
What licenses does a Crystal River STR operator need?
What are the average ADR and occupancy in the market?
When is the strongest season for STRs here?
How much does a typical home cost in Crystal River?
How far ahead do guests book, and how long do they stay?
Is enforcement of the Crystal River rule strict?
Analyze Crystal River Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Crystal River.
Free Crystal River STR Calculator →
