Dunnellon, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Dunnellon, in the Nature Coast STR market, averaged $161 ADR, 45.4% occupancy and $2,024 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Dunnellon, 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 Dunnellon. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Dunnellon.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Dunnellon sits within the west-central Florida Nature Coast STR market, and every performance figure on this page describes that wider region rather than Dunnellon alone. In September 2026, the Nature Coast STR market averaged an ADR of $161 and occupancy of 45.4%, which produced average revenue of $2,024 per listing for the month. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 6.8%, ADR rose 5.6% and revenue rose 2.5%.
September is the weakest month of the year in this market, so the latest reading understates full-year performance. Through the first nine months of 2026 the region has averaged 58.4% occupancy, a $179 ADR and $2,904 in monthly revenue. Summing the twelve seasonal months gives annualized revenue of $30,111 per listing. For comparison, 2025 closed at 58.5% occupancy, a $170 ADR and $2,755 in monthly revenue, so 2026 is running ahead on rate and revenue with occupancy roughly flat.
Dunnellon itself is a small Marion County town of about 2,216 residents, but it draws visitors well beyond its size. Rainbow Springs State Park attracts more than 350,000 visitors a year, and the spring-fed Rainbow River supports tubing, kayaking, snorkeling and diving. The park began requiring day-use reservations on April 29, 2026, which is likely to spread demand across more days and favor overnight stays. Guests are mostly outdoor recreation travelers, paddlers, anglers, divers and retirees.
Across the region, entire-place stays average an ADR of $166. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Dunnellon, so this profile omits them. The typical home value is $270,506, which sets the entry cost for investors.
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 Dunnellon 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 Dunnellon, so these counts are not Dunnellon-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 Dunnellon?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Dunnellon 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 (Dunnellon)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Dunnellon 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 Dunnellon — 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
Short-term rentals are permitted in Dunnellon, with registration required. The City Council legalized and regulated vacation rentals citywide in September 2023 under Chapter 18, Article VIII of the Code of Ordinances. Every operator must register each unit with the City of Dunnellon and renew the registration annually by October 1.
Effective April 1, 2025, Resolution RES2025-06 set the initial registration and annual renewal fee at $380 per unit, plus a $40 per unit initial and annual fire inspection fee. Registration requires a current Florida DBPR transient public lodging license, a Florida Department of Revenue certificate of registration for sales and tourist taxes, and proof of a Marion County Tax Collector tourist development tax account. A Business Tax Receipt is required for owners operating two or more vacation rental units. Fire inspections verify compliance with the Florida Fire Prevention Code.
The ordinance covers registration, safety inspections, occupancy limits, parking, and sex-offender and human-trafficking screening, rather than carve-outs by zoning district. Under Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b), Dunnellon cannot prohibit vacation rentals or restrict the duration or frequency of stays, because its ordinance was adopted in 2023, after the June 1, 2011 grandfather cutoff. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement.
Guests pay a combined 11.5% transient lodging tax, made up of the 4% Marion County Tourist Development Tax, 6% state sales tax and a 1.5% local surtax. Code Enforcement handles complaints, and enforcement severity is rated moderate. Owners should confirm current requirements with the city before listing.
Market Comparison
The Nature Coast STR market looks like a lower-rate, seasonal destination. September 2026 occupancy was 45.4% with a $161 ADR. Both readings come from the weakest month of the year, so they understate full-year performance.
On a year-to-date basis the picture improves. Occupancy through September 2026 is 58.4% with a $179 ADR. Luxury listings at $286 sit well above the $161 all-listings ADR, which shows that well-positioned properties can outperform the market average even here.
Growth is positive. Occupancy is up 6.8%, ADR is up 5.6% and revenue is up 2.5% year over year. The market scores strongest on investability, at 83.88, and on winter demand, with February occupancy at 80.4%. The typical home value is $270,506.
For an investor, the trade-off is clear. The region offers a modest nightly rate, strong winter and summer recreation demand, and a lighter fall, in exchange for a relatively accessible purchase price. Operator rankings and listing mix are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Dunnellon, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dunnellon, Florida
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How far ahead do guests book, and how long do they stay?
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