Fort Walton Beach, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Fort Walton Beach area STR averages $347 ADR, 58.0% occupancy and $5,453 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Fort Walton Beach, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach market area is 58%. average monthly revenue in the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach market area is $5,453. average daily rate in the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach market area is $347. the top operator in the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach market area is Vacasa with 1,322 listings. market score is 59/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach regional market, which includes Fort Walton Beach. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Fort Walton Beach.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers Fort Walton Beach on Florida’s Emerald Coast in Okaloosa County. Short-term rental performance is tracked at a shared level for the Okaloosa County Emerald Coast STR market, which also includes Mary Esther and Destin, so every performance figure below describes that region rather than Fort Walton Beach alone. In September 2026, the Okaloosa County Emerald Coast STR market averaged an ADR of $347, occupancy of 58.0%, and monthly revenue of $5,453 per listing. Entire-home ADR was $349. Compared with a year earlier, occupancy rose 14.6%, ADR rose 5.7%, and revenue rose 10.7%.
Fort Walton Beach has a population of 21,025 and sits in a county that draws about 7.5 million visitors a year (a 2021 figure reported at the county level, not for the city alone). Visitors are mostly beach and leisure travelers drawn to Okaloosa Island, the beachfront boardwalk, the Okaloosa Island Pier, Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park and Gulf charter fishing. Demand comes largely from drive markets across the Southeast, with fly-in traffic through the regional airport (VPS). The tourism economy is shared with neighboring Destin.
The annual picture is stronger than a single month suggests. Summing the seasonal monthly averages gives annualized revenue of $56,268 per listing. Calendar 2025 averaged 58.5% occupancy, a $344 ADR and $5,763 in monthly revenue. The first nine months of 2026 are running at 64.2% occupancy, a $373 ADR and $6,576 in monthly revenue, ahead of 2025 on all three measures.
Revenue by property type shows the weight of larger homes: houses averaged $7,194 in September 2026, against $5,485 for entire places overall and $5,071 for apartments. Bedroom, booking channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Fort Walton Beach, so this profile omits them.
Buyers should read these figures as a regional benchmark. Individual results depend on distance to the beach, bedroom count, amenities and management quality.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 37% |
| Feb | 64% |
| Mar | 69% |
| Apr | 55% |
| May | 68% |
| Jun | 82% |
| Jul | 82% |
| Aug | 61% |
| Sep | 56% |
| Oct | 57% |
| Nov | 35% |
| Dec | 31% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Fort Walton Beach are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Destin/Ft. Walton Beach market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach market as a whole, which includes Fort Walton Beach, so these counts are not Fort Walton Beach-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 1,322 | 54,478 | ★ 4.52 |
| 2 | RealJoy | 464 | 21,248 | ★ 4.57 |
| 3 | Holiday Isle Properties | 394 | 4,766 | ★ 4.79 |
| 4 | Compass Resorts | 389 | 6,532 | ★ 4.76 |
| 5 | Scenic Stays | 252 | 7,279 | ★ 4.49 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Fort Walton Beach?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Fort Walton Beach 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 | 12.9% |
| vrbo | 14.1% |
| both | 73% |
Home Value Trends (Fort Walton Beach)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Fort Walton Beach 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 Fort Walton Beach — 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 Fort Walton Beach. As of mid 2026 the city has not adopted an STR-specific ordinance, so operators are governed mainly by state and county rules. A permit is required: a Florida DBPR vacation rental license at the state level, plus Okaloosa County Tourist Development Tax registration. The permit renews annually. Florida sales tax of 6% applies, and the county Tourist Development Tax is 6% on rentals of six months or less, filed monthly through the Clerk of Court. A 2021 referendum extended the bed tax countywide, with the expansion district rate effective March 1, 2025, so essentially all STRs now owe it. The permit cost is not published.
The city presented a draft ordinance on March 25, 2025, with a first reading slated for April 8, 2026. Adoption status was unconfirmed as of June 2026. If adopted, it would add annual city registration, a city decal, posted signage with maximum occupancy, a local responsible party within 30 miles able to respond within one hour, parking minimums of one space per 2.5 occupants, and fire-safety provisions. Occupancy would be capped at the lesser of one person per 150 square feet of heated space, two persons per bedroom plus four, or 24 people. Commercial events such as weddings and retreats, and charter bus services, would be banned in residential zoning districts.
There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no annual night cap. Florida law (FS 509) preempts cities from prohibiting STRs. Enforcement is currently minimal, and council members questioned whether the city has the staff to enforce the proposed rules. Investors should verify the ordinance’s adoption status before buying.
Market Comparison
In September 2026, the Okaloosa County Emerald Coast STR market posted a $347 ADR and 58.0% occupancy. Luxury listings at $460 sit $113 above the all-listings ADR.
The market is driven by beachfront demand, drive-market access across the Southeast and the shared Destin tourism economy. It also comes with strong seasonality: December occupancy of 30.7% is far below June at 81.8%. Investors comparing this region with a steadier year-round market should weigh the high summer revenue against the thin winter.
Growth is also favorable. Revenue rose 10.7% year over year in September 2026, and the first nine months of 2026 average 64.2% occupancy and a $373 ADR. Property manager and operator rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Fort Walton Beach, so this profile omits them. Anyone considering professional management should interview local operators directly, since professionally managed listings earned a $363 ADR in September 2026, about 4.6% above the market average.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Walton Beach, Florida
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