Gainesville, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Gainesville short-term rentals averaged $192 ADR, 46.4% occupancy and $2,281 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Gainesville, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Gainesville market area is 46%. average monthly revenue in the Gainesville market area is $2,281. average daily rate in the Gainesville market area is $192. the top operator in the Gainesville market area is McNiece Management with 53 listings. market score is 75/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the wider Gainesville market, which covers 4 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Gainesville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Gainesville, Florida is home to about 148,716 residents and is anchored by the University of Florida. As of September 2026, the Gainesville area STR market averaged an ADR of $192, occupancy of 46.4%, and monthly revenue of $2,281 per listing. Compared with a year earlier, occupancy is up 20.3%, ADR is down 3.1%, and revenue is up 24.7%, so the gain is coming from more booked nights rather than higher rates.
The Gainesville area STR market tracks 2,121 listings. Entire places make up 1,776 of them, private rooms 343, and shared rooms 2. By bedroom count, the market holds 821 one-bedroom listings, 601 two-bedroom, 440 three-bedroom, 208 four-bedroom, and 48 five-bedroom listings. On distribution, 1,140 listings are on Airbnb only, 171 are on Vrbo only, and 810 are listed on both platforms.
Demand is tied to the university calendar. Gainesville draws roughly 1.4 million paid-accommodation visitors a year, generating $766 million in economic impact for Alachua County (2024 data). UF events brought 6.85 million attendees in 2023-24, including 2.06 million nonresident visitor days. Football Saturdays at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, which holds about 88,500, are the peak weekends, while graduation weekends in May and December and August orientation weeks add secondary spikes. Outside event windows, visitors come for Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park and the Florida Museum of Natural History.
On an annual basis, revenue per listing averaged $2,386 a month in 2025, on 52.8% occupancy and a $162 ADR. The 2026 figures through September show 53.8% occupancy, a $157 ADR, and $2,294 in monthly revenue. Occupancy peaked at 67.4% in 2021 and has stayed in the low to mid 50s since 2023.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 56% |
| Feb | 64% |
| Mar | 62% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 51% |
| Jun | 60% |
| Jul | 64% |
| Aug | 66% |
| Sep | 52% |
| Oct | 53% |
| Nov | 52% |
| Dec | 51% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Gainesville are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Gainesville market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Gainesville market as a whole, which includes Gainesville, so these counts are not Gainesville-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McNiece Management | 53 | 2,777 | ★ 4.75 |
| 2 | StayGainesville | 46 | 1,185 | ★ 4.77 |
| 3 | Landing | 42 | 16 | ★ 4.38 |
| 4 | Bones Vacances | 36 | 0 | ★ 0.00 |
| 5 | Evolve | 34 | 1,025 | ★ 4.62 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Gainesville?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Gainesville 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 | 53.7% |
| vrbo | 8.1% |
| both | 38.2% |
Home Value Trends (Gainesville)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Gainesville 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 Gainesville — 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 Gainesville, and enforcement severity is rated minimal. The framework has two layers, state licensing and county tax, with no city permit. Effective October 1, 2021, the City of Gainesville deregulated rentals under 30 days and eliminated its local permit, registration, inspection, and fee requirements. City zoning allows vacation rentals in Residential and Residential-Office zones, with no city density caps, and Alachua County adds no further zoning restrictions within city limits.
At the state level, a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental License is required. The first-year cost is about $220 ($170 for a single unit plus a $50 new application fee), and the license renews annually. Applicants must complete a Human Trafficking Awareness Training Certificate. Two categories apply: Vacation Rental Dwelling (up to 4 units) and Vacation Rental Condo. Florida preemption (FS 509) bars local governments from prohibiting vacation rentals or restricting stay duration, though local zoning, occupancy caps, and licensing are still permitted.
On tax, Alachua County levies a 5% Tourist Development Tax. Combined with Florida’s 6% state sales tax and the county’s 1.5% local surtax, the burden is roughly 12.5% of gross rental receipts. Since January 1, 2025, Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit the Tourist Development Tax directly. Hosts booking through other channels must register with the Tax Collector and file monthly returns.
Neither owner occupancy nor primary residence is required. Always confirm current rules with the city, county, and DBPR before buying.
Market Comparison
Gainesville’s September 2026 figures are a $192 ADR and 46.4% occupancy. Entire homes reach a $229 ADR, and luxury listings reach $356.
The seasonal averages show Gainesville peaking in August at 66.1%, followed by February at 63.9%, July at 63.5%, and March at 62.2%. The annual figures show the market has stayed near 53% to 54% occupancy in recent years.
Operator concentration is moderate. The five largest operators in the Gainesville area STR market are McNiece Management with 53 listings, StayGainesville with 46, Landing with 42, Bones Vacances with 36, and Evolve with 34. Together that is 211 listings, roughly 10% of the 2,121 tracked, so independent hosts still hold most of the market. McNiece Management and StayGainesville have the deepest review histories, with 2,777 and 1,185 reviews and ratings of 4.75 and 4.77.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gainesville, Florida
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