Haines City, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Haines City STRs averaged $223/night at 60.3% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 12.6% year over year.
Quick Answer: Haines City, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Lakeland/Winter Haven market area is 60%. average monthly revenue in the Lakeland/Winter Haven market area is $3,905. average daily rate in the Lakeland/Winter Haven market area is $242. the top operator in the Lakeland/Winter Haven market area is Evolve with 179 listings. market score is 87/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Lakeland/Winter Haven regional market, which includes Haines City. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Haines City.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Haines City is a Polk County city in Central Florida’s I-4 corridor, positioned roughly 10 miles from LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven and 30-40 minutes from the Orlando theme park complex. This proximity to major attractions makes it a cost-effective base for visitors who prefer lower lodging costs relative to Orlando while maintaining easy access to Disney, Universal, and LEGOLAND. Polk County as a whole attracted approximately 5.5 million visitors between April 2024 and March 2025, generating over $1.5 billion in visitor spending.
The market supports approximately 8,438 active STR listings, of which 7,371 (87%) are entire-place units and 1,060 are private rooms. The channel split shows strong dual-platform presence: 4,158 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 3,392 are Airbnb-exclusive, and 888 are VRBO-exclusive. The bedroom mix reflects the vacation-rental character of the market, with large properties dominating: 3,135 listings have five or more bedrooms, 1,585 have four bedrooms, 1,290 have three bedrooms, and 1,620 are one-bedroom units.
As of April 2026, the market averaged $223.46 per night with 60.3% occupancy, producing a RevPAR of $134.73 and average monthly revenue of $3,567. Year-over-year trends are positive: occupancy rose 0.8 percentage points, ADR increased 0.7%, and revenue surged 12.6%. The overall market score is 87.2 out of 100, with investability (89.3) and revenue growth (92.2) as notable strengths.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 50% |
| Feb | 69% |
| Mar | 71% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 52% |
| Jun | 63% |
| Jul | 66% |
| Aug | 57% |
| Sep | 42% |
| Oct | 55% |
| Nov | 53% |
| Dec | 54% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Haines City are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lakeland/Winter Haven market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Lakeland/Winter Haven market as a whole, which includes Haines City, so these counts are not Haines City-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 179 | 4,635 | ★ 4.57 |
| 2 | RedAwning | 164 | 793 | ★ 4.24 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 126 | 2,251 | ★ 4.42 |
| 4 | Top Villas | 111 | 493 | ★ 4.47 |
| 5 | Master Vacation Homes | 99 | 3,309 | ★ 4.73 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Haines City?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Haines City 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 | 40.2% |
| vrbo | 10.5% |
| both | 49.3% |
Home Value Trends (Haines City)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Haines City 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 Haines City — 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 in Haines City operate under a multi-layer regulatory framework.
At the state level, Florida requires a DBPR vacation rental or lodging license for any operator renting more than three times per year for stays under 30 days, along with a Florida Department of Revenue tax certificate.
At the county level, Polk County operators must obtain a Short-Term Rental Registration and collect and remit the Polk County Tourist Development Tax of 5% on stays of six months or less (in addition to Florida state sales tax and any applicable discretionary surtax). Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit the Tourist Development Tax on behalf of most hosts; operators using other channels must handle remittance directly.
At the city level, Haines City maintains a Short Term Rental overlay zone in its zoning code (Section 5.6.2.5). A property must be located in a zoning district that permits STR use. The Haines City Planning Division (863-421-3600) confirms parcel eligibility; the Code Compliance Office (863-421-9937) handles enforcement. No published annual night cap, owner-occupancy requirement, or primary-residence requirement was found. Published permit costs at the city level are not available online; investors should contact the city directly for current fee schedules. Enforcement severity is classified as moderate.
Market Comparison
The national STR median occupancy is approximately 55% and median ADR approximately $220. Haines City’s April 2026 occupancy of 60.3% and ADR of $223.46 are modestly above the national medians, placing it in the solid mid-tier of U.S. STR markets. The standout metric is the 12.6% year-over-year revenue growth, which exceeds most established market trends.
The market’s overall investment score of 87.2 out of 100 and investability score of 89.3 place it in the top quartile nationally. Revenue growth at 92.2 is a particular strength. The regulation score of 54.8 reflects the multi-layer licensing requirement (state, county, city) that adds compliance steps for new operators.
Evolve leads professional operators with 179 listings, 4,635 reviews, and a 4.57 average rating. RedAwning ranks second with 164 listings (4.24 rating), and Vacasa holds third with 126 listings (4.42 rating). Master Vacation Homes, though ranked fifth, holds the highest guest rating among the top operators at 4.73 across 99 listings. The top five managers collectively operate approximately 679 listings, representing roughly 8.1% of total market inventory, indicating a predominantly owner-operated market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Haines City, Florida
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