Lehigh Acres, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
The Lee County STR market posted a $226 ADR, 38.2% occupancy and $2,411 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Lehigh Acres, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Cape Coral/Fort Myers market area is 38%. average monthly revenue in the Cape Coral/Fort Myers market area is $2,411. average daily rate in the Cape Coral/Fort Myers market area is $226. the top operator in the Cape Coral/Fort Myers market area is Roelens Realty & Property Management with 611 listings. market score is 48/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Cape Coral/Fort Myers regional market, which includes Lehigh Acres. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lehigh Acres.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers Lehigh Acres, an unincorporated community of 132,353 residents in Lee County, Florida. Short-term rental performance here is tracked at the submarket level, so the figures below describe the Lee County, Florida STR market, a region that also includes Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, Bokeelia and Captiva, rather than Lehigh Acres alone. In September 2026, the average daily rate across all listings was $226, occupancy was 38.2%, and average monthly revenue per listing was $2,411. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 8.4%, ADR rose 7.5%, and revenue rose 8.1%. September is the seasonal low point for the region, so the weakest month of the year still showed gains over the prior year.
By property type, houses averaged $2,543 in monthly revenue, entire places averaged $2,472, and apartments averaged $2,222. The entire-home ADR was $234, about $8 above the all-listings average. The luxury tier reached an ADR of $441, and professionally managed listings averaged $278.
The longer record gives useful context. Average monthly revenue was $1,996 in 2017, peaked at $3,945 in 2022, and stood at $3,888 in 2025. Through the first nine months of 2026, revenue is running at $4,276 per month with 56.9% occupancy and a $279 ADR. Those year-to-date figures include the strong winter and spring months, so they sit well above the September snapshot.
Lehigh Acres is a large residential community rather than a standalone tourist destination. Demand draws on the broader Lee County visitor market, which welcomed about 3.2 million visitors in 2024, along with budget and long-stay travelers, snowbirds, and people visiting nearby Fort Myers beaches. Local draws such as Harns Marsh Preserve and Veterans Park are outdoor oriented. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Lehigh Acres, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 67% |
| Feb | 82% |
| Mar | 80% |
| Apr | 53% |
| May | 50% |
| Jun | 60% |
| Jul | 61% |
| Aug | 43% |
| Sep | 40% |
| Oct | 52% |
| Nov | 59% |
| Dec | 61% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Lehigh Acres are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Cape Coral/Fort Myers market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Cape Coral/Fort Myers market as a whole, which includes Lehigh Acres, so these counts are not Lehigh Acres-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roelens Realty & Property Management | 611 | 8,126 | ★ 4.58 |
| 2 | Evolve | 445 | 11,614 | ★ 4.62 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 312 | 4,497 | ★ 4.45 |
| 4 | Sun Palace | 278 | 3,965 | ★ 4.60 |
| 5 | Royal Shell Vacations | 251 | 1,889 | ★ 4.64 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lehigh Acres?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Lehigh Acres 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 | 22.2% |
| vrbo | 16.9% |
| both | 60.9% |
Home Value Trends (Lehigh Acres)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Lehigh Acres 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 Lehigh Acres — 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 Lehigh Acres. The community is unincorporated, so there is no city ordinance. Rentals fall under Lee County’s Land Development Code and Florida state law. Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b) preempts local governments from banning short-term rentals or capping their frequency or duration, so there is no maximum nights limit, no owner-occupancy requirement and no primary residence requirement.
A permit is required. Operators need a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental Dwelling license plus a Lee County Tourist Development Tax registration. The license costs about $170 per year for a single unit and renews annually. Lodging stays of six months or less are subject to Lee County’s 5% tourist development tax, remitted monthly to the county, on top of Florida’s 6% state sales tax on transient rentals, for a combined rate of about 11%.
Zoning is the main local check. Most residential lots permit short-term rentals, but investors must verify parcel zoning with Lee County Growth Management. HOA and subdivision deed restrictions can independently prohibit or limit rentals, and they are the most common practical obstacle.
Enforcement is rated moderate. License and tax compliance is checked, but the area is not subject to the aggressive crackdowns seen in some coastal Lee County beach communities. Counties keep control over noise, parking, trash and occupancy standards.
Florida SB 280 (2024), which would have centralized regulation and licensing under DBPR, was vetoed by Governor DeSantis in June 2024, so no major change took effect. The existing framework remains in place as of 2026.
Market Comparison
The Lee County STR market in September 2026 shows a split result. The $226 ADR is solid, while occupancy of 38.2% reflects the seasonal trough rather than a permanent gap. Year-to-date 2026 occupancy is 56.9% and the year-to-date ADR is $279.
Revenue growth is also solid. Occupancy is up 8.4%, ADR is up 7.5% and revenue is up 8.1% from September 2025, so the market is improving from a low base month. The luxury tier at $441 and the professionally managed tier at $278 both sit well above the all-listings ADR of $226.
The market is strongly seasonal. Peak occupancy of 82.4% in February compares with a 39.7% trough in September. Investors comparing Lehigh Acres with other markets should look at full-year performance rather than a single month.
Operator concentration is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Lehigh Acres, so this profile omits it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lehigh Acres, Florida
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