Lutz, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Lutz, FL STRs posted $184 average daily rate and 62.3% occupancy in April 2026 across a market of approximately 11,315 listings.
Quick Answer: Lutz, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 58%. average monthly revenue is $2,645. average daily rate is $167. the top operator is Evolve with 141 listings. market score is 56/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Tampa regional market, which includes Lutz. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lutz.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Lutz STR market spans approximately 11,315 listings in the latest snapshot. Entire-place listings account for 9,847 (87.0% of the market), private-room rentals for 1,446 (12.8%), and shared rooms for 22 (0.2%). By bedroom count, one-bedroom units lead at 5,411, followed by three-bedroom (2,251), two-bedroom (2,071), four-bedroom (1,114), and five-plus bedroom (434).
In April 2026, the market reported an average daily rate of $184 and occupancy of 62.3%, producing a RevPAR of $115. Average monthly revenue per active listing was $3,034. Year-over-year, occupancy fell 4.19 percentage points and revenue declined 8.68%, though ADR rose 2.03%. The occupancy contraction is the primary driver of the revenue shortfall.
Historically, the market has been in a gradual recovery cycle. After a 2022 peak at 66.01% occupancy, demand fell to 61.68% in 2023 before recovering to 64.15% in 2024 (ADR $163, monthly revenue $2,936). The 2025 annual average was 61.59% occupancy, $168 ADR, $2,944 monthly revenue. The 2026 partial-year average through April shows 66.95% occupancy and $183 ADR.
Airbnb dominates the channel mix, with 6,131 Airbnb-only listings and 4,583 on both platforms, compared to 601 VRBO-only listings.
Market scores: total investability 55.9, rental demand 82.1 (the strongest score in this market), seasonality 78.8, and revenue growth 41.3. The high rental demand score reflects consistent booking volume.
Lutz is an unincorporated suburban community in northern Hillsborough County (with a small slice in Pasco County), roughly 15 miles north of downtown Tampa. The market draws overflow leisure and business travel from the greater Tampa Bay area rather than dedicated destination tourism. Population is approximately 27,106.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65% | $137 | $2,469 |
| Feb | 75% | $152 | $2,839 |
| Mar | 76% | $161 | $3,405 |
| Apr | 61% | $149 | $2,537 |
| May | 59% | $139 | $2,286 |
| Jun | 62% | $140 | $2,338 |
| Jul | 64% | $136 | $2,429 |
| Aug | 59% | $122 | $2,047 |
| Sep | 56% | $115 | $1,716 |
| Oct | 61% | $122 | $2,010 |
| Nov | 61% | $125 | $2,051 |
| Dec | 65% | $136 | $2,386 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lutz
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 141 | 4,612 | ★ 4.54 |
| 2 | Sailport Waterfront Suites | 90 | 239 | ★ 4.28 |
| 3 | Emperor Rentals | 68 | 5,087 | ★ 4.83 |
| 4 | One Stone Property Group | 67 | 4,521 | ★ 4.61 |
| 5 | Bojano Stays | 61 | 121 | ★ 4.05 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lutz?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 5,411 |
| 2 bed | 2,071 |
| 3 bed | 2,251 |
| 4 bed | 1,114 |
| 5 bed | 434 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $177 |
| Luxury | $299 |
| Professionally Managed | $208 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,961 |
| Entire Place | $2,833 |
| House | $3,046 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 54.2% |
| vrbo | 5.3% |
| both | 40.5% |
Investment Analysis
April 2026 data shows average monthly revenue of $3,034 per active listing, projecting to approximately $36,408 annualized at that rate. Entire-place listings average $3,287 per month and houses $3,378, while apartment-style rentals average $2,515.
The ADR tier structure shows:
– Market average: $184 per night
– Entire-home tier: $198 per night (8% above market)
– Professionally managed tier: $250 per night (36% above market)
– Luxury tier: $338 per night (84% above market)
The 36% ADR premium for professionally managed properties ($250 vs. $184) is meaningful and suggests active management adds rate value in this market.
Revenue declined 8.68% year-over-year in the most recent period, driven by a 4.19 percentage-point drop in occupancy rather than rate erosion (ADR actually rose 2.03%). The revenue growth market score of 41.3 out of 100 reflects this near-term softening.
No Zillow housing price data was available for this market at publication time, so gross yield estimates cannot be confirmed here. Lutz home prices generally track the wider Tampa Bay market; investors should verify current acquisition costs independently.
The investability score of 67.8 and the rental demand score of 82.1 suggest underlying booking volume is solid, with occupancy softness likely reflecting supply expansion rather than a demand collapse. Florida’s STR-friendly state preemption framework and the absence of owner-occupancy or night-cap requirements reduce regulatory risk.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Lutz STR guests book an average of 41.5 days (about 6 weeks) in advance. This is a moderately short lead time for a Florida market, reflecting the area’s suburban character and demand from Tampa Bay business travelers, sports event attendees, and short-break leisure visitors rather than long-planned destination vacations.
The average length of stay is 3.65 nights, somewhat shorter than true destination markets. This higher turnover cadence increases cleaning and operational costs per occupied night but also allows more flexible pricing across the year.
For operators, the 6-week booking window means real-time pricing adjustments can still influence a meaningful share of near-future bookings. Setting strong base rates for confirmed peak windows (January through March) early in the season, then discounting toward the September trough as available inventory becomes apparent, is the most defensible strategy. The 3.65-night average also favors minimum-stay policies of 3 to 4 nights during peak season to improve scheduling efficiency.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Lutz is unincorporated, so short-term rentals are governed by Hillsborough County (with a small portion subject to Pasco County rules) and Florida state law rather than a city ordinance. Florida Statute 509.032 preempts local governments from banning STRs or regulating rental duration and frequency, and Hillsborough County does not operate a dedicated STR registration program.
To operate legally, owners need: (1) a state Vacation Rental license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), which costs roughly $150 to $350 depending on unit count and license term, and must be renewed annually; (2) a Hillsborough County business tax receipt; and (3) tax registration for Florida state sales tax, the county discretionary surtax, and the Tourist Development Tax.
STRs are defined as rentals of 7 days or fewer and must be located in a zoning district that allows transient accommodations. Owners should confirm zoning eligibility with the Hillsborough County Land Development office before listing, as operating in a non-approved zone can result in fines.
The combined lodging tax burden is approximately 13.5%: Florida state sales tax at 6%, Hillsborough County discretionary sales surtax at 1.5%, and the Hillsborough County Tourist Development Tax at 6% (effective August 1, 2019). Platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO collect portions of these taxes automatically for some jurisdictions.
There are no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirements and no maximum-nights cap. Enforcement is complaint-driven and described as minimal, focused on zoning and tax compliance rather than active STR policing.
Market Comparison
Lutz’s 62.3% occupancy in April 2026 exceeds the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, though the 4.19 percentage-point year-over-year occupancy decline is worth monitoring. The $184 ADR sits below the national median of approximately $220, consistent with Lutz’s suburban, non-coastal positioning.
Revenue declined 8.68% year-over-year in the most recent period, driven by occupancy compression rather than rate cuts. ADR rose 2.03%, showing that operators maintained pricing power even as booking volume softened.
The rental demand score of 82.1 is the market’s strongest metric, indicating that underlying guest interest remains active.
The top five property managers in the Lutz market are:
1. Evolve: 141 listings, 4,612 reviews, 4.54 rating
2. Sailport Waterfront Suites: 90 listings, 239 reviews, 4.28 rating
3. Emperor Rentals: 68 listings, 5,087 reviews, 4.83 rating
4. One Stone Property Group: 67 listings, 4,521 reviews, 4.61 rating
5. Bojano Stays: 61 listings, 121 reviews, 4.05 rating
Evolve leads by listing count at 141. Emperor Rentals stands out with 5,087 reviews and a 4.83 rating despite fewer listings than Evolve, indicating a high-volume, high-satisfaction managed portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lutz, Florida
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