Merritt Island, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Merritt Island, FL STRs averaged $239/night at 60.2% occupancy in April 2026 near Kennedy Space Center and 140,000-acre wildlife refuge.
Quick Answer: Merritt Island, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 67%. average monthly revenue is $4,433. average daily rate is $246. the top operator is Happy Palm Stays with 408 listings. market score is 62/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Melbourne/Titusville regional market, which includes Merritt Island. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Merritt Island.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Merritt Island is an unincorporated community in Brevard County on Florida’s Space Coast, with a population of 34,992. It sits at the heart of one of Florida’s most distinctive tourism corridors: home to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and the 140,000-acre Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge with 310+ bird species, manatees, and bioluminescent kayaking. Brevard County drew approximately 3 million overnight room nights and $2.95 billion in visitor spending in 2023.
Note: The STR performance metrics in this report (occupancy, ADR, revenue, and dimension data) reflect the broader Brevard County Space Coast market area shared by adjacent submarkets in the underlying Apivex data feed. Investors should treat these metrics as representative of the Space Coast submarket rather than Merritt Island in isolation, and use the Merritt Island-specific housing and regulatory data for acquisition analysis.
The Space Coast market posted an ADR of $239, occupancy of 60.2%, and RevPAR of $143.77 in April 2026, generating average monthly revenue of $3,956 per listing. Year-over-year, occupancy slipped 3.5 percentage points and revenue declined 4.0%, while ADR edged up 0.5% versus April 2025. The 2025 full-year average was 62.3% occupancy and $212 ADR, with revenue averaging $3,707/month.
Entire-place units account for 5,976 of 6,537 tracked listings (91.4%). Two-bedroom units lead the bedroom distribution at 2,328 (35.7% of 6,524 bedroom-segmented), followed by one-bedroom (1,718, 26.3%), three-bedroom (1,529, 23.4%), four-bedroom (602, 9.2%), and five-or-more-bedroom (347, 5.3%).
Market scores: total 62.4, investability 77.9, rental demand 88.96, regulation 60.0, seasonality 67.4, revenue growth 48.3.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65% | $173 | $3,059 |
| Feb | 81% | $187 | $3,587 |
| Mar | 81% | $213 | $4,524 |
| Apr | 63% | $200 | $3,427 |
| May | 61% | $191 | $3,212 |
| Jun | 71% | $213 | $4,011 |
| Jul | 72% | $201 | $3,985 |
| Aug | 56% | $179 | $2,916 |
| Sep | 49% | $161 | $2,254 |
| Oct | 56% | $163 | $2,531 |
| Nov | 57% | $166 | $2,434 |
| Dec | 59% | $176 | $2,697 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Merritt Island
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Happy Palm Stays | 408 | 13,709 | ★ 4.82 |
| 2 | Beachside Vacation Rentals | 284 | 8,885 | ★ 4.70 |
| 3 | Evolve | 111 | 5,255 | ★ 4.69 |
| 4 | Beachside VR | 65 | 1,862 | ★ 4.49 |
| 5 | Vacasa | 63 | 1,562 | ★ 4.32 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Merritt Island?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,718 |
| 2 bed | 2,328 |
| 3 bed | 1,529 |
| 4 bed | 602 |
| 5 bed | 347 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $257 |
| Luxury | $407 |
| Professionally Managed | $277 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,883 |
| Entire Place | $4,654 |
| House | $5,078 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 34.6% |
| vrbo | 11.1% |
| both | 54.3% |
Investment Analysis
The Space Coast market average monthly revenue of $3,956 in April 2026 implies an annualized run rate of approximately $47,472. At Merritt Island’s typical home value of $431,185, the gross yield calculates to approximately 11.0% ($47,472 divided by $431,185). For the 2025 full-year perspective, $3,707/month implies $44,484 annualized, or approximately 10.3% gross yield. Both figures are before operating expenses, management fees, taxes, and vacancy.
Critical caveat: these yield calculations assume operation in an STR-eligible zone. Most residential zones in Merritt Island impose a 90-day minimum rental duration that effectively prohibits nightly and weekly STR operation. Sub-90-day rentals are generally permitted only in designated Resort Dwelling (RD) zones, commercial/mixed-use zones, or with a conditional use approval. The gross yield math only applies to properties in eligible zones. Verify zoning before purchasing.
By revenue sub-type, house-type listings generated $4,364/month, entire-place listings averaged $4,157/month, and apartment-type listings averaged $3,627/month in April 2026. By ADR tier: market-wide average $239/night, entire-home $249/night (4.2% premium), professionally managed $272/night (13.8% premium), luxury tier $410/night (71.5% premium).
Merritt Island’s housing market is a seller’s market: the median sale price was $504,333 in April 2026 against a median list price of $466,333, producing a sale-to-list ratio of 1.081 (homes sold above list price on average). There are 328 homes for sale with a median of 43 days to pending. Typical home value is $431,185.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The Space Coast market data shows an average booking lead time of 54.5 days in April 2026, with an average length of stay of 4.9 nights.
A 54.5-day lead time reflects the planning behavior of leisure travelers booking Space Coast stays for winter-season escapes, spring-break trips, and major Kennedy Space Center events. Rocket launches are an important exception: crewed missions and high-profile commercial launches can trigger last-minute booking surges within 2 to 10 days of announcement. Operators who track launch schedules and hold inventory near launch dates may capture premium short-notice rates outside the regular booking window.
A 4.9-night average stay reflects the extended-vacation profile of Space Coast visitors. This supports minimum-night policies of 5 to 7 nights during peak season, reducing turnover costs for larger properties in eligible RD and commercial zones. Shorter minimums (2 to 3 nights) may help maximize occupancy during the September and October slow period.
Combined, the 54.5-day lead time and 4.9-night average stay suggest the 45-to-60-day pre-arrival window as the primary zone for dynamic pricing, with exceptions for rocket launch windows.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
The most important regulatory fact for Merritt Island STR investors is zoning: most residential zones in unincorporated Brevard County impose a 90-day minimum rental duration, which effectively prohibits nightly and weekly Airbnb-style rentals in the majority of the island. Sub-90-day rentals are generally permitted only in designated Resort Dwelling (RD) zones, commercial/mixed-use zones, or with a conditional use approval. Verify the specific parcel’s zoning with Brevard County Planning & Development before purchasing.
In eligible zones, any rental of 181 days or fewer must: (1) hold a Florida DBPR vacation rental license; (2) register with Brevard County and obtain a Business Tax Receipt, renewed annually at approximately $37/year; (3) collect and remit the 5% Brevard County Tourist Development Tax plus the 6% Florida state sales tax (combined 11%); and (4) meet DBPR safety requirements.
No owner-occupancy or primary-residence mandate applies and there is no statewide cap on rental nights. Enforcement is rated moderate. A county commissioner noted in 2023 that fewer than 20% of the 1,200+ STRs in unincorporated Brevard were properly licensed, indicating real but historically inconsistent enforcement.
Effective October 1, 2025, tourist development tax collection moved from the Brevard County Tax Collector to the Brevard County Clerk of Court (ordinance passed July 22, 2025); the 5% rate is unchanged. Ongoing local debate continues around the 90-day residential minimum. Investors should monitor Brevard County zoning updates.
Market Comparison
The Space Coast market data shows April 2026 occupancy of 60.2%, above the U.S. STR median of 55%. ADR at $239 is above the U.S. STR median of approximately $220, consistent with a well-trafficked Florida coastal market. RevPAR at $143.77 exceeds the $131.45 implied by U.S. median occupancy at this ADR ($239 x 0.55), driven by above-median April occupancy.
At the Merritt Island housing price level ($431,185 typical home value), gross yield math is more favorable than in many Florida coastal markets. The Space Coast market’s $47,472 annualized revenue implies approximately 11.0% gross yield at Merritt Island home values, versus approximately 7.6% at oceanfront Melbourne Beach values using the same shared revenue data. The lower home values and competitive seller’s market (sale-to-list ratio 1.081) reflect Merritt Island’s unincorporated character versus oceanfront barrier-island pricing.
Among active property managers in the Space Coast market data: Happy Palm Stays leads with 408 listings (13,709 reviews, 4.82 rating), Beachside Vacation Rentals holds 284 listings (8,885 reviews, 4.70 rating), Evolve manages 111 listings (5,255 reviews, 4.69 rating), Beachside VR operates 65 listings (1,862 reviews, 4.49 rating), and Vacasa holds 63 listings (1,562 reviews, 4.32 rating).
Revenue growth scored 48.3 and rental demand 88.96 out of 100, reflecting steady Space Coast lodging demand anchored by Kennedy Space Center and the wildlife refuge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Merritt Island, Florida
Can I legally operate a nightly short-term rental in Merritt Island, FL?
What permits and taxes apply to STRs in eligible zones in Merritt Island, FL?
What is the average STR revenue in the Merritt Island/Space Coast market?
When is the peak season for Merritt Island, FL short-term rentals?
How competitive is the Merritt Island, FL housing market for STR investors?
Who are the top property managers in the Merritt Island/Space Coast STR market?
How does Merritt Island differ from other Brevard County beach communities for STR investing?
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