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 in the Melbourne/Titusville market area is 67%. average monthly revenue in the Melbourne/Titusville market area is $4,433. average daily rate in the Melbourne/Titusville market area is $246. the top operator in the Melbourne/Titusville market area 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 StaySTRA 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 StaySTRA 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 |
|---|---|
| Jan | 65% |
| Feb | 81% |
| Mar | 81% |
| Apr | 63% |
| May | 61% |
| Jun | 71% |
| Jul | 72% |
| Aug | 56% |
| Sep | 49% |
| Oct | 56% |
| Nov | 57% |
| Dec | 59% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Merritt Island are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Melbourne/Titusville market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Melbourne/Titusville market as a whole, which includes Merritt Island, so these counts are not Merritt Island-only figures.
| # | 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 nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Merritt Island 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 | 34.6% |
| vrbo | 11.1% |
| both | 54.3% |
Home Value Trends (Merritt Island)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Merritt Island 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 Merritt Island — 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
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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