Ocala, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Ocala STR market averaged $154/night at 49.1% occupancy in April 2026, with strong equestrian and springs-driven demand across roughly 2,200 listings.
Quick Answer: Ocala, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Ocala market area is 49%. average monthly revenue in the Ocala market area is $2,260. average daily rate in the Ocala market area is $159. the top operator in the Ocala market area is Evolve with 105 listings. market score is 64/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the wider Ocala market, which covers 6 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Ocala.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Ocala, Florida short-term rental market is a mid-size destination shaped by two distinct demand drivers: the World Equestrian Center (the largest equestrian complex in the United States) and a network of natural springs including Silver Springs State Park and Ocala National Forest. The market totals approximately 2,185 active listings, of which 1,990 are entire-place listings, 190 are private rooms, and 5 are shared rooms.
In April 2026, the market averaged $154 per night with 49.1% occupancy, producing average monthly revenue of $2,230 per listing. RevPAR was $76. Year-over-year trends are essentially flat: occupancy rose 1.2 percentage points, ADR edged down less than 0.1%, and revenue grew 0.9% — a stable but low-growth trajectory.
By bedroom count, three-bedroom properties lead the market at 724 listings, followed by one-bedrooms at 642, two-bedrooms at 534, four-bedrooms at 240, and five-bedrooms at 41. The channel mix skews heavily toward Airbnb: 1,179 listings are Airbnb-only, 870 appear on both platforms, and 136 are VRBO-only. Market scores highlight Ocala’s strengths: seasonality rates at 88.18 (indicating relatively consistent year-round demand), investability at 83.37, and a total market score of 63.99 — above average relative to comparable mid-size Florida markets.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 63% |
| Feb | 76% |
| Mar | 70% |
| Apr | 50% |
| May | 49% |
| Jun | 56% |
| Jul | 58% |
| Aug | 48% |
| Sep | 47% |
| Oct | 49% |
| Nov | 53% |
| Dec | 53% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Ocala are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Ocala market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Ocala market as a whole, which includes Ocala, so these counts are not Ocala-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 105 | 2,667 | ★ 4.70 |
| 2 | Lake Kerr Rentals | 30 | 182 | ★ 4.91 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 13 | 145 | ★ 4.29 |
| 4 | H&H Vacation Rentals | 13 | 391 | ★ 4.88 |
| 5 | Landing | 10 | 1 | ★ 1.50 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Ocala?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Ocala 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 | 54% |
| vrbo | 6.2% |
| both | 39.8% |
Home Value Trends (Ocala)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Ocala 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 Ocala — 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
Ocala and Marion County operate under Florida’s state preemption framework, which bars local governments from enacting outright STR bans or duration restrictions for ordinances adopted after June 1, 2011. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirements apply under either city or county rules.
Operators must obtain two licenses. A Florida DBPR Vacation Rental License is required statewide: approximately $170 per year for a single dwelling unit, plus a $50 application fee on the first application and a $10 HEP fee. Properties within the incorporated City of Ocala also require a City of Ocala Business Tax Receipt. Marion County requires separate registration for the 4% Tourist Development Tax (TDT), which applies to all rentals of six months or less. Notably, neither Airbnb nor VRBO remits this county TDT on behalf of Marion County operators; owners must register with the Marion County Tax Collector and file monthly returns.
Total tax on a guest stay is 7.5% Florida sales tax (6% state plus 1.5% local surtax, increased from 1% as of January 1, 2025) plus 4% TDT, for a combined 11.5%. There is no maximum nights-per-year cap. HOA covenants in specific communities, notably Marion Oaks, may restrict short-term use and carry independent legal weight. Operating without a DBPR license is a second-degree misdemeanor with fines up to $500 per day. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Ocala’s $154 average daily rate in April 2026 runs below the US STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the market’s inland, mid-price positioning. However, its 49.1% April occupancy is comparable to national norms for a shoulder month, and the 2025 annual average occupancy of 54.4% tracks near the national median of approximately 55%.
The market’s investability score of 83.37 and seasonality score of 88.18 are genuine competitive strengths relative to higher-cost Florida coastal markets. The gross yield of approximately 9.9% on a $269,002 typical home is more accessible to entry-level investors than markets like Naples ($549,494 entry) at a similar yield.
Evolve leads the Ocala market with 105 listings and 2,667 reviews at a 4.70 rating. Lake Kerr Rentals ranks second with 30 listings and a notably high 4.91 rating across 182 reviews, reflecting a local specialist’s strong guest satisfaction. Vacasa holds 13 listings (4.29 rating) and H&H Vacation Rentals 13 listings (4.88 rating, 391 reviews). Together, the top 4 meaningful operators (excluding Landing’s single review) manage about 161 listings, approximately 7.4% of the total market — meaning over 90% of supply is independently managed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ocala, Florida
What is the average daily rate for STRs in Ocala, FL?
How much can an Ocala short-term rental earn per month?
What makes Ocala a strong STR investment market?
Are short-term rentals legal in Ocala, FL?
What taxes apply to Ocala short-term rentals?
When is the peak season for Ocala STRs?
Who are the top property managers in Ocala's STR market?
Analyze Ocala Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Ocala.
Free Ocala STR Calculator →
