Ocala, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Ocala short-term rentals averaged $141 ADR, 45.1% occupancy and $1,815 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Ocala, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Ocala market area is 45%. average monthly revenue in the Ocala market area is $1,815. average daily rate in the Ocala market area is $141. 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
Ocala short-term rental data for September 2026 shows an average daily rate of $141, occupancy of 45.1%, and average monthly revenue of $1,815 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 8.5%, ADR is up 2.6%, and revenue is up 4.3%. The latest month sits in the seasonal trough, so it reads lower than the year to date picture: 2026 through September averages 55.8% occupancy, a $153 ADR, and $2,397 in monthly revenue.
The Ocala area STR market tracks 2,185 listings by type: 1,990 entire places, 190 private rooms, and 5 shared rooms. Entire places therefore make up 91.1% of supply. By bedroom count, 3-bedroom homes are the largest group at 724 listings, followed by 642 one-bedroom, 534 two-bedroom, 240 four-bedroom, and 41 five-bedroom listings. On channels, 1,179 listings are on Airbnb only, 136 on Vrbo only, and 870 on both platforms.
Demand has a distinctive anchor. Marion County drew 1.3 million visitors in its most recent annual tourism period, with over $164 million in direct spending. Horse shows, sales, and equestrian events account for 23 percent of visitors, and the World Equestrian Center is the single largest demand driver. Natural springs, including Silver Springs State Park and Rainbow Springs, attract 19 percent. Sixty-one percent of visitors travel from within Florida. The typical visitor is 51 years old with a household income of $95,000.
Ocala has a population of 70,251. Revenue per listing has been steady since 2021, with annual averages between $2,298 and $2,397, while ADR rose from $128 in 2021 to $153 in 2026 so far.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 63% |
| Feb | 76% |
| Mar | 70% |
| Apr | 50% |
| May | 49% |
| Jun | 56% |
| Jul | 58% |
| Aug | 47% |
| Sep | 46% |
| 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
Short-term rentals are permitted in Ocala. Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b) prohibits local governments from banning vacation rentals or restricting rental duration and frequency for ordinances adopted after June 1, 2011, and the City of Ocala and unincorporated Marion County do not impose owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirements. There is no maximum nights-per-year limit at the state or local level.
Operators need a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental License (Dwelling or Condominium classification) plus a City of Ocala Business Tax Receipt for properties inside city limits. The listed permit cost is $230, renewed annually. Marion County also levies a 4 percent Tourist Development Tax on rentals of six months or less. Neither Airbnb nor Vrbo remits this county tax for Marion County operators, so owners must register with the Marion County Tax Collector and file monthly returns. Florida sales tax is 7.5 percent (6 percent state plus 1.5 percent local surtax), for a combined 11.5 percent on a stay.
HOA covenants can restrict or ban short-term rentals and are enforceable, with Marion Oaks named as a community where rules may limit short-term use. Operating without a DBPR license is a second-degree misdemeanor with fines up to $500 per day. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Recent changes: the local surtax rose from 1 percent to 1.5 percent on January 1, 2025. The City of Ocala opened a June 10, 2025 hearing to amend short-term rental and congregate living definitions to comply with state SB 954, which is aimed mainly at congregate living facilities and recovery residences. SB 280, which would have expanded state preemption, was vetoed.
Market Comparison
Ocala’s September 2026 occupancy was 45.1% at a $141 ADR, while 2026 year to date stands at 55.8% occupancy and a $153 ADR. Ocala’s appeal rests on a lower entry cost, with a typical home value of $265,333.
Growth is a point in its favor. Occupancy is up 8.5% year over year, ADR is up 2.6%, and revenue is up 4.3%. The Ocala area market scores 63.99 overall, with investability at 83.37, seasonality at 88.18, rental demand at 67.56, regulation at 58.31, and revenue growth at 47.39.
Evolve is the largest operator in the Ocala area STR market with 105 listings and a 4.7 average rating. Lake Kerr Rentals follows with 30 listings, then Vacasa and H&H Vacation Rentals with 13 each. That concentration means independent hosts compete against a large professional operator, which makes review quality and pricing discipline important.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ocala, Florida
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