Palm Bay, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Space Coast STR market averaged $183 ADR, 50.5% occupancy and $2,638 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Palm Bay, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Melbourne/Titusville market area is 50%. average monthly revenue in the Melbourne/Titusville market area is $2,638. average daily rate in the Melbourne/Titusville market area is $183. 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 Palm Bay. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Palm Bay.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers the Space Coast STR market, a Brevard County region on Florida’s east coast that includes Palm Bay and neighboring Brevard County communities. Performance figures below describe that regional market rather than Palm Bay alone, because the available data is reported at the regional level. In September 2026, the average daily rate was $183 and occupancy was 50.5%. Average monthly revenue per listing was $2,638. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 9.8%, ADR is up 5.1% and revenue is up 10.8%. Entire home listings averaged $193 per night, and the luxury tier averaged $335. Palm Bay is the largest city in Brevard County, with a population of 130,132. It is mainly a residential community, and most visitor traffic in the region flows to Space Coast beaches, Kennedy Space Center, Port Canaveral and Cocoa Beach. Palm Bay itself draws outdoor recreation visitors to Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Castaway Point Park and the Indian River Lagoon, along with overflow lodging demand from people visiting the wider Space Coast who want lower cost stays. City level visitor counts are not published. For 2026 through September, the regional average is 65.0% occupancy at a $226 ADR, producing $4,032 in average monthly revenue, compared with 62.2%, $213 and $3,707 for full year 2025. Bedroom, channel and listing type counts and top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Palm Bay, so this profile omits them. Short-term rentals are legal in Palm Bay with no city permit, which keeps the entry process straightforward for new operators.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 65% |
| Feb | 81% |
| Mar | 81% |
| Apr | 63% |
| May | 61% |
| Jun | 71% |
| Jul | 72% |
| Aug | 56% |
| Sep | 50% |
| Oct | 56% |
| Nov | 57% |
| Dec | 59% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Palm Bay 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 Palm Bay, so these counts are not Palm Bay-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 Palm Bay?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Palm Bay 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 (Palm Bay)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Palm Bay 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 Palm Bay — 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 legal in Palm Bay. The city has no dedicated short-term rental ordinance and imposes no city level permit, night cap or owner occupancy rule. Regulation is driven by Florida state law and Brevard County. Under Florida’s state preemption (Chapter 509), municipalities cannot prohibit vacation rentals or regulate their duration or frequency for ordinances adopted after 2011. To operate legally, an owner must hold a Florida DBPR vacation rental license as a transient public lodging establishment, register with the Florida Department of Revenue to collect and remit taxes, and obtain a Brevard County Business Tax Receipt. The receipt costs about $37 per year, renews annually and requires proof of ownership. Guests staying six months or less pay the 5% Brevard County Tourist Development Tax plus 6% Florida state sales tax and any applicable local surtax, roughly 11% or more combined. There is no maximum nights limit and no primary residence requirement. Enforcement at the city level is minimal because there is no local program, so compliance mainly means keeping state and county licenses current and remitting taxes. Effective October 1, 2025, Tourist Development Tax collection moved from the Tax Collector to the Brevard County Clerk of Court, and the rate remains 5%. Owners now remit the bed tax to the Clerk. Investors should confirm current requirements with the City Clerk at 321-952-3414 and the Brevard County Clerk of Court.
Market Comparison
The Space Coast STR market ran at 50.5% occupancy and a $183 ADR in September 2026. September is the weakest month here, however. The seasonal average for March reaches 81.2% occupancy, and February, March, June and July all run above 70% occupancy. The 2026 year to date figures of 65.0% occupancy and a $226 ADR are well above the September reading. Growth is also strong, with revenue up 10.8% year over year. Palm Bay adds a regulatory advantage over many US markets, with no city permit, no night cap and no owner occupancy requirement. Top operator rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Palm Bay, so they are omitted from this profile. Investors should read the regional numbers as a guide to demand across the Space Coast and verify Palm Bay specific performance with local comparable listings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Palm Bay, Florida
Are short-term rentals legal in Palm Bay, Florida?
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What is the occupancy rate in the Space Coast STR market?
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What taxes apply to short-term rental guests in Palm Bay?
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How far ahead do guests book and how long do they stay?
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