Panama City, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Panama City and Lynn Haven STRs averaged $287 ADR, 55.6% occupancy and $4,425 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Panama City, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Panama City market area is 56%. average monthly revenue in the Panama City market area is $4,425. average daily rate in the Panama City market area is $287. the top operator in the Panama City market area is Vacasa with 1,194 listings. market score is 62/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the wider Panama City market, which covers 4 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Panama City.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers the Panama City and Lynn Haven STR market, the Bay County mainland area along St. Andrews Bay. Performance figures describe that two-town area, because the towns share one tracked metric series, so every number below reflects the region rather than Panama City alone. Panama City has about 36,000 residents and sits next to Panama City Beach, which draws approximately 4.5 million visitors a year to Bay County. In September 2026 the area averaged an ADR of $287, occupancy of 55.6% and average monthly revenue of $4,425. Entire places averaged $288 per night. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 19.9%, ADR rose 7.9% and revenue rose 17.8%. Year to date through September, 2026 is running at 62.1% occupancy and a $304 ADR, against 54.8% and $274 for full-year 2025. Longer term, average monthly revenue has climbed from $1,969 in 2017 to $4,331 in 2025. By property type, houses lead at $4,933 per month, followed by entire places at $4,439 and apartments at $4,287. Guests book about 63 days ahead and stay 4.7 nights on average. Demand comes from outdoor recreation, boating and fishing, travel linked to Tyndall Air Force Base, and cultural visitors drawn to downtown galleries and the historic St. Andrews district, rather than the mass beach tourism concentrated in Panama City Beach. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Panama City, so this profile omits it. Investors should treat these figures as a regional benchmark and check them against individual comparable listings before underwriting a purchase.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 38% |
| Feb | 62% |
| Mar | 67% |
| Apr | 51% |
| May | 64% |
| Jun | 82% |
| Jul | 81% |
| Aug | 53% |
| Sep | 52% |
| Oct | 50% |
| Nov | 33% |
| Dec | 35% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Panama City are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Panama City market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Panama City market as a whole, which includes Panama City, so these counts are not Panama City-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 1,194 | 39,907 | ★ 4.32 |
| 2 | Panhandle Getaways | 852 | 9,635 | ★ 4.48 |
| 3 | RealJoy | 681 | 23,563 | ★ 4.49 |
| 4 | Southern Vacation Rentals by Vtrips | 594 | 6,259 | ★ 4.24 |
| 5 | Emerald Coast Destinations | 426 | 22,520 | ★ 4.29 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Panama City?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Panama City 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 | 15.1% |
| vrbo | 16.1% |
| both | 68.8% |
Home Value Trends (Panama City)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Panama City 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 Panama City — 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 Panama City, but only in specific zones and with layered licensing. Permitted zones are R-2, UR-1, UR-2, MU-2, MU-3, Downtown, St. Andrews and the Cultural Heritage Districts. R-1 single-unit residential zones do not permit STRs. Properties outside permitted zones must operate as long-term rentals of 181 or more consecutive nights. Operators need three registrations: a City of Panama City Merchant Business License, a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental license for properties rented more than three times a year for stays under 30 days, and Bay County Tourist Development Tax registration. Each dwelling unit requires its own city license, and the license renews annually. The city charges a 1% monthly fee on gross rental income, with a $1.50 monthly minimum to keep the license active. The combined occupancy tax is 11%, made up of the 5% Bay County tax and 6% Florida sales tax. No owner-occupancy or primary residence requirement applies, and no annual night cap is published. Florida state preemption under FS 509.032(7) prevents local governments from banning STRs outright or limiting the duration or frequency of stays, unless grandfathered before June 1, 2011. Filings now run through the GovOS online portal, and paper coupons are no longer accepted. Governor DeSantis vetoed SB 280 in June 2024, leaving local authority largely unchanged. Enforcement is rated moderate. Panama City Beach is a separate municipality with stricter rules, so verify the jurisdiction before buying.
Market Comparison
The Panama City and Lynn Haven STR market posts 55.6% occupancy and a $287 ADR in September 2026. The market also shows momentum: occupancy is up 19.9% and revenue is up 17.8% year over year. Seasonality is the main weakness, with occupancy ranging from 82.5% in June to 33.3% in November, a wider range than many year-round markets. Market operator concentration is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Panama City, so this profile omits it. Entry costs are moderate, with a typical home value of $282,475, and buyers have some negotiating leverage given an 88.9% sale-to-list ratio. Investors comparing this area with beach-front markets should note the zoning limits, annual licensing and 11% lodging tax, which are part of the cost of operating here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Panama City, Florida
What is the average Airbnb daily rate in Panama City, FL?
What is the occupancy rate for short-term rentals in Panama City?
How much do Panama City short-term rentals earn per month?
Are short-term rentals legal in Panama City, Florida?
What taxes apply to Panama City vacation rentals?
What is the best time of year to rent out a property in Panama City?
How much does a home cost in the Panama City area?
Analyze Panama City Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Panama City.
Free Panama City STR Calculator →
