Pensacola, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Pensacola area STR in September 2026 averaged $299 ADR, 59.3% occupancy and $4,774 monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Pensacola, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Pensacola market area is 59%. average monthly revenue in the Pensacola market area is $4,774. average daily rate in the Pensacola market area is $299. the top operator in the Pensacola market area is Vacasa with 474 listings. market score is 82/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the wider Pensacola market, which covers 4 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Pensacola.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers the Pensacola area STR market, a western Florida Gulf Coast region that includes Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, and Perdido Key. Performance figures below describe that shared regional market rather than Pensacola alone. In September 2026 the average short-term rental earned an ADR of $299 at 59.3% occupancy, producing average monthly revenue of $4,774. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 17.5%, ADR is up 5.8%, and revenue is up 18.9%, so growth this year has come mostly from more booked nights rather than rate increases alone. The 2026 year to date figures through September are 65.0% occupancy, a $310 ADR, and $5,572 in monthly revenue, ahead of the full year 2025 average of 58.3% occupancy, a $285 ADR, and $4,736 in monthly revenue. Summing the typical monthly revenue across all twelve months gives an annualized figure of $47,122 per listing. Demand is anchored by tourism. The Pensacola area drew roughly 2.54 million visitors in fiscal year 2024, a record and up 2.3% from the year before, generating about $2.01 billion in economic impact and supporting roughly 18,700 jobs. Visitors come for Gulf Coast beaches, the free National Naval Aviation Museum, Blue Angels practice shows, and historic downtown attractions, with military connected travel tied to NAS Pensacola adding steady demand. The area has about 53,898 residents in the city of Pensacola itself. Bedroom, channel, and listing type counts and top operator figures are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Pensacola, so this profile omits them. The data month for every figure in this section is September 2026 unless a year or period is named.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 40% |
| Feb | 62% |
| Mar | 70% |
| Apr | 58% |
| May | 69% |
| Jun | 81% |
| Jul | 80% |
| Aug | 56% |
| Sep | 55% |
| Oct | 56% |
| Nov | 43% |
| Dec | 38% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Pensacola are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Pensacola market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Pensacola market as a whole, which includes Pensacola, so these counts are not Pensacola-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 474 | 22,239 | ★ 4.51 |
| 2 | Premier Island Management Group | 434 | 7,989 | ★ 4.75 |
| 3 | Southern Vacation Rentals by Vtrips | 371 | 10,594 | ★ 4.52 |
| 4 | Luxury Coatal Vacation Rentlas | 355 | 10,788 | ★ 4.78 |
| 5 | Paradise Beach Homes | 264 | 12,547 | ★ 4.77 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Pensacola?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Pensacola 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 | 23.7% |
| vrbo | 13.4% |
| both | 62.9% |
Home Value Trends (Pensacola)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Pensacola 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 Pensacola — 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 the Pensacola area and a permit is required. Florida licenses vacation rentals at the state level through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and operators also register with Escambia County for the Tourist Development Tax and hold a local business tax receipt. The reported licensing cost is about $170 for a full year single unit license, renewed annually, with a $50 non refundable application fee and a half year license starting around $90. The Tourist Development Tax is 5% on rentals of six months or less, in addition to Florida’s 6% state sales tax and any applicable local surtax. Under Florida preemption law (Fla. Stat. 509.032), cities and counties cannot ban vacation rentals or cap the frequency or duration of stays unless they had a qualifying ordinance before June 1, 2011. There is no cap on nights per year, no owner occupancy requirement, and no primary residence requirement. Escambia County applies operational standards commonly cited as occupancy limits of about two persons per bedroom plus two, capped near 12. In unincorporated tourist oriented areas, a minimum lot size of about 15,000 square feet and proximity to major road requirements may apply. The City of Pensacola relies largely on state licensing, local business tax, and code and nuisance enforcement. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. The Tourist Development Tax rose from 4% to 5% in April 2021, and Florida has continued to reinforce statewide licensing and preemption. Rules differ for unincorporated areas, so confirm requirements for the exact address before buying.
Market Comparison
The Pensacola area posted 59.3% occupancy and a $299 ADR in September 2026. The year to date 2026 figures are stronger, at 65.0% occupancy and a $310 ADR. The pattern is not uniform through the year, though. December occupancy of 38.2% and January occupancy of 40.2% sit well below the September 2026 figure, while June and July at 81.2% and 80.0% sit far above it. That makes the Pensacola area a market where annual results depend heavily on capturing the summer peak. Compared with many Florida beach markets, regulation is a relative strength: state preemption blocks local bans and stay caps, and there is no owner occupancy rule. Bedroom, channel, and listing type counts and top operator figures are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Pensacola, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pensacola, Florida
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