Santa Rosa Beach, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
South Walton STRs near Santa Rosa Beach earned $477 ADR, 51.3% occupancy and $6,357 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Santa Rosa Beach, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Santa Rosa/Rosemary Beach market area is 51%. average monthly revenue in the Santa Rosa/Rosemary Beach market area is $6,357. average daily rate in the Santa Rosa/Rosemary Beach market area is $477. the top operator in the Santa Rosa/Rosemary Beach market area is Sandestin Golf And Beach Resort with 1,232 listings. market score is 63/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Santa Rosa/Rosemary Beach regional market, which includes Santa Rosa Beach. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Santa Rosa Beach.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers the South Walton STR market, the Gulf-side stretch of Walton County that includes Santa Rosa Beach and is tracked as one performance series. Every performance figure below describes the South Walton STR market rather than Santa Rosa Beach alone. In September 2026 the South Walton STR market averaged an ADR of $477 and occupancy of 51.3%, producing average monthly revenue of $6,357 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 20.8%, ADR is up 8.0%, and revenue is up 13.6%. Entire home ADR was $477, and houses earned $8,247 in the month, well above apartments at $4,942. Luxury listings reached an ADR of $701. Summed across the twelve seasonal months, annual revenue comes to $66,218 per listing. Year to date 2026 through nine months shows occupancy of 59.5%, ADR of $529, and revenue of $8,297 per month, against 52.4%, $489, and $7,041 for full year 2025. Monthly revenue has climbed from $2,815 in 2017 to $7,041 in 2025. Santa Rosa Beach has a population of 9,517 and anchors the 30A corridor. Walton County drew more than 4.7 million visitors in 2024 (a countywide figure), generating over $4.1 billion in visitor spending, although tourism revenues softened roughly 9% year over year in recent reporting. Demand draws on sugar-white beaches, coastal dune lakes, state parks, and planned communities such as Seaside and WaterColor. Peak season is spring and summer, and 30A holds steady shoulder-season bookings. Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Santa Rosa Beach, so this profile omits them. Data runs through September 2026.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 31% |
| Feb | 52% |
| Mar | 67% |
| Apr | 52% |
| May | 66% |
| Jun | 81% |
| Jul | 81% |
| Aug | 52% |
| Sep | 50% |
| Oct | 50% |
| Nov | 32% |
| Dec | 28% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Santa Rosa Beach are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Santa Rosa/Rosemary Beach market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Santa Rosa/Rosemary Beach market as a whole, which includes Santa Rosa Beach, so these counts are not Santa Rosa Beach-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sandestin Golf And Beach Resort | 1,232 | 2,042 | ★ 4.50 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 1,199 | 40,928 | ★ 4.51 |
| 3 | RealJoy | 723 | 26,843 | ★ 4.66 |
| 4 | 360 Blue | 671 | 9,901 | ★ 4.70 |
| 5 | Ocean Reef | 449 | 6,815 | ★ 4.59 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Santa Rosa Beach?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Santa Rosa Beach 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 | 8.3% |
| vrbo | 13.2% |
| both | 78.4% |
Home Value Trends (Santa Rosa Beach)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Santa Rosa Beach 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 Santa Rosa Beach — 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 Santa Rosa Beach, which is in unincorporated Walton County, but enforcement is rated strict. Florida law (Chapter 509 preemption) bars local governments from prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating rental duration or frequency through ordinances adopted after 2011, so there is no annual night cap, no owner-occupancy requirement, and no primary-residence requirement. Operators need both a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental Dwelling License and a Walton County Short-Term Vacation Rental Registration. Under BCC Resolution 2024-57, effective February 1, 2025, the annual registration fee rose from $125 to $300. Registration is required for any dwelling rented more than three times per year for stays under 30 days or advertised as an STR. Prerequisites include a 24/7 local responsible party, property sketches, and compliance and safety affidavits. Rentals must meet South Walton Fire District life-safety standards, and leases must disclose occupancy, parking, trash, noise, and evacuation information. The occupancy tax is 12%, made up of a 5% Tourist Development Tax, 6% state sales tax, and 1% local sales tax. Operating unregistered draws fines of $500 per day, backed by a 24/7 complaint hotline. Renewals are annual, and the county is aligning them with the state DBPR cycle, with a further transition announced February 2, 2026. Verify property-specific zoning through the Walton County GIS site.
Market Comparison
The South Walton STR market shows a premium coastal profile. September 2026 occupancy was 51.3% with an ADR of $477, producing monthly revenue of $6,357 per listing, supported by premium coastal pricing. Seasonal peaks tell a stronger story: July occupancy reached 80.9% and June ADR reached $528, while December occupancy fell to 28.2%. The year to date 2026 occupancy is 59.5%. Revenue growth is also notable, with September revenue up 13.6% year over year. Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts and top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Santa Rosa Beach, so this profile omits them. Investors should weigh the high ADR and strong summer against the high entry cost, a typical home value of $858,900, and the seasonal troughs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
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