Tarpon Springs, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Pinellas County Gulf Coast STRs averaged $220 ADR, 47.3% occupancy and $2,937 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Tarpon Springs, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the St. Petersburg market area is 47%. average monthly revenue in the St. Petersburg market area is $2,937. average daily rate in the St. Petersburg market area is $220. the top operator in the St. Petersburg market area is Resort Rentals with 403 listings. market score is 56/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the St. Petersburg regional market, which includes Tarpon Springs. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Tarpon Springs.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This page covers short-term rental performance for Tarpon Springs, Florida, using data through September 2026. Performance figures describe the Pinellas County Gulf Coast STR market. Tarpon Springs sits in Pinellas County, so the numbers below are regional benchmarks rather than figures measured only inside city limits. In September 2026 the Pinellas County Gulf Coast STR market averaged an ADR of $220, occupancy of 47.3% and monthly revenue of $2,937. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 5.6%, ADR is up 7.4% and revenue is up 7.0%, so the month shows growth in both rate and bookings even though September sits in the slow season. Calendar-year averages run higher than a single September reading. The 2025 average was 64.7% occupancy, a $250 ADR and $4,415 in monthly revenue, and the first nine months of 2026 are at 65.6% occupancy, a $268 ADR and $4,798 in monthly revenue. Tarpon Springs has a population of 25,791 and is a heritage tourism destination best known as the Sponge Capital of the World. The Sponge Docks along Dodecanese Boulevard, Greek restaurants, boat cruises and the January Epiphany cross dive draw day visitors from the Tampa and St. Petersburg metro and beyond. Local officials describe tourism as the city’s number one industry, though no authoritative annual visitor count is published. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Tarpon Springs, so this profile omits them. Rentals are legal but tightly zoned, with a 1,200 foot spacing rule between approved tourist homes, which limits how many properties can operate.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 65% |
| Feb | 82% |
| Mar | 82% |
| Apr | 65% |
| May | 62% |
| Jun | 70% |
| Jul | 69% |
| Aug | 54% |
| Sep | 48% |
| Oct | 56% |
| Nov | 57% |
| Dec | 57% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Tarpon Springs are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in St. Petersburg market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the St. Petersburg market as a whole, which includes Tarpon Springs, so these counts are not Tarpon Springs-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Resort Rentals | 403 | 16,580 | ★ 4.58 |
| 2 | ITrip Vacations | 342 | 30,185 | ★ 4.65 |
| 3 | Travel Resort Services | 330 | 9,076 | ★ 4.65 |
| 4 | Vacasa | 302 | 15,079 | ★ 4.59 |
| 5 | Evolve | 299 | 12,477 | ★ 4.69 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Tarpon Springs?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Tarpon Springs 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 | 28.5% |
| vrbo | 11.3% |
| both | 60.2% |
Home Value Trends (Tarpon Springs)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Tarpon Springs 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 Tarpon Springs — 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 Tarpon Springs but tightly zoned. Florida law preempts local governments from banning short-term rentals or regulating rental duration and frequency, so the city controls where they may operate. A short-term rental means a stay of six weeks or less. They are permitted by right in the Resort Residential district and by Conditional Use, which requires a public hearing, in the RM, RO, WDI-B and WDI districts. Under SmartCode they are allowed by right in T4c and by Conditional Use in several T4, T5 and SD zones. Tourist homes must be detached single-unit dwellings and cannot sit within 1,200 feet of a pre-existing approved tourist home. Occupancy is capped at about two persons per bedroom plus two in a common area, with a maximum of ten. Operators need a State DBPR transient public lodging license and a City Business Tax Receipt, and the permit renews annually. A permit cost is not published. Guests pay a 13% transient tax on stays of six months or less, which includes the 6% Pinellas County Tourist Development tax, the 6% state sales tax and a 1% surtax. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no annual night cap. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. Pinellas County adopted a stricter ordinance for unincorporated areas with a Certificate of Use, inspections and fines of $500 per day. It does not directly govern the city, but it signals tighter enforcement. Verify any specific address with city planning before buying.
Market Comparison
The Pinellas County Gulf Coast STR market posts a September 2026 ADR of $220 and occupancy of 47.3%. The September reading is a seasonal low. On a calendar-year basis occupancy was 64.7% in 2025 and 65.6% so far in 2026, and the 2025 ADR was $250. Year over year, September occupancy is up 5.6% and ADR is up 7.4%, so both measures are rising. Top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Tarpon Springs, so this profile omits them. Buyers should expect strong winter and spring performance, a soft autumn, and zoning rules that limit supply. The 1,200 foot spacing requirement and district limits restrict how many competing tourist homes can operate, which can protect the position of a properly permitted property.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tarpon Springs, Florida
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