Cleveland, Georgia Short-Term Rental Market
Cleveland, GA STRs averaged $264 per night at 40.6% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 2.9% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Cleveland, Georgia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the North GA Mtns market area is 54%. average monthly revenue in the North GA Mtns market area is $4,483. average daily rate in the North GA Mtns market area is $309. the top operator in the North GA Mtns market area is Evolve with 470 listings. market score is 88/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the North GA Mtns regional market, which includes Cleveland. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Cleveland.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Cleveland is the county seat of White County in the North Georgia mountains, roughly 75 miles northeast of Atlanta. The market is a mountain leisure destination anchored by outdoor recreation (more than 20 waterfalls, three state parks, tubing, ziplining, hiking), the Unicoi Wine Trail, and Babyland General Hospital, which reports approximately 250,000 visitors per year.
As of April 2026, the market posted a 40.6% occupancy rate and an average daily rate (ADR) of $264, producing a RevPAR of $107 and average monthly revenue of $3,097 per listing. Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy rose 2.0 percentage points, ADR increased 2.9%, and revenue per listing grew 2.9%.
The listing mix is overwhelmingly entire-place accommodations: 9,838 entire-place listings, with just 117 private rooms and 1 shared room. By bedroom count, three-bedroom units are most common (3,276 listings), followed by two-bedroom (2,458), four-bedroom (1,776), and one-bedroom (1,526). Five-bedroom units account for 915 listings.
A notable feature of this market’s distribution: 7,045 listings operate on both Airbnb and VRBO, which is an unusually high dual-platform share, compared to just 2,014 Airbnb-only and 897 VRBO-only. This reflects an operator base experienced with multi-channel distribution.
The composite StaySTRA market score is 87.8 out of 100, with particularly strong investability (91.8) and solid revenue growth (72.3) and seasonality (75.8) scores.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 33% |
| Feb | 39% |
| Mar | 48% |
| Apr | 44% |
| May | 44% |
| Jun | 58% |
| Jul | 64% |
| Aug | 47% |
| Sep | 47% |
| Oct | 61% |
| Nov | 55% |
| Dec | 51% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Cleveland are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in North GA Mtns market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the North GA Mtns market as a whole, which includes Cleveland, so these counts are not Cleveland-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 470 | 28,108 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 457 | 32,402 | ★ 4.58 |
| 3 | Escape To Blue Ridge | 371 | 4,391 | ★ 4.78 |
| 4 | Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals | 292 | 5,288 | ★ 4.71 |
| 5 | Georgia CFY | 187 | 4,592 | ★ 4.57 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Cleveland?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Cleveland 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 | 20.2% |
| vrbo | 9% |
| both | 70.8% |
Home Value Trends (Cleveland)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Cleveland 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 Cleveland — 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
Cleveland sits in a dual-jurisdiction market with materially different rules inside the City of Cleveland versus unincorporated White County. Investors must confirm which jurisdiction applies to a target property before proceeding.
Within the City of Cleveland, the City Council adopted an STR ordinance (codified at Code of Ordinances Chapter 12, Article VI) on March 14, 2022, that allows STRs in residential districts. Operators must obtain city permit approval, meet life-safety codes, and hold an annual occupational tax certificate (business license) renewable by January 1. A lodging excise tax of 8% applies to accommodations. Permit and license fee amounts are set in a separate fee schedule not published online; verify current amounts with the City of Cleveland.
Most STR inventory in the Cleveland market actually lies in unincorporated White County, which is governed by a separate and stricter Host License program (effective January 31, 2024). White County imposes a hard countywide cap of 650 active licenses. At adoption, approximately 501 licenses covering 546 units had already been issued, meaning available license slots may be limited. Licenses expire December 31 annually, are non-transferable (new owners have 60 days to reapply), and require proof of commercial or STR-specific insurance, a 24/7 local responsible-party contact who must respond to complaints within 2 hours, and planning-department eligibility verification. Some subdivisions are excluded from STR eligibility per the county STR subdivision map. The county also levies an 8% lodging tax.
No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies in either jurisdiction. Enforcement is at moderate severity in both jurisdictions.
Market Comparison
Against national STR benchmarks, Cleveland’s April 2026 occupancy of 40.6% is below the US median of approximately 55%, while its $264 ADR significantly exceeds the national median of roughly $220. The market earns well above average on rate but below average on occupancy, which is typical of mountain cabin markets where larger properties command premium nightly rates while not filling every night.
The market’s composite score of 87.8 out of 100 ranks it among the stronger mountain markets in the StaySTRA dataset, driven by investability (91.8), revenue growth (72.3), and seasonality (75.8).
Professional operators are deeply embedded in this market. Evolve leads with 470 listings and 28,108 reviews (4.76 rating). Vacasa holds 457 listings and 32,402 reviews (4.58 rating). Escape To Blue Ridge operates 371 listings with 4,391 reviews (4.78 rating). Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals manages 292 listings with 5,288 reviews (4.71 rating). Together, the top four professional managers account for approximately 1,590 listings out of an estimated 9,956 total active listings.
The strong professional operator presence, combined with the White County 650-license cap and the high dual-platform listing rate, points to a maturing market where sophisticated operators have already secured their position.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cleveland, Georgia
What is the average nightly rate for STRs in Cleveland, GA?
What occupancy rates do Cleveland, GA STRs achieve?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Cleveland, GA?
What is the White County STR license cap and what does it mean for investors?
What lodging taxes apply to Cleveland, GA short-term rentals?
What is the gross revenue potential for a Cleveland, GA STR?
Who are the top property managers in the Cleveland, GA STR market?
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