Lithonia, Georgia Short-Term Rental Market
Lithonia, GA STRs averaged $172/night at 58.2% occupancy in April 2026, revenue up 9.5% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Lithonia, Georgia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 57%. average monthly revenue is $3,149. average daily rate is $209. the top operator is Evolve with 343 listings. market score is 63/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Atlanta regional market, which includes Lithonia. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lithonia.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Lithonia is a small DeKalb County city approximately 20 miles east of downtown Atlanta and the primary gateway to the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, a 40,000-acre landscape of granite outcrops, nature preserves, and 30 miles of paved trails. The STR market draws primarily from metro Atlanta, serving regional visitors seeking outdoor recreation and Atlanta-area corporate and extended-stay demand.
In April 2026, the market recorded an ADR of $171.81 and occupancy of 58.2%, producing RevPAR of $100.01. Average monthly revenue per active listing was $2,735. Year-over-year, ADR grew 3.0%, occupancy was essentially flat (+0.3%), and revenue increased 9.5%.
The listing mix is predominantly entire-home properties (20,145 units), with a significant private-room segment (5,125 units) and shared rooms at 71. One-bedroom listings dominate the bedroom mix (11,591 units), consistent with a metro-adjacent apartment and guesthouse market. Two- and three-bedroom properties (5,193 and 4,853 units) represent the next largest segments, with 4-bedroom (2,321) and 5-bedroom (1,339) listings rounding out supply.
Airbnb is strongly dominant at 15,586 units, with 8,615 cross-listed on both platforms and 1,140 on VRBO alone. This Airbnb-heavy profile is consistent with urban and metro-adjacent markets.
Market scores: regulation 63.28, total 63.09, investability 62.80, revenue growth 64.29, rental demand 54.97, seasonality 98.08. The actual occupancy data shows a relatively stable 51-64% range across calendar months. Note: listing counts represent the broader DeKalb County/metro Atlanta market area served by this data feed.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51% | $142 | $2,037 |
| Feb | 54% | $139 | $1,913 |
| Mar | 60% | $141 | $2,335 |
| Apr | 56% | $139 | $2,146 |
| May | 59% | $145 | $2,272 |
| Jun | 62% | $151 | $2,445 |
| Jul | 63% | $141 | $2,446 |
| Aug | 58% | $135 | $2,180 |
| Sep | 54% | $137 | $2,014 |
| Oct | 58% | $137 | $2,207 |
| Nov | 55% | $136 | $2,025 |
| Dec | 54% | $141 | $2,110 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lithonia
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 343 | 7,248 | ★ 4.40 |
| 2 | Minty Living | 199 | 5,272 | ★ 4.70 |
| 3 | Properties By Preston | 124 | 291 | ★ 3.54 |
| 4 | Landing, Inc. | 116 | 115 | ★ 3.89 |
| 5 | FHS PARTNERS | 100 | 4,090 | ★ 4.29 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lithonia?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 11,591 |
| 2 bed | 5,193 |
| 3 bed | 4,853 |
| 4 bed | 2,321 |
| 5 bed | 1,339 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $239 |
| Luxury | $377 |
| Professionally Managed | $244 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,816 |
| Entire Place | $3,572 |
| House | $3,352 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 61.5% |
| vrbo | 4.5% |
| both | 34% |
Investment Analysis
At an April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,735 per active listing, a Lithonia-area STR generates approximately $32,816 in gross annual revenue. No housing price data is available for this market in this dataset, so a gross yield calculation cannot be computed.
The tier split shows clear segmentation at the professional and luxury levels. All listings average $172 per night versus entire-home at $196, professionally managed at $203 (an 18% premium over the all-market average), and luxury at $336 (a 95% premium). This indicates meaningful quality differentiation in the market.
Year-over-year, revenue grew 9.5% through April 2026, driven by ADR growth of 3.0% against near-flat occupancy (+0.3%). The 2025 annual average revenue was $2,526 per month, up from $2,483 in 2024, a 1.7% gain. The April 2026 monthly figure of $2,735 exceeds the 2025 annual average, suggesting positive momentum through early 2026.
The regulatory picture changed significantly in 2025-2026. DeKalb County’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance went live May 20, 2026, introducing a $175 annual licensing requirement. The county ordinance does not appear to include owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirements, keeping non-owner-occupied investment STRs accessible in unincorporated DeKalb. Investors should verify whether a specific address falls within Lithonia’s city limits or unincorporated DeKalb, as city and county rules differ.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
In April 2026, the average booking lead time for Lithonia was 28.1 days, and the average length of stay was 4.44 nights.
A 28-day lead time is notably shorter than many vacation-destination markets, consistent with metro Atlanta’s drive-market profile and the area’s role as a short-notice regional recreation gateway. This compressed booking window means that pricing adjustments made 2-4 weeks out have real impact on calendar fill. Dynamic pricing tools that reprice weekly or even daily are better suited to this market than set-and-hold strategies that work in advance-booking resort markets.
An average stay length of 4.44 nights is somewhat longer than typical urban markets, suggesting a meaningful component of extended stays (corporate relocations, week-long recreation visits to Arabia Mountain, or project-based contractors working in the Atlanta metro). This extended-stay profile supports minimum stays of 3-5 nights to reduce turnover costs while keeping the calendar accessible to the moderate-lead-time booking pattern.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Lithonia sits within DeKalb County, Georgia. The City of Lithonia has no STR-specific ordinance; its zoning code addresses only owner-occupied bed-and-breakfast inns. The governing framework is DeKalb County’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance (TA-24-1246762), approved by the Board of Commissioners on July 24, 2025, with the licensing program going live on May 20, 2026.
Under the county ordinance, STRs (stays of 30 consecutive days or fewer) require an annual county Short-Term Rental license from the Business License Division at $175 per year plus a small processing fee, renewed annually on the application anniversary.
Key operating requirements:
– Operators must collect and remit the 8% hotel/motel excise tax monthly (due by the 20th of each month).
– A 24/7 local contact must be designated.
– STRs must meet noise, parking, occupancy, and safety standards.
– STRs are allowed only in residential zoning districts; historic-district properties are ineligible.
– Operating as a party house or event venue is prohibited.
– No annual night cap and no explicit owner-occupancy or primary-residence mandate were found in the county ordinance.
Unlicensed operation can trigger citations, penalties, and license suspension or revocation. Investors should confirm whether a specific property address falls within Lithonia city limits or in unincorporated DeKalb County. Enforcement is classified as moderate.
Market Comparison
Lithonia’s 58.2% occupancy in April 2026 exceeds the US STR median of approximately 55%, reflecting the stable demand base of a metro Atlanta suburb. The ADR of $172 is below the national median of approximately $220, consistent with the suburban profile and the market’s large 1-bedroom apartment segment.
Within the Atlanta metro, Lithonia’s Arabia Mountain gateway position and smaller-city character give it a distinct profile relative to more urban Atlanta neighborhoods, though the demand base remains primarily regional drive-market and extended-stay visitors.
Revenue growth of 9.5% YoY is a strong positive signal for this market. Stable year-round occupancy (51-64% range) and Atlanta metro proximity are the core investment strengths.
Among active property managers, Evolve leads with 343 listings and 7,248 reviews at a 4.40 rating. Minty Living operates 199 listings with 5,272 reviews and a 4.70 rating. Properties By Preston manages 124 listings (3.54 rating), Landing, Inc. 116 listings (3.89 rating), and FHS PARTNERS 100 listings with 4,090 reviews at a 4.29 rating.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lithonia, Georgia
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