Des Plaines, Illinois Short-Term Rental Market
Des Plaines STRs averaged $184/night at 62.8% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 5.9% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Des Plaines, Illinois is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Chicago market area is 76%. average monthly revenue in the Chicago market area is $5,293. average daily rate in the Chicago market area is $260. the top operator in the Chicago market area is Blueground with 687 listings. market score is 71/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Chicago regional market, which includes Des Plaines. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Des Plaines.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Des Plaines short-term rental market is a Chicago-suburban airport market with approximately 16,405 active listings, driven primarily by O’Hare International Airport proximity and corporate/leisure demand from the broader northwest Chicago corridor. As of April 2026, operators averaged $184.32 per night at 62.8% occupancy, producing a RevPAR of $115.66.
Entire-place rentals account for 13,137 of 16,405 total listings (80%), with private rooms adding 3,231 units. One-bedroom listings are the most common at 6,932, followed by two-bedrooms (4,281), three-bedrooms (3,004), four-bedrooms (1,410), and five-plus bedrooms (727). Channel distribution shows Airbnb dominance: 9,843 listings are Airbnb-only, 5,761 appear on both platforms, and 801 are VRBO-only.
Year-over-year performance is positive: occupancy rose 3.4 percentage points, ADR was essentially flat (+0.15%), and monthly revenue grew 5.9% compared to April 2025. The rental demand score of 84.91 is the market’s strongest dimension, reflecting consistent airport-driven and business-travel demand. The total market score of 71.14 positions Des Plaines as a solid mid-tier suburban market in the greater Chicago area.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 48% |
| Feb | 56% |
| Mar | 62% |
| Apr | 61% |
| May | 69% |
| Jun | 73% |
| Jul | 72% |
| Aug | 68% |
| Sep | 66% |
| Oct | 64% |
| Nov | 56% |
| Dec | 55% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Des Plaines are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Chicago market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Chicago market as a whole, which includes Des Plaines, so these counts are not Des Plaines-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blueground | 687 | 290 | ★ 4.40 |
| 2 | Luxury Lili Stays | 189 | 9,757 | ★ 4.64 |
| 3 | Kasa Properties | 156 | 7,826 | ★ 4.71 |
| 4 | Slumber Stay | 137 | 7,814 | ★ 4.53 |
| 5 | Evolve | 127 | 2,763 | ★ 4.36 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Des Plaines?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Des Plaines 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 | 60% |
| vrbo | 4.9% |
| both | 35.1% |
Home Value Trends (Des Plaines)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Des Plaines 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 Des Plaines — 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
Des Plaines does not have a dedicated short-term rental ordinance. STRs are legal and treated the same as standard residential rentals under the city’s Residential Rental Property License program, administered by the Community and Economic Development Department. A separate STR-specific license does not exist.
License fees vary by property type: approximately $100 for single-family houses, $50 for townhouses, and $20 for condos or apartment units per unit. All licenses expire December 31 and must be renewed annually. Operators must complete the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program seminar before licensing, and properties are subject to inspections. There is no owner-occupancy requirement and no enforced cap on annual rental nights.
A 2017 proposal to limit STR use to 10 days per year and prohibit rentals under 24 hours was drafted but indefinitely deferred and never adopted. Future restrictions remain possible.
On taxes, Illinois extended its state Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax (6% of 94% of gross receipts, effective rate approximately 5.64%) to short-term rentals beginning July 1, 2025. Effective January 6, 2026, platforms including Airbnb and VRBO must collect and remit Illinois lodging taxes on behalf of hosts. Cook County’s hotel accommodations tax and any applicable Des Plaines local hotel-motel tax may also apply. Enforcement is moderate and focused on licensing, inspections, and crime-free certification compliance.
Market Comparison
Des Plaines competes as a high-occupancy, moderate-rate suburban market. Its 62.8% April 2026 occupancy exceeds the US STR median of approximately 55%, but its $184.32 ADR is below the national median of approximately $220. The market compensates with volume and demand consistency driven by O’Hare airport proximity.
The rental demand score of 84.91 is the market’s standout metric, reflecting the structural demand floor created by one of the world’s busiest airports. The regulation score of 67.57 is above average, reflecting a permissive licensing framework without night caps or owner-occupancy requirements.
Among professional operators, Blueground leads with 687 listings and a 4.40 average rating across 290 reviews, reflecting a large corporate-housing footprint with limited consumer review volume. Luxury Lili Stays holds 189 listings with 9,757 reviews at 4.64. Kasa Properties manages 156 listings with 7,826 reviews at a 4.71 average rating. Together, the top three operators account for 1,032 listings, approximately 6.3% of total market inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions About Des Plaines, Illinois
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