Frankfort, Kentucky Short-Term Rental Market
Frankfort, KY STRs averaged $183/night at 50.4% occupancy in April 2026, with a market investability score of 97.8/100.
Quick Answer: Frankfort, Kentucky is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 50%. average monthly revenue is $2,475. average daily rate is $183. the top operator is Evolve with 344 listings. market score is 89/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Frankfort is Kentucky’s state capital with a population of approximately 28,600, generating short-term rental activity that draws on government, history, and bourbon tourism rather than resort demand. In April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $183 and occupancy of 50.4%, producing RevPAR of $92. Year-over-year, occupancy is essentially flat (+0.2%), while ADR gained 2.7% and revenue grew 3.4%, indicating modest but steady rate-led growth.
The active listing base is substantial for a city of this size. Entire-place listings dominate at 7,999 units, with private rooms accounting for 449 and shared rooms at just 3. By bedroom count, the inventory is fairly evenly distributed: 1-bedroom (2,293 listings), 2-bedroom (2,493), and 3-bedroom (2,234) each carry meaningful share, with 4-bedroom (859) and 5-bedroom-plus (566) rounding out the supply. Channel distribution shows 3,945 Airbnb-only listings, 813 VRBO-only, and 3,693 active on both platforms, reflecting a mature multi-channel market. The market’s total score of 88.9/100 is anchored by an exceptionally high investability score of 97.8/100.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34% | $123 | $1,328 |
| Feb | 44% | $124 | $1,370 |
| Mar | 53% | $144 | $1,926 |
| Apr | 51% | $154 | $2,092 |
| May | 51% | $163 | $2,173 |
| Jun | 60% | $188 | $2,976 |
| Jul | 63% | $190 | $3,315 |
| Aug | 52% | $179 | $2,618 |
| Sep | 47% | $166 | $2,151 |
| Oct | 51% | $161 | $2,334 |
| Nov | 45% | $150 | $1,902 |
| Dec | 41% | $143 | $1,732 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Frankfort
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 344 | 14,456 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Green Turtle Bay Resort | 85 | 274 | ★ 4.73 |
| 3 | Neat Suites | 41 | 1,165 | ★ 4.81 |
| 4 | Lyric | 39 | 3,002 | ★ 4.81 |
| 5 | Lake Cumberland Resort III | 30 | 902 | ★ 4.66 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Frankfort?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,293 |
| 2 bed | 2,493 |
| 3 bed | 2,234 |
| 4 bed | 859 |
| 5 bed | 566 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $186 |
| Luxury | $315 |
| Professionally Managed | $205 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,826 |
| Entire Place | $2,534 |
| House | $2,729 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 46.7% |
| vrbo | 9.6% |
| both | 43.7% |
Investment Analysis
Frankfort’s case for STR investment centers on low entry costs relative to revenue potential. The typical home value is $243,000, well below state and national medians. At April 2026 revenue of $2,475/month, a fully active listing yields an annualized gross revenue of approximately $29,694, representing a gross yield of roughly 12.2% on a median-priced acquisition. Houses outperform the overall market, averaging $2,729/month in revenue versus $2,534 for entire-place listings and $1,826 for apartments.
ADR tiering shows meaningful upside for quality operators. The professionally managed tier averages $205/night versus $183 across all listings, and the luxury tier reaches $315/night. Revenue has trended upward since 2020 when the annual average was $2,072/month, peaking at $2,488/month in 2025. The market investability score of 97.8/100 reflects the combination of low acquisition cost, consistent demand tied to the state capitol and Buffalo Trace Distillery, and regulatory clarity. Investors should weigh that unhosted (non-owner-occupied) properties require a Conditional Use Permit, which adds process time and some approval risk.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Frankfort)
Booking Insights
Frankfort guests book approximately 47 days in advance, and the average length of stay is 3.7 nights. The 47-day lead time is long enough to support a tiered pricing strategy: operators can hold rates firm during the 30-60 day window before check-in and discount selectively for last-minute gaps. The 3.7-night average stay is slightly above the typical short-stay urban market, suggesting visitors combine multiple activities, including bourbon trail stops, state capitol tours, and river recreation, into longer itineraries. For operators, this reduces per-booking turnover costs relative to 1-2 night urban markets while maintaining reasonable flexibility for dynamic pricing adjustments.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Frankfort and Franklin County permit short-term rentals but require registration. All operators must obtain a Franklin County business license ($40 application fee) and complete an annual STR registration with the Planning and Building Codes Department. The key regulatory distinction is hosted versus unhosted: hosted rentals where the owner lives on the property are generally permitted, while unhosted rentals require a Conditional Use Permit approved by the Board of Zoning Adjustment. There is no published cap on nights per year, and neither owner-occupancy nor primary residence is required to operate, but unhosted operators must navigate the CUP process, which can be denied based on neighborhood conditions.
On taxes, operators owe a combined 9% in local transient room taxes: 4% city, 3% county, and 2% fine arts, plus Kentucky’s 1% statewide transient room tax and 6% state sales tax. Airbnb collects and remits only the state-level taxes; hosts are responsible for local taxes. Enforcement is classified as moderate. In 2025, Kentucky considered SB 110 and SB 61, which would have limited local governments’ ability to require CUPs; as of mid-2026, the CUP requirement for unhosted rentals remains in effect.
Market Comparison
At $183 ADR and 50.4% occupancy, Frankfort sits below the US STR median ADR of approximately $220 but within the typical occupancy range of 50-60% for non-resort markets. RevPAR of $92 is consistent with a secondary city market that depends on event-driven and heritage tourism rather than leisure resort demand.
The professionally managed segment at $205/night suggests a 12% rate premium for quality, which is a reliable signal in markets where most operators self-manage. Evolve leads the professional operator landscape with 344 listings and 14,456 reviews at a 4.76 average rating. Green Turtle Bay Resort holds 85 listings (primarily Lake Cumberland area), and Neat Suites operates 41 listings at a 4.81 rating. Evolve’s 344 listings represent a meaningful share of the approximately 8,451 total listed properties, indicating that institutional management is present but not yet dominant. The market’s total score of 88.9/100 compares favorably to similarly sized state capital markets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Frankfort, Kentucky
What is the average nightly rate for Airbnb rentals in Frankfort, KY?
What occupancy rates do Frankfort STRs typically see?
How much can a short-term rental earn per month in Frankfort?
Do I need a permit to operate an Airbnb in Frankfort, KY?
What taxes apply to Frankfort short-term rentals?
What drives STR demand in Frankfort?
How does Frankfort compare to other Kentucky STR markets?
Analyze Frankfort Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Frankfort.
Free Frankfort STR Calculator →
