Ocean City, Maryland Short-Term Rental Market
Ocean City STRs averaged a $372 ADR, 42.6% occupancy and $4,269 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Ocean City, Maryland is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Delaware/Maryland Beaches market area is 43%. average monthly revenue in the Delaware/Maryland Beaches market area is $4,269. average daily rate in the Delaware/Maryland Beaches market area is $372. the top operator in the Delaware/Maryland Beaches market area is Vacasa with 2,346 listings. market score is 49/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Delaware/Maryland Beaches regional market, which includes Ocean City. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Ocean City.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers the Delmarva Atlantic beaches STR market, a contiguous coastal region that includes Ocean City, Maryland, along with Berlin, Fenwick Island, Ocean View, Frankford, Rehoboth Beach and Lewes. Performance figures below describe that shared regional series rather than Ocean City alone. In September 2026 the average daily rate was $372, occupancy was 42.6%, and the average listing earned $4,269 for the month. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 12.5%, ADR is up 5.2% and revenue is up 11.9%. Entire-place rentals averaged $374 per night and $4,293 per month, houses averaged $5,137 per month, and apartments averaged $3,821. Ocean City itself has 6,844 residents but draws about 8 million visitors a year, concentrated between Memorial Day and Labor Day. On peak summer weekends the population reaches 320,000 to 345,000, which briefly makes it the second most populated municipality in Maryland after Baltimore. Demand is driven by the free public beach, a boardwalk of roughly three miles, amusement piers and fishing. Shoulder season events such as Sunfest, Bike Week, the White Marlin Open and Winterfest of Lights extend bookings beyond the core summer window. Recent reports note softer per-visitor spending and a shift toward budget-conscious travelers, with short-term rentals taking share from hotels. Annual results have moved in a narrow band: occupancy was 43.9% in 2024 and 43.7% in 2025, while ADR rose from $315 to $319. Through nine months of 2026, occupancy is 48.2% and ADR is $337. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Ocean City, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 25% |
| Feb | 35% |
| Mar | 39% |
| Apr | 39% |
| May | 46% |
| Jun | 70% |
| Jul | 79% |
| Aug | 77% |
| Sep | 45% |
| Oct | 26% |
| Nov | 25% |
| Dec | 31% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Ocean City are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Delaware/Maryland Beaches market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Delaware/Maryland Beaches market as a whole, which includes Ocean City, so these counts are not Ocean City-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 2,346 | 60,626 | ★ 4.36 |
| 2 | Coastal Resort Rentals | 355 | 1,646 | ★ 4.39 |
| 3 | Shoreline Properties | 349 | 1,861 | ★ 4.28 |
| 4 | Central Reservations | 328 | 4,890 | ★ 4.53 |
| 5 | VacayHome Connect | 312 | 593 | ★ 4.18 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Ocean City?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Ocean City 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 | 17.3% |
| vrbo | 25.9% |
| both | 56.8% |
Home Value Trends (Ocean City)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Ocean City 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 Ocean City — 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 permitted in Ocean City, with licensing required. Operators need an annual rental license, about $196 including a noise-control permit, plus a supplemental Short-Term Rental license of about $50 for stays of 30 consecutive days or fewer, roughly $246 per year in total. Licenses run May 1 through April 30 and renew annually. Operators must also register with the Maryland Comptroller. Worcester County room tax on stays of four months or less rose to 6% effective January 1, 2026, on top of Maryland’s 6% state sales tax, for about 12% combined. Airbnb and VRBO collect these taxes, but hosts must still file returns, including zero returns. Owner occupancy and primary residence are not required, and the city rates enforcement as moderate. Short-term rentals are allowed across most zoning districts. The Residential (R-1) and Mobile Home (MH) districts have been contested. In July 2025 voters rejected, 834 to 800, a plan for 5-night minimums rising to 31-night minimums there. A moratorium on new permits in those districts was extended in December 2025 through January 3, 2027, then repealed by the City Council in March 2026 after a citizen petition, so new permits are being accepted again. R-1 and MH rentals cap occupancy at 2 persons per bedroom plus 2, excluding children 10 and under. Owners must provide a local contact who can respond within about 60 minutes and consent to inspections. Investors should not assume R-1 and MH rules are settled.
Market Comparison
The Delmarva Atlantic beaches market shows a highly seasonal profile. September 2026 occupancy of 42.6% sits below the 2026 year to date average of 48.2%, while the September ADR of $372 is above the 2026 year to date ADR of $337. The market depends heavily on the summer peak, when occupancy of 69.8% to 78.9% in June, July and August carries the year. Investors accustomed to year-round demand markets should expect long stretches below 40% occupancy from October through April. Year-over-year momentum is favorable, with occupancy up 12.5%, ADR up 5.2% and revenue up 11.9% in September 2026. Operator rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Ocean City, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ocean City, Maryland
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