Royal Oak, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Royal Oak short-term rentals averaged $160 ADR, 59.7% occupancy and $2,702 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Royal Oak, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Detroit market area is 60%. average monthly revenue in the Detroit market area is $2,702. average daily rate in the Detroit market area is $160. the top operator in the Detroit market area is Evolve with 111 listings. market score is 96/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Detroit regional market, which includes Royal Oak. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Royal Oak.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers short-term rentals in Royal Oak, Michigan, using metrics for the Oakland County, Michigan STR market. Every performance figure below describes that county-level market rather than Royal Oak alone. The latest data month is September 2026. In that month the average daily rate across all listings was $160, occupancy was 59.7%, and average monthly revenue per listing was $2,702. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 5.5%, ADR rose 4.6%, and revenue rose 11.9%, so the gain came from both more booked nights and higher prices.
Year to date, 2026 has averaged 60.2% occupancy, a $149 ADR and $2,510 in monthly revenue across nine months. That is ahead of full-year 2025 at 58.4% occupancy, a $143 ADR and $2,375 in monthly revenue. The market has recovered from a softer 2023, when occupancy was 55.2% and monthly revenue averaged $2,059. The occupancy high of recent years was 63.6% in 2021, while ADR has climbed from $122 that year to $149 so far in 2026.
Entire-place stays earn more than the blended average, at $3,116 in monthly revenue versus $2,702 for all listings. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Royal Oak, so this profile omits them.
For demand context, Royal Oak has 58,348 residents and sits about 10 miles north of downtown Detroit. The Detroit Zoo, located in the city, draws over 1.6 million guests a year, and downtown Royal Oak has a dense cluster of bars, restaurants and live venues. Overnight demand is tied to nightlife, concerts, events and zoo trips. Visitors skew toward metro Detroit day-trippers and regional weekenders.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 49% |
| Feb | 55% |
| Mar | 57% |
| Apr | 58% |
| May | 62% |
| Jun | 64% |
| Jul | 67% |
| Aug | 64% |
| Sep | 60% |
| Oct | 59% |
| Nov | 55% |
| Dec | 54% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Royal Oak are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Detroit market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Detroit market as a whole, which includes Royal Oak, so these counts are not Royal Oak-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 111 | 1,878 | ★ 4.31 |
| 2 | Easy Stay | 66 | 2,461 | ★ 4.94 |
| 3 | Monty | 48 | 1,038 | ★ 4.14 |
| 4 | StayArbor | 46 | 1,269 | ★ 4.81 |
| 5 | Easy Stay Homes | 44 | 477 | ★ 4.90 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Royal Oak?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Royal Oak 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 | 62.6% |
| vrbo | 3.6% |
| both | 33.8% |
Home Value Trends (Royal Oak)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak — 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
Royal Oak permits short-term rentals. Hosts must register with the city and hold a business license (short-term rental registration), renewed annually. The registration fee amount is not published in the data used here, and fees are set by City Commission resolution, are non-prorated and non-refundable. Rentals operate under Chapter 556 (Property Maintenance) of the City Code. Ordinance 2024-06 updated the city’s rental regulations.
Royal Oak does not require owner occupancy or a primary residence, and no annual night cap is published. Owners must designate a responsible party who lives within 30 miles of the property if the owner lives farther away or the property is held by an LLC, corporation or trust. Hosts must carry at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance and file a copy with the city, and must give guests a Good Neighbor Policy each booking covering trash pickup, parking, property boundaries, visitor limits and the city noise and nuisance ordinances. Occupancy is limited to two occupants per bedroom plus two additional per finished story under the Michigan Residential Code. Hosts must also hold a current State of Michigan short-term rental certificate if required by LARA.
On taxes, Michigan imposes a 6% state use tax on stays of 30 nights or fewer, and Airbnb collects and remits it for hosts. No Royal Oak local lodging tax is in effect as of May 2026. A pending statewide proposal, backed by Royal Oak’s mayor, would let local voters approve a local accommodations fee of up to 3%. Enforcement severity is rated moderate, and compared with peer Michigan tourist cities Royal Oak is considered operator-friendly with low registration friction. Always confirm current requirements with the city before buying.
Market Comparison
The Oakland County, Michigan STR market shows steady demand with moderate pricing. Occupancy of 59.7% in September 2026 is up 5.5% from a year earlier, and the ADR of $160 is up 4.6%, so the market competes on volume and value rather than on premium pricing.
The premium segment is where Royal Oak operators can price well above the blended rate. Luxury listings average $316 per night, and entire homes at $188 and professionally managed listings at $183 also sit above the $160 blended ADR. The takeaway is that the broad market remains moderately priced while the top tiers command a clear premium.
Year-over-year growth is also strong. Revenue is up 11.9%, with occupancy up 5.5% and ADR up 4.6%. Top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Royal Oak, so this profile omits them. Investors comparing Royal Oak with other markets should weigh its occupancy and a nightlife and event calendar against its moderate rate level, and favor properties that can reach the entire-home and luxury tiers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Royal Oak, Michigan
What is the average Airbnb occupancy in Royal Oak, Michigan?
How much do Royal Oak short-term rentals earn per month?
What is the average nightly rate in Royal Oak?
Are short-term rentals legal in Royal Oak?
What taxes apply to Royal Oak short-term rentals?
When is the best time to host in Royal Oak?
How much does a home cost in Royal Oak?
Analyze Royal Oak Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Royal Oak.
Free Royal Oak STR Calculator →
