Williamsburg, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Williamsburg, MI does not allow short-term rentals in residential zones, and a 2025 legalization bid was denied 6-0.
Quick Answer: Williamsburg, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Traverse City market area is 64%. average monthly revenue in the Traverse City market area is $6,344. average daily rate in the Traverse City market area is $411. the top operator in the Traverse City market area is Vacasa with 179 listings. market score is 60/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Traverse City regional market, which includes Williamsburg. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Williamsburg.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Williamsburg is a small unincorporated community of about 2,688 people in Whitewater Township, Grand Traverse County, roughly 10 to 11 miles east of Traverse City in northern Michigan. Short-term rentals are not an allowed use in the township’s residential zoning districts, and a draft ordinance that would have legalized and permitted STRs was recommended for denial by the Planning Commission on a unanimous 6-0 vote in September 2025, so operators should treat Williamsburg as a market where STRs are effectively prohibited in residential zones. The township sits inside one of the Midwest’s top inland tourism regions: the Greater Grand Traverse region drew roughly 7.3 million visitors in 2022, and Williamsburg’s own draw is the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel plus proximity to Old Mission Peninsula wineries and the Grand Traverse Resort. StaySTRA tracks Williamsburg’s short-term rental performance data at the Traverse City regional level, shared with Traverse City itself along with Grawn, Interlochen, Rapid City, and Thompsonville, so the figures below describe that broader tourism-region market, dominated by a much larger resort city, rather than Williamsburg alone. That regional market averaged a $410.84 ADR and 64.4% occupancy in June 2026, the most recent month tracked, with $6,344 in average monthly revenue. Year over year, occupancy and ADR both eased slightly (down 0.6% and 6.0% respectively) while revenue rose 4.5%.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 32% |
| Feb | 39% |
| Mar | 35% |
| Apr | 40% |
| May | 52% |
| Jun | 64% |
| Jul | 79% |
| Aug | 71% |
| Sep | 49% |
| Oct | 45% |
| Nov | 29% |
| Dec | 39% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Williamsburg are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Traverse City market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Traverse City market as a whole, which includes Williamsburg, so these counts are not Williamsburg-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 179 | 5,712 | ★ 4.46 |
| 2 | Elevated Homes & Hospitality | 125 | 4,924 | ★ 4.78 |
| 3 | The Mitten Group Property Management | 109 | 9,508 | ★ 4.79 |
| 4 | True North Property Management | 107 | 3,603 | ★ 4.56 |
| 5 | Evolve | 94 | 4,157 | ★ 4.76 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Williamsburg?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Williamsburg 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 | 28.4% |
| vrbo | 15.1% |
| both | 56.5% |
Home Value Trends (Williamsburg)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg — 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
Williamsburg is unincorporated, so short-term rental rules come from Whitewater Township, Grand Traverse County, and the State of Michigan. As of the latest available records (September 2025), short-term rentals are not an allowed use in the township’s residential zoning districts. The township studied a draft ordinance that would have legalized and permitted STRs, capping occupancy at two adults per bedroom plus two more guests on lots under 5 acres, four more on larger lots, banning events, requiring a 24/7 local contact, and mandating smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. The Planning Commission recommended denial of that ordinance to the Township Board on a unanimous 6-0 vote in September 2025, so no township STR permit program, fee schedule, or registration currently exists. Prospective operators should treat Williamsburg as an area where STRs are effectively not permitted in residential zones and must confirm current status directly with Whitewater Township before buying or listing. On taxes, Michigan levies a 6% state use tax on transient lodging statewide; a separate 5% local assessment collected by Traverse City Tourism applies within its assessment district and generally to providers managing more than 10 units, and whether it reaches a given Williamsburg property should be verified directly with Traverse City Tourism. Enforcement risk is high because STRs are simply not a permitted use, and the township has actively resisted legalizing them.
Market Comparison
Nationally, short-term rentals typically run around 55% occupancy and a $220 ADR. This shared Traverse City-area market’s June 2026 figures, 64.4% occupancy and a $410.84 ADR, run well above both national benchmarks, reflecting the region’s status as a major northern Michigan resort destination. Property manager market share is tracked at this same shared regional level rather than uniquely for Williamsburg, so this profile omits a town-specific operator comparison; the roster includes Vacasa, Elevated Homes & Hospitality, The Mitten Group Property Management, True North Property Management, and Evolve, names that reflect the broader region rather than Williamsburg specifically. The more consequential comparison for Williamsburg is regulatory: unlike Traverse City and other parts of this shared dataset where STRs operate, Williamsburg’s own residential zones currently prohibit them, following a September 2025 denial of a legalization ordinance, making it one of the more restricted individual towns in this profile set despite sitting inside a thriving regional market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Williamsburg, Michigan
Are short-term rentals legal in Williamsburg, MI?
Could Williamsburg legalize short-term rentals in the future?
What is the average daily rate for short-term rentals near Williamsburg?
What is the busiest month for short-term rentals near Williamsburg?
What taxes would apply to a legal short-term rental near Williamsburg?
What draws visitors to the Williamsburg, MI area?
Is Williamsburg's short-term rental market data specific to the town?
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