Bemidji, Minnesota Short-Term Rental Market
Bemidji, MN STRs averaged $184/night at 43.9% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 10,400 active listings in Minnesota lake country.
Quick Answer: Bemidji, Minnesota is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Minnesota Area market area is 63%. average monthly revenue in the Minnesota Area market area is $5,579. average daily rate in the Minnesota Area market area is $320. the top operator in the Minnesota Area market area is Evolve with 337 listings. market score is 71/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Minnesota Area regional market, which includes Bemidji. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bemidji.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bemidji is a lakeside city of approximately 15,569 residents in Beltrami County, Minnesota, situated at the southern end of Lake Bemidji in Minnesota’s lake country. The STR market is large, with roughly 10,408 active listings across the city and surrounding lake areas. In April 2026, the average daily rate was $184.49 and occupancy was 43.9%, producing a RevPAR of $80.99 and average monthly revenue of $2,119 per listing.
Year-over-year, ADR grew 6.16% and occupancy grew 2.71% from the same month a year prior, while revenue declined 3.27%. The revenue decline in the context of higher ADR and higher occupancy likely reflects mix shift toward lower-revenue listing types or a shorter effective month. The 2025 annual average ADR of $241 and occupancy of 50.0% provide a more complete picture of recent performance.
Entire-place listings dominate at 9,675 units (92.9% of active supply). Private rooms add 727 listings. Two-bedroom properties are the most common at 3,013 listings, followed by one-bedroom (2,551) and three-bedroom (2,537). Four-bedroom (1,420) and five-bedroom-plus (876) properties are well represented. Channel distribution: 4,753 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 4,169 exclusively on Airbnb, and 1,486 exclusively on VRBO, indicating strong VRBO penetration in this lake cabin market.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 40% |
| Feb | 45% |
| Mar | 46% |
| Apr | 47% |
| May | 54% |
| Jun | 66% |
| Jul | 71% |
| Aug | 66% |
| Sep | 50% |
| Oct | 50% |
| Nov | 41% |
| Dec | 47% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Bemidji are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Minnesota Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Minnesota Area market as a whole, which includes Bemidji, so these counts are not Bemidji-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 337 | 13,110 | ★ 4.77 |
| 2 | Cascade Vacation Rentals | 182 | 3,861 | ★ 4.76 |
| 3 | Heirloom | 112 | 7,458 | ★ 4.82 |
| 4 | Sota Lake Home Rentals | 61 | 1,310 | ★ 4.50 |
| 5 | Woods To Water Vacation Homes | 48 | 939 | ★ 4.95 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bemidji?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Bemidji 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 | 40.1% |
| vrbo | 14.3% |
| both | 45.7% |
Home Value Trends (Bemidji)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Bemidji 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 Bemidji — 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
Bemidji operates under a split regulatory structure. Inside the city of Bemidji, the City Rental Department issues a Short Term Rental License after an inspection. The 2026 city fee schedule sets the license at $1,000 for first-time operators and $500 per unit for annual renewals, with penalties of $300 per bedroom per month for operating without a license. Licenses renew each December 31.
Outside the city, Beltrami County Ordinance No. 49 (effective July 1, 2022) created a tiered permit system: Type A permits cover up to 3 bedrooms and 8 guests ($200 fee); Type B covers 4 or more bedrooms or up to 12 guests ($400 fee); Type C covers 13 or more guests ($800 fee plus recording costs, requires Planning Commission approval after a public hearing). Maximum guest occupancy is tied to septic system design flow. All operators must also obtain a Minnesota Department of Health lodging license.
The occupancy tax rate is 9.88%. Quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., on-site parking is mandatory, and a local contact must respond within 24 hours. A strike-based complaint system can escalate to permit revocation. Several townships prohibit STR entirely: Ten Lake, Sugar Bush, and Frohn. Turtle River Township allows STR only in shoreland areas. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Nationally, median STR occupancy is approximately 55% and median ADR is approximately $220. Bemidji’s April 2026 occupancy of 43.9% is well below the national median, but its RevPAR of $80.99 reflects the low ADR level rather than a structural demand problem, as summer months drive occupancy to 71.5%. The ADR of $184.49 is below the national median, consistent with a rural lake market where entry costs are low and competition is broad.
The investability score of 88.58 and revenue growth score of 80.57 indicate strong forward prospects. Annual ADR has grown from $170 in 2017 to $241 in 2025, a 41.8% cumulative increase.
Among top operators, Evolve leads with 337 listings and a 4.767 rating. Cascade Vacation Rentals manages 182 listings (4.762), Heirloom holds 112 listings (4.820), Sota Lake Home Rentals has 61 listings (4.503), and Woods To Water Vacation Homes manages 48 listings with the highest rating at 4.946. The presence of several local and regional specialists alongside Evolve reflects the lake cabin market’s preference for operators with local knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bemidji, Minnesota
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What are the peak and slow seasons in the Bemidji area?
Are there any areas near Bemidji where short-term rentals are prohibited?
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