Ocean Springs, Mississippi Short-Term Rental Market
Ocean Springs STRs averaged $251 a night at 58.4% occupancy, but new residential STR permits are on hold.
Quick Answer: Ocean Springs, Mississippi is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Gulfport/Biloxi market area is 40%. average monthly revenue in the Gulfport/Biloxi market area is $2,553. average daily rate in the Gulfport/Biloxi market area is $207. the top operator in the Gulfport/Biloxi market area is Evolve with 169 listings. market score is 81/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Gulfport/Biloxi regional market, which includes Ocean Springs. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Ocean Springs.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Ocean Springs is a small arts and culture destination on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Jackson County, part of the broader Coastal Mississippi tourism region that drew 15.7 million visitors and $2.2 billion in economic impact in 2024. The city draws day-trippers and overnight visitors to its walkable historic downtown, the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Shearwater Pottery, and access to the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Critically, on August 19, 2025 the Ocean Springs Board of Aldermen imposed a moratorium on new residential short-term rental permits pending a Planning Commission review. Existing permit holders may continue operating, and Downtown Overlay District STRs and commercial STRs remain uncapped and unaffected, but new residential STR applications are currently on hold, an important constraint to weigh before pursuing a new acquisition here.
As of June 2026, the Ocean Springs area STR market shows an average daily rate of $251.36 with occupancy at 58.39%, essentially flat year over year (up 0.42%) even as ADR eased 1.59%. Revenue per listing rose 1.54% year over year to $4,040.38 per month for the average active listing.
Listing count, bedroom mix, and channel split data for this area are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Ocean Springs, so this profile omits those specific breakdowns.
Entire home rentals average $253.84 a night, close to the area wide figure, while listings in the top luxury tier command $429.27 a night and professionally managed listings average $316.28, both well above the $251.36 area wide ADR.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 40% |
| Feb | 59% |
| Mar | 63% |
| Apr | 50% |
| May | 52% |
| Jun | 66% |
| Jul | 65% |
| Aug | 44% |
| Sep | 44% |
| Oct | 45% |
| Nov | 40% |
| Dec | 41% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Ocean Springs are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Gulfport/Biloxi market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Gulfport/Biloxi market as a whole, which includes Ocean Springs, so these counts are not Ocean Springs-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 169 | 8,777 | ★ 4.66 |
| 2 | Biloxi Beach Resort Rentals | 144 | 1,965 | ★ 4.37 |
| 3 | Dunn Deal Properties & Vacations Rentals | 136 | 286 | ★ 4.60 |
| 4 | Gulf Coast Resort Rentals | 75 | 332 | ★ 4.77 |
| 5 | Busch Realty Group | 56 | 2,109 | ★ 4.85 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Ocean Springs?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Ocean Springs 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 | 29.5% |
| vrbo | 9.2% |
| both | 61.3% |
Home Value Trends (Ocean Springs)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Ocean Springs 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 Springs — 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
Ocean Springs has actively regulated short-term rentals since 2015 and runs one of the more restrictive STR regimes on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. All STRs require a city permit, in two forms: Residential (RSTR) and Commercial (CSTR). The application fee is $501 per permit, renewed annually before expiration or the permit risks revocation.
Every STR must pass a city inspection, designate a local property manager or contact available 24/7 for guest issues, display the permit in the unit, and register for state sales tax collection. Residential STRs are capped at 115 citywide, roughly 55 inside the Short-Term Rental Density Zone plus about 60 outside it, while the Downtown Overlay District and commercial STRs remain uncapped. New RSTR applications normally require approval at a public hearing before the Planning Commission and Board of Aldermen.
Critically, on August 19, 2025 the Board of Aldermen imposed a moratorium on new residential STR permits pending a Planning Commission review, so new RSTR applications are currently on hold, though existing permit holders may continue operating.
Tax burden runs about 9%, combining a 7% Mississippi state sales tax and a 2% Ocean Springs Tourism and Economic Development tax on room rentals. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement is specified. Given the permit cap, mandatory inspections, revocation risk, and active moratorium, investors should treat this as one of the more difficult Gulf Coast markets to enter with a new residential STR.
Market Comparison
Ocean Springs’ occupancy of 58.39% sits modestly above the broader US short-term rental median of roughly 55%, while its $251.36 average daily rate runs above the roughly $220 national median, reflecting a market with solid demand at a moderate premium.
Property manager data for this area is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Ocean Springs, so this profile omits naming specific operators here.
Ocean Springs’ regulatory posture sets it apart from many nearby Mississippi Gulf Coast markets: the citywide RSTR cap, mandatory inspections, and the active moratorium on new residential permits point to a market where existing supply is more constrained than demand would otherwise suggest, likely supporting steady performance for already permitted listings even as new entry remains difficult.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ocean Springs, Mississippi
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