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 58%. average monthly revenue in the Gulfport/Biloxi market area is $4,040. average daily rate in the Gulfport/Biloxi market area is $251. 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 | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40% | $148 | $1,697 |
| Feb | 59% | $160 | $2,132 |
| Mar | 63% | $181 | $2,958 |
| Apr | 50% | $190 | $2,498 |
| May | 52% | $196 | $2,640 |
| Jun | 66% | $226 | $3,732 |
| Jul | 66% | $219 | $3,986 |
| Aug | 44% | $191 | $2,436 |
| Sep | 44% | $183 | $2,159 |
| Oct | 45% | $196 | $2,295 |
| Nov | 40% | $169 | $1,825 |
| Dec | 41% | $164 | $1,803 |
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 pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 875 |
| 2 bed | 1,390 |
| 3 bed | 1,389 |
| 4 bed | 327 |
| 5 bed | 173 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $254 |
| Luxury | $429 |
| Professionally Managed | $316 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,359 |
| Entire Place | $4,093 |
| House | $4,421 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 29.5% |
| vrbo | 9.2% |
| both | 61.3% |
Investment Analysis
Ocean Springs has actively regulated short-term rentals since 2015 and runs one of the more restrictive STR regimes on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and as of August 19, 2025, a moratorium on new residential STR permits is in effect pending Planning Commission review. This means a new residential STR acquisition here currently has no clear path to a permit; buyers interested in this market should look toward existing permitted properties, the Downtown Overlay District, or a commercial STR structure, all of which remain open, rather than a standard new residential application.
Within that constraint, the average listing rents for $251.36 a night. Listings in the top luxury tier average $429.27 a night, about 71% above the area wide ADR, while professionally managed listings average $316.28, about 26% above market. The average active listing generated $4,040.38 in monthly revenue, or roughly $48,485 annualized.
Against a typical home value of $275,245.65 (Zillow, June 2026), one of the more affordable entry points in this data set, that annualized revenue figure equals about 18% of the purchase price on a gross basis, a strong top line ratio on paper, though it excludes cleaning fees, management commissions, taxes, insurance, and vacancy, and assumes a permit that is not currently obtainable for a new residential property.
Resale housing carries a median sale price of $288,833.33 against a median list price of $328,283.17, a sale to list ratio of 0.880, with 254 homes currently for sale.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Guests book Ocean Springs stays an average of 49.58 days in advance, a moderate planning window consistent with visitors organizing a Gulf Coast arts and culture trip or a festival visit well ahead of arrival.
Average length of stay sits at 4.04 nights, consistent with a multi-day visit to explore the historic downtown galleries, the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, or nearby Gulf Islands National Seashore rather than a single overnight stop.
Given the moderate lead time, owners have a reasonable window to set pricing ahead of the early summer peak, while the multi-night stay pattern supports a manageable pace of cleaning and turnover between guests.
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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