Asheville, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Asheville restricts whole-home rentals, and the area averaged $245 ADR, 56.0% occupancy, $3,796 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Asheville, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Asheville market area is 56%. average monthly revenue in the Asheville market area is $3,796. average daily rate in the Asheville market area is $245. the top operator in the Asheville market area is Greybeard Rentals with 162 listings. market score is 93/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the wider Asheville market, which covers 15 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Asheville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers the Asheville area STR market in Western North Carolina, with data through September 2026. The performance figures describe a shared regional market that also includes nearby towns, so they are not unique to the city limits. Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Asheville, so this profile omits them.
In September 2026 the average daily rate was $245 and occupancy was 56.0%. Average monthly revenue per listing was $3,796. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 11.3%, ADR rose 10.5%, and revenue rose 25.8%. Entire-place listings averaged $253 per night and $3,916 per month, while houses reached $4,077 per month and apartments $3,086.
Asheville has a population of 94,589 and a large visitor base. The city attracted nearly 14 million visitors in 2023, including 5 million overnight guests and 9 million day-trippers. Visitors spent $2.97 billion that year, with lodging accounting for $901 million. Demand centers on outdoor recreation along the Blue Ridge Parkway, cultural tourism at the Biltmore Estate and the River Arts District, and culinary travel. Most visitors are domestic travelers from the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
The market is still working through the effects of Hurricane Helene, which struck in late September 2024 and effectively eliminated that year’s fourth quarter tourism season. Visitor spending fell 10.8% to about $2.65 billion in 2024, and total STR listings dropped roughly 20% by mid-2025. Full-year 2025 occupancy was 54.4% with a $214 ADR. Year-to-date 2026 through September shows 53.7% occupancy, a $229 ADR, and $3,452 in monthly revenue, so rate growth is carrying the recovery more than occupancy.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 39% |
| Feb | 47% |
| Mar | 56% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 57% |
| Jun | 64% |
| Jul | 68% |
| Aug | 61% |
| Sep | 58% |
| Oct | 63% |
| Nov | 55% |
| Dec | 55% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Asheville are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Asheville market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Asheville market as a whole, which includes Asheville, so these counts are not Asheville-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greybeard Rentals | 162 | 3,953 | ★ 4.86 |
| 2 | Evolve | 155 | 9,200 | ★ 4.79 |
| 3 | Yonder | 143 | 8,226 | ★ 4.84 |
| 4 | Towns Property Management | 131 | 17,027 | ★ 4.82 |
| 5 | Carolina Mornings | 119 | 6,588 | ★ 4.80 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Asheville?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Asheville 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 | 41.1% |
| vrbo | 5.4% |
| both | 53.5% |
Home Value Trends (Asheville)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Asheville 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 Asheville — 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
Asheville has some of the most restrictive STR rules in the Southeast, and enforcement is rated strict. Within city limits, new whole-home short-term vacation rentals have been prohibited in residential zones since January 2018. Whole-home STVRs are allowed only in the Resort Zoning District or under pre-2018 grandfathered nonconforming status, and grandfathered properties are limited in number and sell at premium prices.
The main legal path for most residential-zone operators is a Homestay Permit. It requires the operator to be a full-time primary resident, to be on site for every guest stay, and to rent no more than two bedrooms. Guests must stay fewer than 30 consecutive days. The permit costs about $208, renews annually, and requires inspection. The city limits permits to one per person, household, LLC, trust, or other legal entity, and hosts must carry liability insurance. Detached accessory structures cannot be used for new homestays. Violations can bring fines up to $500 per day plus legal action, and the city has a dedicated compliance officer.
The occupancy tax rate is 6%.
Outside city limits, unincorporated Buncombe County is generally less restricted, and operators are not required to live on site. Proposed county rules to limit new whole-home rentals to commercial zones were tabled after Hurricane Helene. This profile does not cover the rules for the other towns in the surrounding area, so check each jurisdiction before buying.
Investors should assume that whole-home rentals inside Asheville are unavailable outside the resort district or grandfathered status.
Market Comparison
The Asheville area posted 56.0% occupancy and a $245 ADR in September 2026. Year-over-year gains of 11.3% in occupancy and 10.5% in ADR point to a market that is rebuilding after Hurricane Helene.
The upper tiers sit well above the all-listings rate. Luxury listings at $436 are about 78% above it, and professionally managed listings at $366 are about 49% above it.
Seasonality is the main feature of the market. The area ranges from 39.5% occupancy in January to 68.1% in July, so an annual average hides wide monthly swings. Year-to-date 2026 occupancy is 53.7% with a $229 ADR.
Operator rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Asheville, so this profile omits them.
Regulation is the other major difference. Many US markets allow whole-home rentals with a license, while Asheville restricts them in residential zones to grandfathered and resort-zoned properties, which limits new supply inside the city.
Frequently Asked Questions About Asheville, North Carolina
Are short-term rentals legal in Asheville, NC?
What is the average Airbnb ADR in the Asheville area?
What is the occupancy rate for Asheville short-term rentals?
How much revenue does an Asheville area STR earn?
What is the best month for Asheville short-term rentals?
How much does a home cost in Asheville for an STR investor?
Analyze Asheville Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Asheville.
Free Asheville STR Calculator →
