Atlantic Beach, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville region STRs earned $313 ADR, 50.4% occupancy and $4,203 monthly in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Atlantic Beach, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Morehead City/Emerald Isle market area is 50%. average monthly revenue in the Morehead City/Emerald Isle market area is $4,203. average daily rate in the Morehead City/Emerald Isle market area is $313. the top operator in the Morehead City/Emerald Isle market area is Bluewater Vacation Rentals with 557 listings. market score is 56/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Morehead City/Emerald Isle regional market, which includes Atlantic Beach. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Atlantic Beach.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, a barrier island town of 1,364 residents on Bogue Banks along the Crystal Coast. Short-term rental performance here is tracked at a shared level with Jacksonville, NC, so every performance number on this page describes the Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville coastal North Carolina region STR market rather than the town alone. In September 2026, that regional market recorded an average daily rate (ADR) of $313, occupancy of 50.4%, and average monthly revenue of $4,203 per listing. Entire place listings averaged $318 ADR, a small step above the all-listings figure.
Year over year, the September 2026 readings are strong. Occupancy rose 11.5%, ADR rose 11.7%, and revenue rose 23.1%. Annual figures point the same direction. The region averaged 51.0% occupancy and a $239 ADR in 2025, and the first nine months of 2026 are running at 54.5% occupancy and a $272 ADR, with average monthly revenue of $4,099 against $3,448 for all of 2025. Occupancy remains below the 2021 high of 60.4%, so the recent gains come mostly from rate rather than from a return to earlier demand levels.
Demand is seasonal. July is the strongest month by occupancy at 78.2%, and January is the weakest at 35.9%. Visitors arrive mostly from the Carolinas, Virginia, and Mid-Atlantic states for beach time, fishing, and nature, and Fort Macon State Park next to town recorded 1.06 million visitors in 2023. Carteret County logged $743 million in visitor spending in 2024.
Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Atlantic Beach, so this profile omits them. The typical home value is $539,269, which sets the entry cost for investors weighing the market.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 36% |
| Feb | 46% |
| Mar | 54% |
| Apr | 54% |
| May | 60% |
| Jun | 75% |
| Jul | 78% |
| Aug | 65% |
| Sep | 51% |
| Oct | 48% |
| Nov | 41% |
| Dec | 38% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Atlantic Beach are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Morehead City/Emerald Isle market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Morehead City/Emerald Isle market as a whole, which includes Atlantic Beach, so these counts are not Atlantic Beach-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bluewater Vacation Rentals | 557 | 506 | ★ 4.50 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 276 | 6,357 | ★ 4.37 |
| 3 | Evolve | 153 | 6,899 | ★ 4.68 |
| 4 | Casago | 152 | 2,112 | ★ 4.34 |
| 5 | Spectrum Rental Properties | 126 | 2,213 | ★ 4.78 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Atlantic Beach?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Atlantic Beach 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 | 25.5% |
| vrbo | 19.1% |
| both | 55.4% |
Home Value Trends (Atlantic Beach)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Atlantic Beach 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 Atlantic Beach — 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
Atlantic Beach, NC is a permissive short-term rental town. STRs are permitted, and enforcement severity is rated minimal. No owner-occupancy requirement and no primary-residence requirement applies, so investors can hold a property purely as a rental. No maximum nights per year cap was identified. No town-specific STR registration or permit system was found in public sources. The town’s Unified Development Ordinance on Municode governs land use, and the Planning & Inspections Department (252-726-4456) is the contact to confirm current rules before buying.
No publicly documented STR-specific zoning restrictions were identified. Multiple professional property management companies operate openly in residential areas. North Carolina’s Vacation Rental Act (G.S. Chapter 42A) applies statewide and limits the ability of municipalities to ban STRs that were legally operating before a new ordinance took effect.
Taxes are the main regulatory layer. Carteret County levies a 6% occupancy tax on gross receipts from stays under 90 days, filed by the 20th of the following month. North Carolina state sales tax adds roughly 4.75% plus a local portion of 2% to 2.75%, which puts the combined sales tax at 6.75% to 7.5%, and Carteret County is most likely at the 6.75% end. The combined effective burden on gross rent is approximately 12% to 13%. Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit these taxes automatically for bookings made on their platforms.
No recent regulatory changes specific to Atlantic Beach were identified as of May 2026. Senate Bill 291 from the 2025 session proposed statewide STR preemption language, but its status could not be confirmed. Confirm current rules with the town before closing.
Market Comparison
The Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville region presents a rate-led profile. September 2026 occupancy of 50.4% came with a $313 ADR, and both are up year over year, by 11.5% and 11.7%.
The summer months look different from the annual average. July occupancy of 78.2% and June occupancy of 75.3% are well above the 50.4% September reading, while the January figure of 35.9% is far below it. Annual averages of 51.0% occupancy in 2025 and 54.5% for 2026 so far show that rising rates have lifted revenue even where occupancy trails earlier highs.
Investors comparing markets should weigh the high rate against the seasonal concentration. Top operators and property manager rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Atlantic Beach, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
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