Oak Island, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Oak Island STR market in September 2026 averaged a $382 ADR, 51.0% occupancy and $5,179 monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Oak Island, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Wilmington market area is 51%. average monthly revenue in the Wilmington market area is $5,179. average daily rate in the Wilmington market area is $382. the top operator in the Wilmington market area is Vacasa with 776 listings. market score is 63/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Wilmington regional market, which includes Oak Island. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Oak Island.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers the Oak Island short-term rental market using data through September 2026. Performance figures describe the southeastern North Carolina coast STR market, a region that includes Oak Island, because the area shares one tracked metric series. In September 2026 the average daily rate across all listings was $382, occupancy was 51.0%, and average monthly revenue per listing was $5,179. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 12.3%, ADR rose 10.1%, and revenue rose 14.8%. Entire-place listings averaged an ADR of $387 and monthly revenue of $5,240, while houses reached $5,755 and apartments $4,183. Over the first nine months of 2026 the market averaged 56.1% occupancy, a $352 ADR and $5,370 in monthly revenue, ahead of full-year 2025 at 51.4% occupancy, a $314 ADR and $4,538. Summing the twelve seasonal months gives annualized revenue of $44,932 per listing for the region. Oak Island itself has a population of 9,322 and is a beach destination on the southern North Carolina coast in Brunswick County. It offers over 10 miles of sand, 60 to 100 plus public beach access points, two Atlantic fishing piers and a marina. Brunswick County tourism was a $1.22 billion industry in 2024, up 4.8% over 2023, and demand runs from late spring through early fall. The typical Oak Island home value is $604,000. Because the series is regional, treat these figures as a guide to the coast rather than to individual Oak Island streets. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Oak Island, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 32% |
| Feb | 45% |
| Mar | 55% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 60% |
| Jun | 76% |
| Jul | 81% |
| Aug | 68% |
| Sep | 52% |
| Oct | 47% |
| Nov | 39% |
| Dec | 34% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Oak Island are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Wilmington market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Wilmington market as a whole, which includes Oak Island, so these counts are not Oak Island-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 776 | 18,259 | ★ 4.46 |
| 2 | Oak Island Accommodations | 469 | 2,489 | ★ 4.43 |
| 3 | Better Beach Rentals | 445 | 3,724 | ★ 4.37 |
| 4 | Evolve | 332 | 12,283 | ★ 4.75 |
| 5 | Carolina Retreats by Vtrips | 317 | 3,785 | ★ 4.54 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Oak Island?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Oak Island 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 | 21.3% |
| vrbo | 16.9% |
| both | 61.8% |
Home Value Trends (Oak Island)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Oak Island 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 Oak Island — 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
Oak Island is considered investor-friendly for short-term rentals. As of mid-2026 the Town has no dedicated STR permit or licensing ordinance, so no permit fee or renewal cycle applies. There is no cap on rental nights per year, and no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. The main compliance step is registering with the Town Finance Department for accommodations (occupancy) tax. The Town levies 5% on rentals of fewer than 90 continuous days, made up of a 3% tourism tax and a 2% beach protection and re-nourishment tax, and Brunswick County adds a 1% room occupancy tax, for roughly 6% total occupancy tax. State and county sales tax on accommodations applies on top. Reports and payments are due monthly by the 20th of the following month, and a rental agency that manages a property typically handles reporting and remittance. The NC Vacation Rental Act (G.S. 42A) governs rental agreements of 30 days or less. No Oak Island STR-specific zoning ordinance was found, but owners should confirm that the property’s zoning district allows rental use and that any HOA or condo covenants permit short-term rentals. General building, fire, noise, parking and occupancy rules still apply. Enforcement is rated minimal. At the state level, SB 291, introduced in March 2025 to limit local STR regulation, had not advanced as of January 2026, and no new Oak Island STR ordinance was identified for 2025 or 2026.
Market Comparison
The southeastern North Carolina coast STR market that includes Oak Island is a rate-driven market. The September 2026 ADR was $382 with occupancy of 51.0%. On a year-to-date basis the picture is better: the 2026 occupancy average is 56.1%, with a $352 ADR. Peak months look strong, with July at 80.6% occupancy and June at 76.3%, but the winter trough of 31.7% in January is far below the summer level, so annual results depend on the summer season. Revenue growth of 14.8% year over year in September shows momentum against a market where occupancy had slipped from 59.8% in 2021 to 51.4% in 2025. The luxury ADR of $585 is about 53.4% above the all-listings ADR. Top operators and listing counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Oak Island, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oak Island, North Carolina
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