Southport, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Southport, NC bans new whole-home STRs in residential zones (2021 ordinance); June 2026 area ADR was $460.
Quick Answer: Southport, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Wilmington market area is 75%. average monthly revenue in the Wilmington market area is $8,822. average daily rate in the Wilmington market area is $460. 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 Southport. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Southport.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Southport’s 2021 Short-Term Vacation Rental Ordinance effectively bans new whole-home short-term rentals in residential zones (R-10, R-20, MF). Existing rentals in those zones can continue only as grandfathered ‘lawful nonconforming uses’ if the owner can document verifiable bookings before July 8, 2021, and obtains an annual zoning permit; a late or missed renewal permanently forfeits that status. New STRs are only permitted in non-residential districts (Central Business District, Business District, PUD) with a zoning permit, or as owner-occupied ‘homestays’ (up to two guest rooms) in residential or PUD districts. In August 2022, Southport signaled it would revisit its rules following Wilmington’s court battle over STR registration, so investors should verify current terms before assuming this framework is static.
Southport is a small historic coastal town at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, population 4,205, once named ‘America’s Happiest Seaside Town’ by Coastal Living, and a filming location for Safe Haven, A Walk to Remember, and Under the Dome.
StaySTRA tracks Southport’s ADR, occupancy, and revenue at a shared regional level with Sunset Beach, Supply, Calabash, Oak Island, and Holly Ridge. Five of those six towns, Southport, Sunset Beach, Supply, Calabash, and Oak Island, are Brunswick County coastal communities; Holly Ridge is a separate Onslow County town roughly 70 miles north, near Topsail Island, so the figures below describe a broader southeastern North Carolina coast STR market, not a tight single-county cluster. Given Southport’s own new-whole-home restriction, these regional numbers describe what its more permissive cluster-mates (particularly Sunset Beach and Supply, which have essentially unrestricted STR markets) are earning, not a path available to a new Southport residential purchase. In June 2026, that area STR market posted a blended ADR of $460.25 and 74.9% occupancy, with average monthly revenue of $8,822/listing.
One note on the annual data below: the 2026 row is a January-through-June average, which excludes July, this market’s single highest-revenue month, so it understates the eventual full-year 2026 average. Bedroom mix, listing-type breakdown, and the top-property-manager list are tracked at the same shared regional level rather than uniquely for Southport, so this profile omits those breakdowns.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 32% |
| Feb | 45% |
| Mar | 55% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 60% |
| Jun | 76% |
| Jul | 81% |
| Aug | 69% |
| Sep | 52% |
| Oct | 47% |
| Nov | 39% |
| Dec | 34% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Southport 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 Southport, so these counts are not Southport-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 Southport?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Southport 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 (Southport)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Southport 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 Southport — 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
Southport adopted a Short-Term Vacation Rental Ordinance on July 8, 2021 that effectively bans new whole-home short-term rentals in residential zones (R-10, R-20, MF). Existing rentals in those zones can continue only as lawful nonconforming uses if the owner can document verifiable bookings before July 8, 2021, and obtains an annual zoning permit; a late or missed renewal permanently forfeits that grandfathered status.
New STRs are only permitted in non-residential districts (Central Business District, Business District, PUD) with a zoning permit. ‘Homestays,’ a full-time resident renting up to two guest rooms, are allowed in residential and PUD districts with an annual permit. Operators must designate a 24/7 responsible party living within 20 miles who can respond to complaints within 45 minutes, post house rules, and carry minimum insurance ($1,000,000 for STRs, $500,000 for homestays). Permits run January 1 through December 31 and renew annually.
Lodging is subject to Brunswick County’s 1% room occupancy tax plus applicable NC state and local sales taxes. Enforcement is rated strict. This is a restrictive regime: for investors, buying in residential zones to start a new short-term rental is not viable; opportunity is limited to commercially zoned parcels, existing grandfathered properties, or owner-occupied homestays. The ordinance was amended in 2022, and in August 2022 the city signaled it would revisit its rules following Wilmington’s court battle over STR registration, so investors should verify current terms with the city.
Market Comparison
This southeastern North Carolina coast market’s June 2026 occupancy of 74.9% runs well above the commonly cited US STR median of roughly 55%, while its $460.25 blended ADR is well above the roughly $220 US median; its luxury tier ($711.20) is more than three times the national ADR benchmark.
Top-property-manager data is not currently published uniquely for Southport in this snapshot (tracked at a shared regional level with Sunset Beach, Supply, Calabash, Oak Island, and Holly Ridge instead), so this profile omits a named-operator comparison. Southport’s own regulatory position, banning new whole-home STRs in residential zones, is the standout comparison point against cluster-mates like Sunset Beach and Supply, which have essentially unrestricted STR markets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Southport, North Carolina
Can I buy a house in a Southport, NC residential neighborhood and start a new Airbnb?
What is a grandfathered short-term rental in Southport?
What is the average daily rate for short-term rentals near Southport, NC?
What is a homestay in Southport?
What taxes apply to legal short-term rentals in Southport?
Could Southport's short-term rental rules change?
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