Sunset Beach, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Southeast NC coast STRs earned $7,594 a month at $443 ADR and 61.7% occupancy in August 2026.
Quick Answer: Sunset Beach, 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 Sunset Beach. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Sunset Beach.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Sunset Beach is the southernmost of the Brunswick Islands, a low-rise barrier-island resort town near the South Carolina line. The town has 4,351 residents, while the beach island itself holds about 1,200 homes, mostly vacation rentals, and roughly 100 full-time residents. Its short-term rental data is reported for a shared market of six towns: Sunset Beach, Calabash, Oak Island, Southport, Supply, and Holly Ridge. Five are in Brunswick County, and Holly Ridge is farther north near Topsail Island. Every performance figure below describes the southeastern North Carolina coast STR market, not Sunset Beach alone.
In August 2026, the latest month of data, that market averaged $443 per night at 61.7% occupancy. Average monthly revenue per listing was $7,594. Compared with August 2025, ADR rose 7.9%, revenue rose 3.1%, and occupancy fell 6.0%. The calendar-year trend is up. The market averaged 51.4% occupancy, $314 ADR, and $4,538 in monthly revenue in 2025. Through the first eight months of 2026 the averages are 56.7% occupancy, $348 ADR, and $5,393 in monthly revenue.
Visitors drive in from the Carolinas, Virginia, and the Southeast. The area profile also names retirees, couples, and golfers who use the mainland resort communities of Sea Trail, Oyster Bay, and Sandpiper Bay. Peak demand runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Nearby draws include the Kindred Spirit Mailbox, Bird Island Reserve, and the Old Bridge Preservation Society Museum. No reliable annual visitor count exists for the town.
Listing counts, channel mix, listing-type mix, and bedroom mix are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Sunset Beach, 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 Sunset Beach 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 Sunset Beach, so these counts are not Sunset Beach-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 Sunset Beach?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Sunset 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 | 21.3% |
| vrbo | 16.9% |
| both | 61.8% |
Home Value Trends (Sunset Beach)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Sunset 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 Sunset 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
Short-term rentals are well established and effectively unrestricted in Sunset Beach. The beach island’s homes are predominantly vacation rentals, so STR is a normal use. North Carolina law (G.S. 160D-1207(c)) bars towns from requiring owners to register rental property or obtain a permit just to rent it, so the town runs no STR permit or registration program. The area profile lists no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no cap on rental nights per year. Enforcement is rated minimal and focuses on nuisance and code compliance.
The main obligation is tax. Operators collect a 6% local accommodations tax on gross rental receipts. That is 3% town tourism, 2% town beach nourishment, and 1% Brunswick County room occupancy. North Carolina state and county sales tax apply as well.
Owners must still follow zoning, building, minimum-housing, occupancy, and parking codes. A Special Use Permit is needed only if a property is used in a way that departs from its zoning district. The profile notes no town-specific STR ordinance changes. It also cites court rulings that struck down mandatory local STR registration statewide. HOA and community rules in golf-resort neighborhoods may impose their own rental limits, so verify them. Confirm current tax remittance steps with the Town and Brunswick County.
Market Comparison
Against the commonly cited US STR medians of about 55% occupancy and $220 ADR, the southeastern North Carolina coast STR market runs high on rate and mixed on fill. August 2026 ADR of $443 is about 101% above the $220 reference. Occupancy of 61.7% is 6.7 percentage points above the 55% reference. The 2025 annual average of 51.4% was about 4 points below it.
The pattern fits a summer beach destination. July occupancy reaches 80.6%, while the January low is 31.7%, so annual averages understate peak performance. Rate growth has carried revenue. Annual ADR rose from $293 in 2024 to $314 in 2025, and the 2026 average is $348 through August.
Top property manager data is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Sunset Beach, so this profile omits it. That keeps operator names and listing counts from the wider six-town market from being presented as the town’s own.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sunset Beach, North Carolina
Are short-term rentals legal in Sunset Beach, NC?
How much do Airbnbs earn near Sunset Beach?
What taxes apply to Sunset Beach rentals?
What is the busiest month for STRs here?
What does a home cost near Sunset Beach?
How far ahead do guests book, and how long do they stay?
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