Bellefonte, Pennsylvania Short-Term Rental Market
Bellefonte bars new STRs in R-1 and R-2 zones; September 2026 ADR $518, 45.2% occupancy, $5,450 monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Bellefonte, Pennsylvania is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the State College market area is 45%. average monthly revenue in the State College market area is $5,450. average daily rate in the State College market area is $518. the top operator in the State College market area is Seven Mountains with 20 listings. market score is 69/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the State College regional market, which includes Bellefonte. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bellefonte.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bellefonte is the Centre County seat, a borough of 6,026 residents about 12 miles from State College and Penn State University. As of September 2026, the Bellefonte short-term rental market posted an average daily rate of $518, occupancy of 45.2%, and average monthly revenue of $5,450 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 4.0%, ADR fell 8.7%, and revenue rose 8.8%, so stronger bookings more than offset softer pricing. Demand comes from heritage and architecture visitors, anglers on Spring Creek, and Penn State related travelers who want lodging near State College for game days and events. The Bellefonte Historic District holds more than 300 buildings on the National Register, and the 1805 Centre County Courthouse anchors downtown. In the Bellefonte area STR market, the tracked supply is about 1,735 listings by type. Entire places account for 1,537 of them, private rooms for 197, and shared rooms for 1. By bedroom count, 3-bedroom listings lead with 495, followed by 1-bedroom with 485, 2-bedroom with 324, 4-bedroom with 295, and 5-bedroom with 135. On channels, 1,224 listings appear on Airbnb only, 85 on Vrbo only, and 426 on both platforms. Over the longer run, annual ADR climbed from $243 in 2017 to $386 in 2025, while annual occupancy slipped from 42.3% to 40.4% over the same stretch. Year to date, 2026 averages 42.7% occupancy at a $342 ADR. Treat the September figure as a strong month rather than a run rate, because the seasonal average across the year is far lower than the latest reading.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 36% |
| Feb | 46% |
| Mar | 48% |
| Apr | 46% |
| May | 38% |
| Jun | 48% |
| Jul | 54% |
| Aug | 58% |
| Sep | 46% |
| Oct | 42% |
| Nov | 40% |
| Dec | 37% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Bellefonte are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in State College market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the State College market as a whole, which includes Bellefonte, so these counts are not Bellefonte-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seven Mountains | 20 | 325 | ★ 4.75 |
| 2 | The Bellefonte Campground | 16 | 579 | ★ 4.92 |
| 3 | Evolve | 15 | 292 | ★ 4.74 |
| 4 | Gameday Housing | 14 | 111 | ★ 4.95 |
| 5 | BNB Breeze | 4 | 313 | ★ 4.88 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bellefonte?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Bellefonte 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 | 70.5% |
| vrbo | 4.9% |
| both | 24.6% |
Home Value Trends (Bellefonte)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Bellefonte 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 Bellefonte — 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 permitted in Bellefonte, but zoning is the key constraint. Bellefonte Borough adopted an STR ordinance effective January 1, 2023. STRs are allowed in the R-4 residential district and in all commercial zoning districts. New STRs, whether owner-occupied or not, are not permitted in the R-1 and R-2 residential districts. Only STRs that operated there before January 1, 2023 may continue as pre-existing nonconforming uses. Operators need two approvals: a Rental Housing Permit from Centre Region Code Administration and a Borough Zoning Permit for Rental Housing. The permit renews annually, with renewals due January 31 each year, and properties are subject to the 2017 International Property Maintenance and Fire Prevention Code. The zoning permit fee is $50 for a new rental permit or a change of owner or manager. The Centre Region permit carries additional fees that are not confirmed here. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no stated cap on nights per year. Rentals under 30 days owe Pennsylvania’s 6% state hotel occupancy tax plus the Centre County hotel room tax of 5%, about 11% combined. Centre County raised its rate from 2.5% to 5% and applies it to online booking platforms such as Airbnb. Enforcement is rated moderate. Owners in violation get 30 days to apply for or renew a permit, then face fines for each day the property is rented without a valid permit.
Market Comparison
Bellefonte’s September 2026 occupancy was 45.2% at an ADR of $518. The pattern is a high-rate market where revenue depends on pricing for events and larger groups instead of filling every night. Year over year, revenue grew 8.8% as occupancy rose 4.0% and ADR fell 8.7%. The largest property managers in the Bellefonte area are Seven Mountains with 20 listings and a 4.75 rating, The Bellefonte Campground with 16 listings and a 4.92 rating across 579 reviews, Evolve with 15 listings and a 4.74 rating, Gameday Housing with 14 listings and a 4.95 rating, and BNB Breeze with 4 listings and a 4.88 rating. No single operator controls a large share of the roughly 1,735 tracked listings, so independent hosts compete directly with professional managers. High ratings among the top operators set the quality bar new hosts must meet.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
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