Lancaster, Pennsylvania Short-Term Rental Market
Lancaster, PA STRs averaged $198/night at 53.8% occupancy in April 2026 across 1,774 listings in the Amish country tourism corridor.
Quick Answer: Lancaster, Pennsylvania is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 65%. average monthly revenue is $4,132. average daily rate is $229. the top operator is Evolve with 41 listings. market score is 88/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Lancaster city is a historically significant Pennsylvania Dutch destination with 58,400 residents and approximately 10.2 million annual visitors. The tourism draw is rooted in Amish country heritage experiences, including the Amish Farm and House, Amish Village, and the Lancaster Central Market (the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the United States), along with the Sight and Sound Theatres, Strasburg Rail Road, and a walkable downtown arts district.
The STR market recorded an average daily rate of $198 and occupancy of 53.8% in April 2026, translating to RevPAR of $106.86 and average monthly revenue of $2,875 per listing. Year-over-year, revenue grew 1.6% as a 4.5% ADR gain offset a 1.1-percentage-point occupancy decline.
The market hosts 1,774 active listings, making it one of the smaller markets in this batch relative to its visitor volume. Entire-place rentals represent 1,519 units (85.6% of total), with 255 private-room listings. Airbnb is the primary channel at 998 Airbnb-only listings; 688 list on both platforms and 88 are VRBO-only.
One-bedroom units lead supply at 707 listings (39.9% of total), followed by 3-bedroom (373), 2-bedroom (359), 4-bedroom (208), and 5-bedroom (122).
The composite market score of 88.2 is driven primarily by a rental demand score of 94.9, the highest in this batch of 10 markets, validating Lancaster’s status as a sustained national tourism destination. The investability score of 78.5 reflects meaningful zoning constraints that limit where non-owner-occupied STRs are legally operable.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $137 | $1,646 |
| Feb | 46% | $141 | $1,645 |
| Mar | 49% | $144 | $1,990 |
| Apr | 56% | $154 | $2,360 |
| May | 58% | $165 | $2,610 |
| Jun | 65% | $179 | $3,199 |
| Jul | 68% | $170 | $3,261 |
| Aug | 68% | $171 | $3,305 |
| Sep | 57% | $159 | $2,517 |
| Oct | 60% | $163 | $2,810 |
| Nov | 52% | $157 | $2,310 |
| Dec | 51% | $155 | $2,296 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lancaster
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 41 | 2,455 | ★ 4.78 |
| 2 | Stay Lancaster | 36 | 5,810 | ★ 4.95 |
| 3 | Unique Stays | 34 | 224 | ★ 4.53 |
| 4 | Amish Farm Stay | 30 | 4,839 | ★ 4.92 |
| 5 | Awakened Properties | 18 | 3,291 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lancaster?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 707 |
| 2 bed | 359 |
| 3 bed | 373 |
| 4 bed | 208 |
| 5 bed | 122 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $242 |
| Luxury | $389 |
| Professionally Managed | $259 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,762 |
| Entire Place | $4,483 |
| House | $4,835 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 56.3% |
| vrbo | 5% |
| both | 38.8% |
Investment Analysis
Lancaster STRs generated an average of $2,875 per month in April 2026. Using the April 2026 run rate annualized, and a median sale price of $295,167 (the closest available housing metric; the Zillow typical home value is not available for this market through our source), the implied gross yield is approximately 11.7% ($34,500 annualized / $295,167 median sale price, April 2026 run rate basis). Based on the 2025 full-year annual average of $3,108 per month (explicit 2025 annual average), the annualized figure is approximately $37,300, implying a gross yield of approximately 12.6% on the same median sale price. Both are gross figures before platform fees, management, maintenance, taxes, and debt service.
Zoning is the primary investment constraint in Lancaster. Non-owner-occupied STRs are permitted by right only in commercial and mixed-use zones (RO, MU, CB1, CB, C1, and C2). They are not permitted in most residential neighborhoods. Investors must purchase in a qualifying commercial or mixed-use zone or operate as an owner-occupied homestay. This restriction significantly limits eligible inventory.
For properties in permitted zones, rate segmentation shows clear upside. Luxury-tier listings averaged $339 per night, 70.9% above the market-wide $198. Professionally managed properties averaged $221 per night (11.4% above market). Houses average $3,317 per month and entire-place listings average $3,121, compared to apartments at $2,141.
Annual revenue has grown from $1,727 per month (2017 annual average) to $3,108 (2025), a 79.8% gain over eight years. The market’s demand score of 94.9 is the highest in this batch, reflecting durable national tourism demand that supports consistent occupancy.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Lancaster guests book an average of 52 days in advance and stay an average of 3.4 nights per stay. The long lead time mirrors that of other strong heritage and leisure tourism markets, where travelers plan visits to Amish country attractions, theatrical performances at Sight and Sound Theatres, and rail excursions well ahead of arrival.
The 52-day lead time is among the longest in this batch. For summer and fall bookings, operators who set rates by April or May capture the bulk of the advance-booking demand wave. Lancaster’s October peak (fall foliage and harvest season) should be priced by August at the latest.
At 3.4 nights average length of stay, guests are extending beyond a single weekend. The combination of multiple heritage attractions (Amish Village, Central Market, Strasburg Rail Road, Sight and Sound) and diverse dining supports 3-to-5 night itineraries better than single-attraction markets. Operators who highlight the breadth of activities in their listings may attract the longer-stay bookings that reduce turnover costs and improve operational efficiency.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Lancaster city allows short-term rentals but tightly controls where non-owner-occupied STRs may operate. Non-owner-occupied STRs are permitted by right only in commercial and mixed-use zones (RO, MU, CB1, CB, C1, and C2). They are effectively prohibited in most residential neighborhoods.
To operate legally, an owner must obtain a Certificate of Zoning Compliance from the city, then register the unit as a Transient Dwelling rental under a city Residential Rental License. The process requires a pre-approval inspection by a City Housing Inspector, a named designated property manager, and compliance with building, safety, and maintenance standards. The rental license costs approximately $50 and must be renewed annually. Maximum guest stay is 30 consecutive days.
A more flexible Homestay option allows owner-occupants to rent up to two bedrooms in their own home (the owner must reside on-site during the rental) and is permitted in a broader set of zones including residential zones R3 and R4.
On taxes, operators must register with Lancaster County and remit the county hotel room rental tax of 3.9% plus a 1.1% county excise tax (5.0% county total), plus Pennsylvania’s 6% state hotel occupancy tax, totaling approximately 11% in combined lodging taxes.
In May 2023, City Council amended the zoning code to allow more STRs in commercially-zoned districts, particularly units above street-level businesses, while maintaining restrictions on further STR expansion into residential neighborhoods. Enforcement for zoning violations can include fines, court proceedings, and unit condemnation. The regulation score of 67.0 out of 100 reflects a framework that is permissive for buyers who select the right location, but restrictive for those purchasing in standard residential zones.
Market Comparison
Lancaster’s April 2026 occupancy of 53.8% is slightly below the approximate U.S. STR median of 55%. The average daily rate of $198 is below the U.S. median of approximately $220. However, Lancaster’s rental demand score of 94.9 out of 100 is the highest in this batch of 10 markets, reflecting the city’s exceptionally durable visitor base of 10.2 million annual tourists.
The relatively moderate ADR relative to demand score may reflect zoning constraints that limit STR supply primarily to commercial zones and hosted homestays, compressing the market scale and competitive pricing dynamics.
Property management in Lancaster is small-scale but experienced. Evolve leads with 41 listings and 2,455 reviews (rating 4.78). Stay Lancaster manages 36 listings with 5,810 reviews (rating 4.95), the highest rating among the top five. Unique Stays holds 34 listings (rating 4.53), Amish Farm Stay manages 30 listings (rating 4.92, 4,839 reviews), and Awakened Properties operates 18 listings (rating 4.82). The top five collectively manage 159 listings, approximately 9.0% of total supply. The small per-operator scale reflects Lancaster’s boutique, relationship-driven STR market rather than the large-scale management operations seen in higher-volume tourist markets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lancaster, Pennsylvania
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