Brian Head, Utah Short-Term Rental Market
Brian Head STRs averaged $210/night at 46.9% occupancy in April 2026, in Utah's highest-elevation ski resort village with summer hiking and mountain biking demand.
Quick Answer: Brian Head, Utah is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 56%. average monthly revenue is $3,975. average daily rate is $276. the top operator is Evolve with 338 listings. market score is 53/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Utah Area regional market, which includes Brian Head. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Brian Head.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Brian Head is a tiny mountain resort community in Iron County, Utah, at an elevation of approximately 9,800 feet. The town’s population of approximately 157 permanent residents supports an overwhelmingly STR-driven economy, drawing ski visitors to Brian Head Resort and summer recreation enthusiasts to Cedar Breaks National Monument and Dixie National Forest. The area draws approximately 150,000 annual visitors.
As of April 2026, the average daily rate is $210, occupancy is 46.9%, and RevPAR is $98. Year-over-year, occupancy declined 1.1 percentage points while ADR rose 5.1%, producing a revenue decline of 4.0% versus April 2025.
Brian Head Town requires an Annual Nightly Rental Business License with a notably complex fee structure: a new application fee of $151, an annual disproportionate cost-of-service fee of $536 per cabin or $197 per condo, plus fire inspection fees. The total licensing cost is one of the higher fee structures in this batch at approximately $687+ per year for cabins.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38% | $266 | $2,985 |
| Feb | 47% | $282 | $3,214 |
| Mar | 50% | $238 | $3,277 |
| Apr | 46% | $186 | $2,464 |
| May | 55% | $189 | $2,668 |
| Jun | 59% | $238 | $3,490 |
| Jul | 60% | $264 | $4,201 |
| Aug | 50% | $240 | $3,328 |
| Sep | 49% | $196 | $2,637 |
| Oct | 49% | $183 | $2,582 |
| Nov | 41% | $178 | $1,945 |
| Dec | 46% | $264 | $2,965 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Brian Head
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 338 | 18,623 | ★ 4.75 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 150 | 4,266 | ★ 4.51 |
| 3 | Family Time Vacation Rentals | 124 | 3,954 | ★ 4.47 |
| 4 | Stay Midway | 96 | 824 | ★ 4.13 |
| 5 | Midway Vacation Properties | 89 | 2,048 | ★ 4.52 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Brian Head?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,438 |
| 2 bed | 1,565 |
| 3 bed | 1,838 |
| 4 bed | 1,017 |
| 5 bed | 1,088 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $284 |
| Luxury | $537 |
| Professionally Managed | $371 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,563 |
| Entire Place | $4,089 |
| House | $4,760 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 37.4% |
| vrbo | 6.9% |
| both | 55.6% |
Investment Analysis
Brian Head presents a low-entry-cost mountain resort investment with strong summer and winter demand. At a typical home value of $233,167 and April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,780, annualized gross revenue is approximately $33,360, implying a gross revenue yield of roughly 14.3%.
The median list price of $339,967 is 46% above the typical Zillow value, reflecting the premium for permitted, operating nightly rental properties. The for-sale inventory of 101 units provides selection in this small town.
ADR tiers show upside for premium properties: entire-home listings average $217 versus $210 overall, professionally managed properties average $277 (a 32% premium), and luxury-tier listings reach $421 per night. Houses generate $3,289 per month versus apartments at $1,751, an 88% gap — the largest property-type gap in the Utah markets in this batch, reflecting the extreme premium for private cabin accommodations over standard condo units.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Brian Head bookings average a 51-day lead time, roughly seven weeks in advance. This reflects the deliberate planning of ski weekend and mountain recreation trips to this high-elevation destination, where guests coordinate with equipment rentals and trail access.
Average length of stay is 3.1 nights, consistent with a long-weekend mountain escape market. The short stay combined with high cabin turnover overhead means operators should use minimum stay requirements of 2 to 3 nights to reduce cleaning costs. Peak summer (July Fourth weekend, Labor Day) and winter holiday (Christmas, New Year’s) bookings typically arrive the furthest in advance and should have firm pricing and minimum stay requirements set 60 to 90 days out.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Brian Head Town requires an Annual Nightly Rental Business License for all stays under 30 consecutive days, governed by Town Code Title 3, Chapter 2A (most recently amended by Ordinance 25-004 in 2025). Operators must pass a fire inspection before renting, with biennial reinspection thereafter.
The fee structure is complex: new application fee is $151 per unit; annual Disproportionate Cost of Service Fee is $536 per cabin or $197 per condo (allocated to public safety and code enforcement); fire inspection fee is $30 initial and $30 per reinspection. Licenses expire September 30 annually; renewal is $122 per unit. The total annual cost is approximately $687 for cabin operators (renewal $122 + annual service fee $536 + reinspection in applicable years).
Non-owner-occupied properties are permitted in all residential zones. No owner-occupancy or primary residence requirement applies. No annual maximum night cap has been identified. The combined lodging tax rate is approximately 11.27%: Utah state sales tax 4.85%, state transient room tax 0.32%, county option and local taxes making up the remainder. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Brian Head’s April 2026 ADR of $210 is roughly at the US STR median of approximately $220, while occupancy at 46.9% is below the national median of approximately 55%. The gross revenue yield of approximately 14.3% is among the highest in the Utah mountain markets, reflecting low property acquisition costs.
Evolve leads the market with 338 listings and 18,623 reviews (4.75 average rating), by far the dominant operator in this small mountain town. Vacasa follows with 150 listings and 4,266 reviews (4.51 rating). Family Time Vacation Rentals holds 124 listings (4.47 rating). Stay Midway manages 96 listings (4.13 rating). Midway Vacation Properties rounds out the top five with 89 listings (4.52 rating).
Evolve’s 338 listings in a community with 157 permanent residents represents an exceptionally high penetration rate, reflecting the town’s near-total dependence on STR revenue for its local economy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brian Head, Utah
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