Charlottesville, Virginia Short-Term Rental Market
Charlottesville STRs averaged $255/night at 47.4% occupancy in April 2026, with October driving peak revenue of $3,858 per listing.
Quick Answer: Charlottesville, Virginia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Charlottesville market area is 46%. average monthly revenue in the Charlottesville market area is $3,568. average daily rate in the Charlottesville market area is $265. the top operator in the Charlottesville market area is Wintergreen Resort with 219 listings. market score is 92/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the wider Charlottesville market, which covers 10 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Charlottesville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Charlottesville, VA is a mid-size short-term rental market anchored by the University of Virginia, Monticello, and the Monticello Wine Trail. As of April 2026, the market held approximately 3,112 active listings across all bedroom sizes, with a $255 average daily rate (ADR) and 47.4% occupancy, generating a RevPAR of $121.03. Year-over-year, occupancy declined 2.7 percentage points while ADR rose 2.8%, resulting in a net revenue gain of 3.8% compared to April 2025.
Entire-place listings dominate at 2,898 units (93% of the market), with private rooms numbering 217 and shared rooms just 1. By bedroom count, one-bedroom properties lead at 1,066, followed by two-bedroom (783), three-bedroom (630), four-bedroom (357), and five-bedroom (276) listings. The bedroom distribution skews toward larger properties relative to the market size, reflecting demand from wine-country retreats and mountain cabin guests.
Platform distribution shows a near-even split between Airbnb-only (1,412) and dual-channel (1,508 on both Airbnb and VRBO), with 196 VRBO-only listings. The market’s overall score of 91.6 out of 100 is high, driven by seasonality (90.8) and revenue growth (77.3), with rental demand (75.7) and investability (70.9) at more moderate levels. Annual visitor spending for the Charlottesville and Albemarle region reached $989.8 million in 2024 per the Virginia Tourism Corporation, supporting 7,172 jobs.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 43% |
| Feb | 48% |
| Mar | 43% |
| Apr | 51% |
| May | 51% |
| Jun | 51% |
| Jul | 57% |
| Aug | 57% |
| Sep | 51% |
| Oct | 58% |
| Nov | 49% |
| Dec | 44% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Charlottesville are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Charlottesville market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Charlottesville market as a whole, which includes Charlottesville, so these counts are not Charlottesville-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wintergreen Resort | 219 | 187 | ★ 4.62 |
| 2 | Evolve | 90 | 5,297 | ★ 4.80 |
| 3 | Be Still Getaways | 76 | 2,924 | ★ 4.88 |
| 4 | Lydia Mountain Lodge and Log Cabin | 63 | 1,406 | ★ 4.76 |
| 5 | Guesthouses | 58 | 2,507 | ★ 4.89 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Charlottesville?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Charlottesville 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 | 45.3% |
| vrbo | 6.3% |
| both | 48.4% |
Home Value Trends (Charlottesville)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Charlottesville 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 Charlottesville — 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
Charlottesville regulates short-term rentals through a Homestay framework that imposes meaningful operator requirements. A Homestay Accessory Use Permit is required, obtained through the City’s Permit Portal at a cost of $100 per year. Permits are valid through December 31 and must be renewed annually. Beginning in 2026, permits must be approved by March 1.
The defining restriction is owner-occupancy. The property must be the operator’s permanent residence, occupied for at least 185 days per calendar year. This effectively bars non-resident investors from operating STRs within the city limits. No more than six adult overnight guests per lot per night are permitted, and off-street parking must be provided. Permits are valid only in specified residential zoning districts: R-A, RN-A, R-B, R-C, RX-3, and RX-5.
The transient occupancy tax rate is 9% on the total amount paid for stays under 30 consecutive days. Airbnb has collected and remitted this tax on behalf of hosts since October 2022. Virginia state sales tax (5.3%) applies in addition. Enforcement is strict: three or more substantiated complaints within a calendar year can result in permit revocation, and a revoked operator is ineligible for a permit for the remainder of that year plus one additional full year. Safety requirements including smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and Virginia Uniform Building Code compliance are mandatory.
Investors should note that Albemarle County, which surrounds the city, has different and generally less restrictive STR rules. Properties outside the city limits may offer more operational flexibility.
Market Comparison
Charlottesville’s 47.4% occupancy in April 2026 falls below the approximate U.S. STR median of 55%, but its $255 ADR significantly exceeds the approximate national median of $220. The market is a high-rate, lower-volume destination where revenue per booking is strong but total occupied nights per listing are fewer. The RevPAR of $121.03 is competitive, driven by premium nightly rates rather than high utilization.
Among the top operators, Wintergreen Resort leads with 219 listings and a 4.62 rating, though its 187 reviews suggest its presence may reflect a resort inventory aggregation rather than a traditional property management company. Evolve manages 90 listings with a standout 4.80 rating across 5,297 reviews, the highest review count among the top five. Be Still Getaways holds 76 listings at a 4.88 rating across 2,924 reviews. Lydia Mountain Lodge and Log Cabin manages 63 listings at a 4.76 rating, and Guesthouses manages 58 listings at a 4.89 rating across 2,507 reviews. The top 5 collectively manage 506 listings, approximately 16% of the 3,112-listing market, indicating more concentration than typical mid-size markets. The market’s 91.6 overall score reflects strong investment fundamentals despite the city’s owner-occupancy requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions About Charlottesville, Virginia
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