Nellysford, Virginia Short-Term Rental Market
Nellysford's Central Virginia Blue Ridge STR market posted $268 ADR, 49.2% occupancy and $3,590 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Nellysford, Virginia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Charlottesville market area is 49%. average monthly revenue in the Charlottesville market area is $3,590. average daily rate in the Charlottesville market area is $268. 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 Charlottesville regional market, which includes Nellysford. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Nellysford.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers Nellysford, Virginia, using data for the Central Virginia Blue Ridge region, which also includes Afton, Roseland and Charlottesville. Short-term rental performance is tracked at this shared regional level rather than uniquely for Nellysford, so every performance figure below describes the Central Virginia Blue Ridge STR market. In September 2026 the region averaged an ADR of $268 and occupancy of 49.2%, producing average monthly revenue of $3,590 per listing. Entire-place rentals did better than the overall average, with an ADR of $279 and monthly revenue of $3,698.
Year over year, the market is moving in the right direction. Occupancy rose 6.3%, ADR rose 5.9%, and revenue rose 16.0% compared with September 2025. The longer series shows how the market has settled since the pandemic surge. Average annual occupancy peaked at 60.7% in 2021, eased to 47.4% in 2024, and recovered slightly to 48.1% in 2025. Average ADR has climbed from $191 in 2017 to $254 in 2025, and the 2026 year to date figure through nine months is $268. Average monthly revenue for 2026 so far is $3,497, ahead of $3,409 for full year 2025.
Nellysford itself has a population of 1,254 and serves as the commercial hub of Nelson County’s Route 151 brewery, winery, cidery and distillery trail. It is also the gateway to Wintergreen Resort, an 11,000-acre four-season Blue Ridge resort. Demand comes mostly from weekend leisure travelers from Washington DC (about 2.5 hours), Richmond (about 1.5 hours) and Charlottesville (about 1 hour), drawn by skiing and tubing in winter, golf, hiking and fall foliage. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Nellysford, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 43% |
| Feb | 48% |
| Mar | 43% |
| Apr | 51% |
| May | 51% |
| Jun | 51% |
| Jul | 56% |
| Aug | 56% |
| Sep | 51% |
| Oct | 58% |
| Nov | 49% |
| Dec | 44% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Nellysford 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 Nellysford, so these counts are not Nellysford-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 Nellysford?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Nellysford 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 (Nellysford)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Nellysford 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 Nellysford — 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, meaning stays under 30 days, are legal in Nellysford and Nelson County. Operators need a Nelson County business license from the Commissioner of the Revenue, and the license renews annually on or before March 1. Following a July 8, 2025 ordinance amendment, zoning approval from Planning and Zoning must be obtained before the business license is issued for new or relocated STR uses. Operators should confirm the use is permitted on their specific parcel with the Director of Planning and Zoning at 434-263-7090 before listing. A permit cost is not published.
The county collects a 7% transient occupancy tax, effective July 1, 2024. Third-party platforms such as Airbnb, VRBO and Evolve are now required to collect and remit that tax on hosts’ behalf.
There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no published annual night cap. Vacation houses with more than five bedrooms face additional requirements. Enforcement severity is rated moderate, and violations of local ordinances can carry civil and criminal liability.
Rules may change. The county is drafting an overhaul of its zoning and subdivision ordinance, with STR rules expected to be revised and adopted in the 2025 to 2026 winter timeframe. The county also maintains an STR inventory. Investors should verify parcel-level zoning before purchase, since Wintergreen and rural-residential areas may be treated differently. Always confirm current requirements with Nelson County directly.
Market Comparison
The Central Virginia Blue Ridge STR market trades occupancy for rate. September 2026 occupancy was 49.2% against an ADR of $268, which is typical of a leisure destination with a higher share of houses and cabin-style stays.
The revenue result is favorable. Average monthly revenue of $3,590 combines a premium rate with moderate occupancy, and it grew 16.0% year over year. Occupancy was strongest in October at 57.8%, July at 56.4% and August at 56.3%, but it was lower during the winter and spring months.
The main trade-off is the cost of entry. The typical home value of $604,902 is high, so investors need strong rate performance to justify the purchase. The 6.3% rise in occupancy and 5.9% rise in ADR suggest the market is still improving. Top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Nellysford, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nellysford, Virginia
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