Gig Harbor, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Gig Harbor's Puget Sound region STR market posted $178 ADR, 62.1% occupancy and $3,077 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Gig Harbor, Washington is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Tacoma/Olympia market area is 62%. average monthly revenue in the Tacoma/Olympia market area is $3,077. average daily rate in the Tacoma/Olympia market area is $178. the top operator in the Tacoma/Olympia market area is Evolve with 103 listings. market score is 61/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Tacoma/Olympia regional market, which includes Gig Harbor. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Gig Harbor.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers Gig Harbor, Washington, using short-term rental data for the Puget Sound region. The metric series is tracked at a shared regional level, so every performance number below describes the Puget Sound region STR market rather than Gig Harbor alone. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and the top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Gig Harbor, so this profile omits them.
In September 2026, the Puget Sound region STR market averaged a daily rate of $178, occupancy of 62.1% and revenue of $3,077 per listing for the month. Against September 2025, occupancy rose 2.2%, ADR rose 6.7% and monthly revenue rose 1.3%. Rate growth is driving most of the improvement, while occupancy has held in a narrow band.
The longer record shows how the market has settled. Occupancy peaked at 73.7% in 2021, when monthly revenue averaged $2,764 at a $139 ADR. Since then occupancy has eased to 63.5% in 2023, 63.1% in 2024 and 62.4% in 2025, while ADR climbed from $154 in 2023 to $162 in 2025. Through the first nine months of 2026, the region averages 63.4% occupancy, a $174 ADR and $3,064 in monthly revenue, compared with $2,840 for all of 2025.
Gig Harbor itself is a maritime village on Puget Sound with a population of 12,604. It is often called the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula and draws visitors to its walkable historic waterfront, views of Mount Rainier, waterfront dining, boutique shopping, kayaking and harbor tours. Guests are largely regional day-trippers and weekenders from the greater Seattle-Tacoma area, plus boaters and travelers heading to the Olympic Peninsula. City-specific annual visitor counts are not published. Pierce County welcomed roughly 8.8 million visitors in 2021 and generated $1.7 billion in direct visitor spending in 2024. The typical Gig Harbor home value is $818,706.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 55% |
| Feb | 61% |
| Mar | 62% |
| Apr | 62% |
| May | 67% |
| Jun | 75% |
| Jul | 77% |
| Aug | 74% |
| Sep | 66% |
| Oct | 59% |
| Nov | 58% |
| Dec | 59% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Gig Harbor are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Tacoma/Olympia market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Tacoma/Olympia market as a whole, which includes Gig Harbor, so these counts are not Gig Harbor-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 103 | 4,812 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 65 | 2,033 | ★ 4.63 |
| 3 | Amera Property Management | 25 | 641 | ★ 4.89 |
| 4 | Tip Top Management | 19 | 2,260 | ★ 4.87 |
| 5 | Blizzard Realty | 13 | 228 | ★ 4.75 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Gig Harbor?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Gig Harbor 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 | 58.3% |
| vrbo | 4.2% |
| both | 37.5% |
Home Value Trends (Gig Harbor)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Gig Harbor 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 Gig Harbor — 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 Gig Harbor. The city created its first formal STR framework with Ordinance 1507, adopted February 27, 2023 and effective March 8, 2023. An STR is defined as a dwelling unit rented to guests for fewer than 30 consecutive nights, and it is treated as its own land-use type rather than a home occupation.
A permit is required. Operators need a city Type II short-term rental permit, which costs $650 and renews annually, along with a Washington State business license and a City of Gig Harbor business license. The approved permit number and city business license must be posted on every advertising listing, including Airbnb and VRBO. Annual renewal requires a signed, notarized affidavit confirming compliance with GHMC 17.85.040 and a fire and safety re-inspection.
The rules are relatively open for investors. There is no owner-occupancy requirement and no primary-residence requirement. STRs are allowed in all residential and commercial zones where dwelling units are permitted. No annual night cap is stated, but each guest stay must be under 30 nights. Individuals, LLCs and other businesses may all hold permits. However, only one STR permit is allowed per operator, whether a person or an entity, and permits are non-transferable to another person or address. Live-aboard vessels are excluded from the STR definition.
The occupancy tax is 2%. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. The city dropped a primary-residence requirement that appeared in earlier drafts before adoption, and it planned further review as part of its 2024 Comprehensive Plan update. Confirm current requirements with the City of Gig Harbor before buying or listing.
Market Comparison
Within the Puget Sound region STR market, the rate tiers are well separated. The all-listings ADR is $178, entire places average $201, professionally managed listings average $225 and luxury listings average $312.
Seasonality adds nuance. The region’s occupancy runs from 54.9% in January to 76.9% in July, a swing of 22.0 occupancy points between the winter trough and the summer peak.
Year over year, the region’s 6.7% ADR growth and 2.2% occupancy growth suggest the market is gaining on both measures, though 1.3% revenue growth shows the gains are modest.
Top operators in this market are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Gig Harbor, so this profile omits them. For investors, the comparison suggests that Gig Harbor’s appeal rests on steady demand from the Seattle-Tacoma area rather than on premium nightly rates.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gig Harbor, Washington
What is the average Airbnb occupancy in the Gig Harbor area?
What is the average daily rate for a short-term rental in Gig Harbor?
Does Gig Harbor allow short-term rentals?
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When is the best season for Gig Harbor short-term rental income?
How much does a home cost in Gig Harbor for an STR investment?
How far ahead do guests book and how long do they stay?
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