Oak Harbor, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
The Oak Harbor, WA area STR market averaged $317/night at 70.3% occupancy in June 2026, up 6.4% in revenue.
Quick Answer: Oak Harbor, Washington is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Puget Sound/Bremerton market area is 70%. average monthly revenue in the Puget Sound/Bremerton market area is $5,762. average daily rate in the Puget Sound/Bremerton market area is $317. the top operator in the Puget Sound/Bremerton market area is Vacasa with 327 listings. market score is 70/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Puget Sound/Bremerton regional market, which includes Oak Harbor. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Oak Harbor.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Oak Harbor is the largest city on Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington, roughly 90 minutes north of Seattle, with a population of 24,362. Tourism is driven by outdoor recreation and proximity to Deception Pass State Park, Washington’s most-visited state park, drawing well over 2 million visitors per year at the island’s north end, plus a steady stream of military-connected travelers tied to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The StaySTRA STR series for this area is tracked at a shared submarket level covering Oak Harbor and nearby Whidbey Island communities rather than uniquely for this city, so the figures below describe the Oak Harbor, WA area STR market.
The Oak Harbor, WA area STR market posted an average daily rate of $316.72 and 70.25% occupancy in June 2026, with a trailing average revenue per listing of about $5,761.53. Year over year, revenue is up 6.37% and occupancy is up 1.45%, even as ADR is down modestly (3.11%). Average booking lead time is 74.99 days and average length of stay is 3.40 nights.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 36% |
| Feb | 47% |
| Mar | 50% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 58% |
| Jun | 69% |
| Jul | 79% |
| Aug | 79% |
| Sep | 63% |
| Oct | 50% |
| Nov | 45% |
| Dec | 45% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Oak Harbor are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Puget Sound/Bremerton market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Puget Sound/Bremerton market as a whole, which includes Oak Harbor, so these counts are not Oak Harbor-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 327 | 24,080 | ★ 4.52 |
| 2 | Evolve | 144 | 9,100 | ★ 4.83 |
| 3 | San Juan Property Management | 91 | 8,680 | ★ 4.73 |
| 4 | AvantStay | 83 | 6,296 | ★ 4.75 |
| 5 | Brigadoon Vacation Rentals | 58 | 3,491 | ★ 4.81 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Oak Harbor?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Oak 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 | 47.1% |
| vrbo | 7.6% |
| both | 45.3% |
Home Value Trends (Oak Harbor)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Oak 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 Oak 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
Oak Harbor is a permissive, low-friction market for short-term rentals. As of mid-2026 the City of Oak Harbor has no dedicated STR ordinance, no cap on rental nights, and no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Operators are expected to hold a general business license (a Washington State Business License plus city business registration) and, under Washington’s statewide STR law (RCW 64.37), must register, provide safety information, and remit all applicable lodging taxes.
Guests pay retail sales tax (roughly 9.2% combined state, county, and city) plus a special hotel/motel lodging tax; Oak Harbor’s lodging tax authority totals about 4.0% (a 2% state-shared basic tax credited against sales tax, plus a 2% special tax funding the city’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and tourism promotion), bringing the total tax a guest pays on a stay to roughly 11%. Unincorporated Island County, covering the South Whidbey, Freeland, and Coupeville areas, is separately weighing tighter STR permitting tied to septic capacity and neighbor notification, and neighboring Coupeville already requires an annual roughly $100 STR license, but none of those county or town rules apply inside Oak Harbor city limits. Enforcement within the city is minimal given the absence of a targeted ordinance.
Market Comparison
The Oak Harbor, WA area’s $316.72 ADR runs well above the roughly $220 national median ADR, about 44% higher, and its 70.25% occupancy also runs well above the commonly cited US short-term rental median of about 55%. That combination places Oak Harbor among the stronger-performing markets in this batch on both rate and fill, consistent with its position as a Whidbey Island gateway to Deception Pass State Park.
Property-manager-level data for this market is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Oak Harbor, so this profile omits it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oak Harbor, Washington
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What is the short-term rental occupancy rate in Oak Harbor?
Are short-term rentals legal in Oak Harbor, Washington?
How much lodging tax applies to short-term rentals in Oak Harbor?
What is the best month to operate a short-term rental in Oak Harbor?
Are Island County's short-term rental rules stricter than Oak Harbor's?
What does a typical home cost in the Oak Harbor short-term rental market?
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