Is Quincy, Illinois Good for Airbnb Investment?

To start an Airbnb in Quincy, Illinois, begin by researching local zoning laws and regulations through the Quincy City Planning Department, as the city requires short-term rental operators to obtain a business license and comply with residential zoning restrictions that may limit rentals to owner-occupied properties or specific districts. Contact the Adams County Health Department for any required health permits and ensure compliance with Illinois state tax requirements including the 6.25% state sales tax and local hotel/motel taxes. Find a suitable property in residential areas that allow short-term rentals, focusing on neighborhoods near the Mississippi River, downtown historic district, or near Quincy University for higher demand. Purchase essential furnishings including quality bedding, basic kitchen appliances, Wi-Fi equipment, and safety items like smoke detectors and fire extinguishers to meet local fire codes enforced by the Quincy Fire Department. Create your Airbnb listing with professional photos highlighting local attractions like the Quincy Bay Front Park and Villa Kathrine, set competitive pricing around $75-120 per night based on local market rates, and implement house rules complying with city noise ordinances. Manage your property by establishing cleaning protocols between guests, maintaining responsive communication, coordinating key exchanges or installing smart locks, and keeping detailed records for tax purposes while monitoring local regulation changes through the City of Quincy's official website and attending city council meetings when short-term rental policies are discussed.

To identify profitable short-term rental properties in Quincy, Illinois, focus on locations near the Mississippi River waterfront, downtown historic district around Hampshire Street, and proximity to Quincy University and John Wood Community College for consistent demand from visiting families and business travelers. Target 2-4 bedroom properties built after 1950 with modern amenities, parking, and outdoor spaces, as Quincy's tourism centers around historical attractions like the Villa Kathrine and riverfront activities. Analyze pricing by researching comparable Airbnb listings in the $80-150 nightly range, considering Quincy's median home prices around $85,000-120,000 make acquisition costs relatively low compared to larger Illinois markets. Study competition through Airbnb and VRBO searches revealing limited inventory of well-managed STRs, creating opportunity gaps especially for properties accommodating families visiting the riverfront or Quincy's annual Dogwood Festival. Utilize tools like AirDNA for market data, Mashvisor for investment analysis, and local resources including the Quincy Area Convention & Visitors Bureau for tourism trends, while monitoring occupancy rates that typically peak during summer months and fall foliage season when river tourism and university events drive demand.

To obtain an Airbnb/STR permit in Quincy, Illinois, contact the Quincy City Clerk's office at City Hall located at 730 Maine Street or call (217) 228-4500 to begin the application process. You'll need to submit a completed short-term rental application form, provide proof of property ownership or lease agreement, submit a site plan or floor plan of the property, obtain a certificate of occupancy, provide proof of liability insurance (typically $1 million minimum), and pass required safety inspections including smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The application fee is approximately $150-200 with an annual renewal fee of around $100, and you may need additional permits costing $50-75 each for electrical, plumbing, or building inspections. The timeline typically takes 4-6 weeks from application submission to approval, depending on inspection scheduling and any required corrections. Quincy requires STR properties to maintain off-street parking, limit occupancy to 2 people per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, maintain quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM, post emergency contact information visibly inside the property, and ensure compliance with residential zoning requirements which may restrict STRs in certain neighborhoods.

Short-term rentals (STRs) in Quincy, Illinois operate in a regulatory gray area as the city has not enacted comprehensive STR-specific ordinances as of 2024. While not explicitly prohibited, STRs must comply with existing zoning regulations, business licensing requirements, and residential property standards enforced by the city's Community Development Department. Properties used as STRs in residential zones may face restrictions under single-family zoning ordinances that limit commercial activities, and operators typically need to obtain business licenses and comply with health and safety codes. The city has been monitoring STR activity and considering regulatory frameworks similar to other Illinois municipalities, with discussions focusing on registration requirements, occupancy limits, and parking standards. Recent years have seen increased scrutiny from city officials regarding noise complaints and neighborhood impacts, though no major legal changes have been implemented specifically targeting STRs, leaving operators to navigate existing municipal codes and state regulations governing rental properties and business operations.

The most promising Airbnb investment areas in Quincy, Illinois include the Historic Downtown District near the Mississippi River waterfront, which attracts tourists visiting the Quincy Museum, Villa Kathrine, and historic architecture tours, plus business travelers attending conferences at the Oakley Lindsay Center. The South Hills neighborhood offers upscale properties appealing to visitors attending Quincy University events and families visiting students, while the East End Historic District near Woodland Cemetery draws genealogy tourists and history buffs exploring the area's Civil War heritage. The Calfkiller Creek area provides scenic properties attractive to outdoor enthusiasts and weekend getaways, and neighborhoods near Blessing Hospital capture medical tourism and visiting family members of patients undergoing extended treatments.

In Quincy, Illinois, Airbnb hosts are subject to both state and local lodging taxes. The Illinois state hotel operators' occupation tax is 6% on gross rental receipts, which applies to all short-term rentals under 30 days. Adams County, where Quincy is located, imposes an additional 3% hotel/motel tax on lodging accommodations. The City of Quincy levies a 2% municipal hotel tax, bringing the total lodging tax rate to approximately 11%. These taxes are typically collected by Airbnb directly from guests at the time of booking and remitted to the appropriate tax authorities on behalf of hosts through Airbnb's automated tax collection service, which began operating in Illinois around 2018. Hosts must register with the Illinois Department of Revenue and obtain a hotel operator's license, and may need to register separately with Adams County and the City of Quincy depending on local requirements. Monthly or quarterly remittance is required if collecting taxes independently. Exemptions generally apply to stays of 30 days or longer, which are considered long-term rentals rather than transient accommodations, and certain government or charitable organization bookings may also be exempt from these occupancy taxes.

The total cost to start an Airbnb in Quincy, Illinois is approximately $185,000-$225,000. Property purchase costs around $120,000-$150,000 based on median home prices in the area. Furnishing a 2-3 bedroom property requires $15,000-$25,000 for quality furniture, bedding, kitchen essentials, and decor. Initial setup costs including professional photography, listing creation, and basic renovations total $3,000-$5,000. Permits and fees including business license, short-term rental permit, and inspection fees range from $500-$1,500. Insurance premiums for short-term rental coverage cost $2,000-$3,000 annually. Utility deposits and connections for electricity, gas, water, internet, and cable total $1,000-$2,000. First six months operating costs including utilities ($600/month), cleaning services ($100 per turnover), maintenance reserves ($200/month), property management software ($50/month), and marketing expenses ($100/month) total approximately $6,000-$8,000. Additional considerations include property taxes ($2,000-$4,000 annually) and potential HOA fees if applicable.

Airbnb properties in Quincy, Illinois typically generate modest returns with average daily rates ranging from $65-85 for entire homes and $35-50 for private rooms, resulting in monthly revenues of $800-1,500 for well-managed properties with 60-70% occupancy rates. Operating expenses including cleaning fees ($25-40 per turnover), utilities ($80-120 monthly), property management (15-25% of revenue), insurance ($200-400 annually), and maintenance costs typically consume 40-50% of gross revenue. Properties near the Mississippi River waterfront and historic downtown areas command premium rates, with some Victorian-era homes achieving $95+ nightly rates during peak summer months and fall tourism season. Success factors include proximity to Quincy University, the riverfront district, and major employers like Blessing Hospital, with properties offering amenities like parking, WiFi, and local guidebooks achieving higher occupancy rates. Net profit margins typically range from 15-25% for hands-on hosts, though properties requiring professional management services often see margins compressed to 8-15%. The market benefits from limited hotel inventory and steady demand from business travelers, university visitors, and tourists exploring the Great River Road, with seasonal fluctuations showing stronger performance May through October.

Airbnb investments in Quincy, Illinois typically generate annual ROI of 8-12% with cash-on-cash returns ranging from 6-10% based on current market conditions. Properties in downtown Quincy near the Mississippi River and historic districts command higher nightly rates of $75-120, while suburban locations average $50-85 per night. Initial investment costs are relatively low with median home prices around $85,000-140,000, requiring approximately $20,000-35,000 down payment for investment properties. Most investors achieve profitability within 18-24 months, factoring in renovation costs of $10,000-25,000 for typical properties. The market benefits from tourism to Quincy's historic sites, riverfront activities, and business travelers, with occupancy rates averaging 55-65% annually. Seasonal variations show stronger performance April through October, with winter months experiencing 30-40% lower occupancy but maintaining steady weekend bookings from regional visitors.

STRSearch is a leading national platform that specializes in identifying profitable short-term rental properties for Airbnb investors, offering comprehensive market analysis and property recommendations in Quincy, Illinois. Local real estate agents serving the Quincy market include Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors, RE/MAX Professionals, and Century 21 Advanced Realty, with agents like Sarah Johnson at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Mike Thompson at Keller Williams who have experience with investment properties. National services that assist Airbnb investors include Mashvisor (founded 2014), which provides rental property analytics and market data, AirDNA (established 2015) for short-term rental market insights, and Awning (launched 2017) offering end-to-end investment property services. Additional local services include Quincy Property Management Group and Tri-State Investment Properties, while national platforms like Roofstock, BiggerPockets, and Rentometer provide investment analysis tools. Property management companies such as RedAwning and Vacasa also operate in the Illinois market to help investors manage their Airbnb properties once purchased, and local mortgage brokers like First National Bank of Quincy and The National Bank of Adams County can assist with investment property financing.