Galena, Illinois Short Term Rental Regulations

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Reviewed by Karolyn Hutson

Last updated August 23, 2023

Galena Short-Term Rental Regulations

Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.

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  • Short Term City Rating
    6.9
  • Competition

    4.8
  • Real Estate Cost

    9.5
  • STR Regulations

    N/A
  • Seasonality

    6.6
  • Rental Rates

    6.7

Galena, Illinois Quick Stats

Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.

Population
3,308
STR License Required
No
Tourist Season
County
Jo Daviess
Airports
Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ)
Quad City International Airport (MLI)
Review our Galena Illinois short-term rental analytics guide, including rates, property types and other metrics

Want to learn more about Galena?

Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.

Check out our Galena rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Galena rental market.

City Activities

Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Galena.

City Attractions

The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.

Galena Rental Rates & Fees

Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.

Property Types & Sizes

What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Galena guests.

Interested in other Illinois cities?

Check out the Illinois Airbnb rules directory 

What makes Galena a great place to invest?

  • Historic Downtown Galena - This charming and historic district is home to a variety of boutiques, antique shops, and restaurants, all housed in 19th-century buildings. Visitors can take a walking tour to learn about the district's history and see examples of well-preserved architecture.
  • Galena River Trail - This 8.5-mile trail winds along the Galena River, offering stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Visitors can hike, bike, or even ride horseback along the trail, which features picnic areas, restrooms, and trailhead parking.
  • Ulysses S. Grant Home - This brick Italianate-style house was the home of the 18th U.S. President, Ulysses S. Grant, and has been preserved as a museum. Visitors can take a guided tour to learn about Grant's life and career, as well as the history of Galena during the mid-19th century.
  • Chestnut Mountain Resort - This year-round resort offers skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing in the winter, as well as zip-lining, alpine slide rides, and segway tours in the summer. Visitors can stay at the resort's lodge or rent a private cabin for a cozy mountain getaway.
  • Apple River Canyon State Park - Just a short drive from Galena, this natural park offers hiking trails, fishing, and camping opportunities in a scenic canyon setting. Visitors can explore the park's limestone bluffs, winding streams, and hardwood forests, as well as enjoy picnicking and birdwatching.
  • Galena Cellars Vineyard and Winery - This family-owned winery produces award-winning wines from locally grown grapes. Visitors can take a tour of the vineyard, sample wines in the tasting room, or enjoy a picnic in the vineyard's scenic setting.
  • Grant Park - Located on the edge of downtown Galena, this park offers stunning views of the Mississippi River and the surrounding hills. Visitors can hike the park's trails, fish in the river, or simply relax and enjoy the scenic beauty of this unique natural setting.

Galena Nearby Cities

Local Real Estate

How expensive is the real estate in Galena?

The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Galena has decreased -47% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $139, which is lower than the national average.

Median Sale Price

$170,000

-47% YoY

Median per Square Foot

$139

-16% YoY

Property Descriptions

The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Galena, Illinois

Word Cloud for Galena, Illinois Short Term Rentals

Common terms for Galena short term rental listings.

When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.

Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:

  • Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
  • Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
  • Informative: The average listing in Galena has a description approximately 1,894 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.

After reviewing more than 828 listings in Galena, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Galena Territory, Galena, Deck, Game, Family, Lower level, Resort, Downtown Galena, Hot tub, and Main.

What are the most popular tourist activities in Galena?

Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Galena involve Adventure Activities, Horseback Riding, Winery Tours, Hiking, and Antiquing. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.

Adventure Activities

Horseback Riding

Winery Tours

Hiking

Antiquing

Swimming

Snow Skiing

Marina

Golfing

Cycling

Casinos

Tennis

Local Attractions

What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?

There are quite a few popular attractions in Galena, including Diamond Jo Casino, Mississippi River, Eagle Ridge Resort, Chestnut Mountain Resort, and Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.

Regional Landmark

Eagle Ridge Resort

Included on nearly all listings

Regional Landmark

Chestnut Mountain Resort

Included on nearly all listings

Regional Landmark

Mississippi River

Included on 68% of listings

Regional Landmark

Diamond Jo Casino

Included on 1% of listings

Regional Landmark

Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark

Included on 1% of listings

Regional Landmark

National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium

Included on 1% of listings

Regional Landmark

Q Casino

Included on 1% of listings

Local Landmark

Five Flags Center

Included on 1% of listings

What’s the weather like in Galena, Illinois?

The weather is generally milder than the national average, with an average high temperature of around 58°, while the average low is about 41°. It has normal rainfall, averaging about 29 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall can be rather heavy, averaging less than 15 inches per year. The humidity levels in Galena are generally lower than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.

Winter

December through February

18° Low 32° High

Precipitation
2.0"
Snowfall
11.6"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
57%

Spring

March through May

41° Low 59° High

Precipitation
7.8"
Snowfall
2.2"
Muggy Days
1.4 days
Cloudiness
51%

Summer

June through August

63° Low 81° High

Precipitation
11.6"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
31.9 days
Cloudiness
35%

Fall

September through November

43° Low 60° High

Precipitation
7.3"
Snowfall
1.4"
Muggy Days
4.7 days
Cloudiness
42%