Florida short-term rental laws (2026)
In Florida, the license comes from the state. Anyone planning to open a public lodging establishment must receive it before operations begin. Running without it is a second-degree misdemeanor.[5]
Every rule below links to the official source it comes from, verified October 1, 2026.
Is Airbnb legal in Florida?
Legal, with a state license
Whole units rented more than three times a year need a state license. Local rules after June 1, 2011 cannot ban them.
9 official sources · verified October 1, 2026
Photo: Antonio Cuellar on Unsplash
- PermitRequired · State license, $170 a year
- Primary residenceNot required
- Number on listingNot required
- Night capNone published by the state
Florida short-term rental laws
Florida's short-term rental law starts with a limit on local government. Under section 509.032, no local law, ordinance or regulation may prohibit vacation rentals. Nor may it regulate how long or how often they are rented. A local rule adopted on or before June 1, 2011 keeps its force. Local governments can still inspect rentals against the Florida Building Code and the Fire Prevention Code. Vacation rentals skip the state's routine lodging inspections. They must still be made available to the state on request.[4]
Every Florida rule, sorted by what it asks
Filter by topic. Each line carries the number of its official source, listed at the bottom of the page.
You must
- Hold a DBPR license for whole-unit stays under 30 days, over 3 times a year[1]
- Hold a license if you advertise a whole unit as regularly rented[1]
- Report address or unit count changes within 30 days[5]
- Renew every year by your district's renewal date[1]
- Check city and county rules, which may still apply[1][2]
- Have smoke detectors in every living unit and meet NFPA 101[1]
- 3+ stories: file a balcony certificate every 3 years, not condo common elements[1]
- Open the rental to DBPR on request[4]
- Get a Florida sales tax number, or proof of exemption, before you apply[2]
- Collect 6% state sales tax and county surtax on stays of 6 months or less[8]
You must not
Not required
- A DBPR license for renting rooms, not the whole unit[1]
- A state night cap[1]
- Showing the state license number in listings[1][5]
- Primary residence[1]
- Being on site during stays[1]
- Routine DBPR lodging inspections[4]
- A state insurance minimum[1]
- Collecting 6% state tax and county surtax yourself on Airbnb[9]
Occupancy tax in Florida
- Stays of six months or less owe Florida's 6% state sales tax plus any county surtax, and most counties collect their tourist development tax directly.[8]
- Airbnb collects Florida's 6% transient rental tax, the county surtax and some county tourist development taxes on stays of 182 nights or fewer.[9]
Cities in this state
Short-term rental rules in 48 Florida cities
Ranked by the share of housing the Census counts as seasonal.
| City | Local rule | Primary residence | Night cap | Seasonal homes per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panama City Beach short-term rental rulesBay County, FL | Certificate required | Not required | None: preempted unless the rule predates June 2011 | 527 |
| Indian Shores short-term rental rulesPinellas County, FL | No city ordinance | Not required | None: the town publishes no rental restriction | 512 |
| Longboat Key short-term rental rulesManatee and Sarasota County, FL | Allowed by zone | Not published | 30 days minimum outside the tourism districts | 496 |
| Marco Island short-term rental rulesCollier County, FL | No city ordinance | Not required | None: no city restriction on duration or frequency | 492 |
| Fort Myers Beach short-term rental rulesLee County, FL | Registration required | Not required | None: preempted unless the rule predates June 2011 | 481 |
| Lauderdale-by-the-Sea short-term rental rulesBroward County, FL | Certificate required | Not required | Seven-night minimum stay in houses and townhomes | 458 |
| Sanibel short-term rental rulesLee County, FL | Allowed by zone | Not published | Four consecutive weeks outside the Resort Housing District | 430 |
| Bradenton Beach short-term rental rulesManatee County, FL | License required | Not required | None: the trigger is more than three rentals a year | 416 |
| Naples short-term rental rulesCollier County, FL | Allowed by zone | Not published | Under 30 days three times a calendar year | 408 |
| Destin short-term rental rulesOkaloosa County, FL | Registration required | Not required | None: preempted unless the rule predates June 2011 | 367 |
| Sunny Isles Beach short-term rental rulesMiami-Dade County, FL | License required | Not required | None: six months or less is the definition | 367 |
| Ponce Inlet short-term rental rulesVolusia County, FL | Allowed by zone | Not required | Under 28 days is the definition. Houses are barred | 366 |
| Mexico Beach short-term rental rulesBay County, FL | No city ordinance | Not published | None: the city code has no vacation rental chapter | 354 |
| Anna Maria short-term rental rulesManatee County, FL | License required | Not published | None: preempted unless the rule predates June 2011 | 344 |
| Carrabelle short-term rental rulesFranklin County, FL | No city ordinance | Not published | None: the city code sets no vacation rental rule | 340 |
| Holmes Beach short-term rental rulesManatee County, FL | Certificate required | Not published | 30 days in R-1AA, one week in R-2 and R-3 | 309 |
| St. Augustine Beach short-term rental rulesSt. Johns County, FL | Capped | Not required | No night cap, but 100 rentals in medium density | 302 |
| Bonita Springs short-term rental rulesLee County, FL | Permit required | Not required | None: the permit covers long-term rentals as well | 298 |
| Treasure Island short-term rental rulesPinellas County, FL | Allowed by zone | Not published | 2 changes of occupancy a year in RU-75, 6 in RM-15 | 288 |
| St. Pete Beach short-term rental rulesPinellas County, FL | License required | Not published | One month or more needs no license in a house | 286 |
| Madeira Beach short-term rental rulesPinellas County, FL | Allowed by zone | Not published | None: preempted unless the rule predates June 2011 | 286 |
| Cedar Key short-term rental rulesLevy County, FL | Registration required | Not required | None published by the city | 283 |
| Estero short-term rental rulesLee County, FL | No city ordinance | Not published | None in the village code | 281 |
| Indian Rocks Beach short-term rental rulesPinellas County, FL | Registration required | Not required | None: more than three rentals a year is the trigger | 249 |
| Cocoa Beach short-term rental rulesBrevard County, FL | Registration required | Not published | None: preempted unless the rule predates June 2011 | 248 |
| Key Biscayne short-term rental rulesMiami-Dade County, FL | Registration required | Not required | Fifteen continuous days minimum, unless the condo is stricter | 238 |
| Marathon short-term rental rulesMonroe County, FL | Capped | Not required | Licensed band of seven to 28 nights | 234 |
| Cape Canaveral short-term rental rulesBrevard County, FL | Registration required | Not required | Seven-day minimum stay under section 110-486 | 230 |
| Venice short-term rental rulesSarasota County, FL | Allowed by zone | Not published | No new stays under 30 days in RE and RSF districts | 225 |
| Miami Beach short-term rental rulesMiami-Dade County, FL | Allowed by zone | Not published | Six months and a day minimum in nine districts | 212 |
| Punta Gorda short-term rental rulesCharlotte County, FL | Registration required | Not published | None: preempted unless the rule predates June 2011 | 198 |
| New Smyrna Beach short-term rental rulesVolusia County, FL | Allowed by zone | Not published | Stays under 30 days in listed districts only | 195 |
| Crystal River short-term rental rulesCitrus County, FL | Allowed by zone | Not required | One week minimum where the use is permitted | 181 |
| Flagler Beach short-term rental rulesFlagler County, FL | Permit required | Not required | None published by the city | 170 |
| Deerfield Beach short-term rental rulesBroward County, FL | Registration required | Not required | None published: the city registers, it does not limit | 158 |
| St. Augustine short-term rental rulesSt. Johns County, FL | Registration required | Not published | No yearly cap. Minimum stays vary by zone | 151 |
| Fernandina Beach short-term rental rulesNassau County, FL | Allowed by zone | Not required | Short term is 29 days or less, elsewhere 30 days minimum | 149 |
| Key West short-term rental rulesMonroe County, FL | Capped | Not published | 29 days minimum without a transient license | 148 |
| Port St. Joe short-term rental rulesGulf County, FL | License required | Not required | None published by the city | 148 |
| Sarasota short-term rental rulesSarasota County, FL | Registration required | Not required | Seven full days and nights minimum, citywide | 145 |
| Pompano Beach short-term rental rulesBroward County, FL | Permit required | Not required | None published by the city | 133 |
| Fort Lauderdale short-term rental rulesBroward County, FL | Registration required | Not required | None: state law bars caps adopted after June 2011 | 125 |
| Dunedin short-term rental rulesPinellas County, FL | Registration required | Not required | None: the city registers rather than limits nights | 124 |
| Clearwater short-term rental rulesPinellas County, FL | Allowed by zone | Not published | 31 days or a calendar month in residential districts | 104 |
| Daytona Beach short-term rental rulesVolusia County, FL | Allowed by zone | Not published | Six months minimum outside the districts that permit it | 82 |
| Davenport short-term rental rulesPolk County, FL | Registration required | Not published | None: rentals follow state statutes | 76 |
| Kissimmee short-term rental rulesOsceola County, FL | Allowed by zone | Not published | No night cap, but stays under 30 days need an approved district | 45 |
| Panama City short-term rental rulesBay County, FL | Registration required | Not published | None: a cap would need a rule from before June 2011 | 18 |
What a new permit costs
Fees for a single rental unit licensed for a full year
$220new application
- Application$50
- License, education fee included$170
What other cases cost
- License fee, single unit, half year$90
- License fee, 2 to 25 units$180
- License fee, 2 to 25 units, half year$95
- Collective license base fee, plus $10 a unit$150
Florida's fee rule, 61C-1.008, places the $10 education fee inside the $170 license total.[3]
How to apply in Florida
Official name: Vacation rental license (DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants)
- 1
Register with the Florida Department of Revenue to collect and remit tax on your rentals.[8]
- 2
Create a DBPR Online Services account, which you use to submit and update rental addresses.[1]
- 3
Choose the license type, Condominium or Dwelling, and the class: Single, Group or Collective.[1]
- 4
Apply online with every rental address, paying the $50 application fee with the license fee.[1]
- 5
DBPR usually processes online applications in one to two business days and emails the license.[1]
- 6
Display the license, or a copy, in a conspicuous place at the rental.[1]
Five jurisdictions, same questions
The Florida column comes from the official sources on this page. The other columns show the headline rule from each WonderGuest page. Open a page for the full detail.
| Question | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Tennessee | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit | RequiredState license, $170 a year | RequiredLocal license where your city or county has one | RequiredState GET and TAT licenses | RequiredCity permit where one exists | Not requiredNone issued by the state |
| Primary residence | Not required | Varies | Varies | Varies | Not required |
| Night cap | None published by the state | None in the state tax law | No state cap, county rules vary | None. Under 30 nights is the definition | None published by the state |
| Number on listing | Not required | Not required | Required | Not required | Not required |
| Where allowed | No local bans after June 1, 2011 | Wherever local rules allow it | Set by each county | City zoning decides, legacy status aside | Under the city's own regulations |
| Occupancy tax | 6% state tax, Airbnb collects | $5 a night plus local tax up to 8% | 11% state TAT plus county TAT | City tax up to 4%, 8% with the county | 6% state, plus a local rate |
| Fine without permit | Second-degree misdemeanor | Set by your city or county | $500 fine, $2,000 if cash-based | Use suspended while unpermitted | None set by the state |
| Georgia short-term rental rules | Hawaii short-term rental rules | Tennessee short-term rental rules | Texas short-term rental rules |
Coming up
What's changing
No change with an effective date appears in the official sources on this page as of October 1, 2026.
FAQ
Florida short-term rental questions
What are the rules for Airbnb in Florida?
Can a Florida city or county ban Airbnb rentals?
Are there new vacation rental laws in Florida in 2026?
What happens if I host in Florida without a vacation rental license?
Sources
- Guide to vacation rentals and timeshare projects, Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels and Restaurants, read on September 14, 2026
- Application packet for vacation rental license (HR-7028), Florida DBPR, read on September 14, 2026
- Rule 61C-1.008, Florida Administrative Code, License Fees, Florida Administrative Code, Florida Department of State, read on October 1, 2026
- Section 509.032, Florida Statutes (2026), The Florida Senate, read on October 1, 2026
- Section 509.241, Florida Statutes (2026), The Florida Senate, read on October 1, 2026
- Section 509.261, Florida Statutes (2026), The Florida Senate, read on October 1, 2026
- HB 79 (2026), water safety requirements for rental property, The Florida Senate, read on October 1, 2026
- Sales and use tax on rental of living or sleeping accommodations (GT-800034), Florida Department of Revenue, read on October 1, 2026
- Occupancy tax collection and remittance in Florida, Airbnb Help Center, read on October 1, 2026
This page is not legal advice. It summarizes the official sources listed on this page as they read on October 1, 2026. Rules can change after that date, so check with the issuing office before you apply or publish a listing.
Before you list
Free tools for new hosts
Short-term rental agreement generator
Parties, dates, rent, deposit checked against your state's cap, and the house rules clauses you enforce. A signed-ready PDF for direct and Vrbo bookings.
Airbnb host fee calculator
What Airbnb takes on a booking under the 15.5% host-only fee or the old split fee, what the guest pays on top, and the payout that reaches you.
Airbnb income calculator
Nightly rate, occupancy, Airbnb fee, management, mortgage, taxes and depreciation. You get cash flow, cash-on-cash return and what is left after the IRS.
Airbnb house rules
Generate a complete PDF house rules document for your property: rules, schedule, amenities, emergency contacts.