Looking to learn more about the recent changes to Florida short-term rental laws? Nowadays, owning an STR business in the state of Florida or establishing one can be a great profit boost. However, it is recommended to educate yourself first on how related laws have changed recently.
In today’s research, we’ll take a look at the recent change in Florida short-term rental legislation and explore what you may need to comply with when establishing a property rental business in this state.
We’ve made it brief, to-the-point, and easy-to-navigate, so welcome!
Short-Term Rentals Florida: Definitions and Rules
Before we dive deeper into the intricacies of modern STR laws and Florida rental license details, let’s explore what can be defined as short-term rental property first.
According to Florida statute, vacation rentals and bed and breakfast inns belong to the category of transient public lodging establishments. The latter is defined as “any unit, group of units, dwelling, building, or group of buildings within a single complex of buildings which is rented to guests more than three times in a calendar year for periods of less than 30 days or 1 calendar month”. As specified in Florida short-term rental laws, this category also includes hotels and motels as types of establishments that provide sleeping room accommodations.
To operate as a B&B, hotel, or vacation rental provider, you, as a business owner, need to obtain a license from the Florida DBPR (Department of Business and Professional Regulation), which regulates and issues licenses required for legal operation in Florida. This licensing process generally involves several key steps:
- Determining the type of license needed;
- Completing the application with property details and owner information;
- Paying applicable license fees and renewal costs;
- Ensuring compliance with building codes, safety regulations, and occupancy limits;
- Providing proof of insurance.
Statewide Rules and Regulations of Florida Short Term Rentals
As we mentioned above, Florida DBPR regulates the work of lodging establishments, meaning you need to obtain a license from it to run an accommodation business legally. These short term rental license Florida permits need to be renewed annually, allowing you to pick one of three licensing categories available under DBPR:
- Single (best pick for one individual property);
- Group (for multiple units in the same building);
- Collective (multiple properties or units at different locations).
In case you own a hosted property (meaning that you permanently reside in the same property, while renting out one or several rooms of it), it falls within the homestead exemption as stated in Florida short-term rental laws. Valid all over Florida, this allows you to run an accommodation rental business without mandatory licensing. Note that this is only valid for owner-occupied homes whose owners rent out a few rooms and not the whole property. It also gives additional tax benefits and protects your home from forced sale with certain exceptions.
In case you need to obtain an STR license and are wondering about the Florida short-term rental license cost, it usually includes several fees you need to pay to get licensed:
- Application Fee: This is a one-time, non-refundable fee of $50 that applies to new applications as well as to change-of-owner requests.
- Hospitality Education Program (HEP) Fee: A $10 fee is required for all new applications.
- License Fee: This fee varies based on the number of rental units and the license type (Single, Group, or Collective) and can range from $150 to $180 per year, depending on the Florida vacation rental license you pick.
Local Rules and Possible Changes to Florida Short-Term Rental Laws
While statewide, lodging establishments are regulated by DBPR, certain local laws also apply. Being different from one city to another, local authorities impose certain rules concerning fees, registrations, maximum occupancy, fines, and suspensions. For example, some cities, like Miami Beach, can enforce strict rules regarding zoning, land use, fire safety, parking, and other things.
In June 2024, this was about to change due to the proposal of centralized regulation and vacation rentals through Senate Bill 280 and House Bill 1537. These bills offered more control to the state over vacation rentals. It would also force booking platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar websites) to collect state and local taxes and provide listing data to DBPR. However, these were vetoed the same month due to rising concerns of local governments regarding the rights of Florida short term rentals and the negative impact on the tourism economy. Thus, they never became Florida Airbnb laws. Among the most debated points in these proposals were:
- Statewide licensing requirements for all vacation rental properties;
- Uniform rules for advertising and online listings;
- Mandatory data sharing between booking platforms and DBPR;
- Standardized tax collection and remittance procedures;
- Limits on local governments’ ability to create stricter regulations.
As of now, there is little to no news on the Florida short-term rental ban update. Local governments still get a say in the registration and fees of vacation rental businesses, allowing them to require property owners to register with the city or county and provide a local contact for enforcement purposes. Localities currently cannot impose new bans or limit the duration of stays on properties unless they are subject to pre-2011 rules of Florida short-term rental laws. However, these local measures give municipalities significant control over how vacation rentals function.
Types of Taxes for Florida Short Term Rentals
Aside from state licensing and local regulations, vacation rental business owners also need to take care of taxes. To avoid any unwanted legal consequences, it is recommended to take a closer look at the various taxes you need to collect and remit on time. The taxation your Florida STR business may face usually includes:
- State Sales tax (6% of the rental price);
- Local transient rental tax (applies to counties with a tourism-based economy, up to 6% of rental price);
- County tourist development taxes (an extra local tax on rentals, which varies between 1%-2%).
Platforms like Airbnb collect some taxes on your behalf when calculating the rental price, but lodging establishment taxes still need to be paid regularly to make sure you stay in business and adhere to Florida short-term rental laws. If you are the owner of multiple properties available for short-term rental, you need to ensure all filings are accurate and submitted on time. This way, you can ensure not just business stability but also trust and credibility of your rentals. In return, this will attract and retain your clients. Let’s look a little closer at each tax to better understand how it is connected with short term rentals Florida businesses.
State Sales Tax
As we mentioned above, Florida’s state sales tax is 6% of the rental price. It applies to all Florida short term rentals that offer accommodation for up to six months. It is remitted to the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on your income. This type of tax can be paid either by the property owner or, in many cases, automatically by rental platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo. Covering general state revenue and ensuring the rental business’s legal operation, this tax is one of those that you have to regularly pay and report.
Local Transient Rental Tax
Local authorities also impose their taxes that are to be paid regularly. One of the primary taxes for STR businesses and small hotels is the local transient rental tax. In counties with tourism-driven economies, such as Miami-Dade, this type of tax is designed to support general tourism promotion and infrastructure. As with the state tax, this one usually ranges up to 6% of the rental price. As a business owner, you need to pay it to the county tax collector. It is mandatory for all short-term rental service providers, as failure to remit it results in fines. In addition to the local transient rental tax, STR owners should be aware of other local taxes and obligations, including:
- Business Tax Receipt (BTR) or local vacation rental license Florida fees;
- Fees for Certificates of Use or zoning compliance permits;
- Special assessments related to tourism infrastructure or resort areas;
- Any additional discretionary taxes imposed by the municipality.
Properly understanding and managing these obligations ensures your vacation rental business remains compliant and avoids penalties.
County Tourist Development Taxes
In addition to the abovementioned local and state taxes, some counties add a tourist development tax on vacation rentals. It varies between 1–2% of the rental price and is aimed at supporting specific initiatives like parks, beach maintenance, or events. It is mostly collected alongside local transient taxes at the tax office. By paying this type of tax, you invest in local tourism while also ensuring the successful operation of your short-term rentals and meeting Florida short-term rental laws.
Establishing an STR Business in Florida: Top Things to Consider
As you see, starting Florida short term rentals means not just getting a Florida short term rental license but also following local laws and regulations. However, it’s only a part of what’s required for successful STR business establishment in Florida. By following this checklist, you can better understand what is needed to start your vacation rentals, while staying profitable and adhering to current laws. Here’s what you need to pay attention to when planning to establish your vacation rental in Florida:
- Getting the DBPR license based on the type of your vacation rental;
- Register with the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) to collect and remit state tax;
- Human Trafficking Awareness Training for employees performing housekeeping duties;
- Getting a local license for vacation rentals where applicable;
- Compliance with Zoning & Land Use regulations;
- Additional certificates and permits (if required by your local authorities);
- Remitting taxes and maintaining accurate records.
While these are the core requirements to establish a successful property rental business in Florida, there is always more to consider aside from the Florida rental license. For example, you need to take care of not just Florida short-term rental laws but also of insuring and advertising your STR services. The latter often includes establishing a website with a booking engine. In this case, various WordPress themes for vacation rentals and B&B hotels can help.
BNBForms as a Way to Support Your Florida Short Term Rentals
If you are establishing a vacation rental business and have obtained all necessary licenses to get started, you’ll need a reliable website with a booking engine as well. BNBForms can help you with the integration of direct booking functionality without you spending a ton of money on other similar solutions.
Being easy to integrate, it offers a simple but efficient booking widget that you can customize and add to a site built with any platform, from WordPress to Wix and Squarespace. For just $16 per month, you get a fully functional booking engine with inventory and accommodation management features. Additionally, BNBForms allows you to add multiple bookable services and add dynamic pricing settings to match the current booking season, making it suitable for STRs in Florida as well as anywhere else.
Conclusion
We hope this overview of Florida short-term rental laws and regulations provided you with any necessary knowledge to get started with your STR business in the southern state. Regardless of your plans or vacation rental properties’ size, matching your intentions with local and state laws is recommended if you want to provide accommodations on a regular and uninterrupted basis. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the Florida vacation rental laws to quickly adapt and modify your business strategy to:
- Comply with updated regulations to avoid fines: As laws update, you need to keep track of the regulations that directly influence your property rental business. This will help you avoid fines and make sure your business adheres to local and state laws.
- Meet operational requirements for your STR business: This approach helps to ensure that your business and the property you rent out meet the requirements set by the Florida government and regulators for the hotel industry.
- Maintain the required licenses and update permits on time: To operate legally at all times and avoid unnecessary fees, it is highly advised to update your licenses on time.
- Collect all applicable taxes: Finally, don’t forget to remit the taxes set for your business category, which can be vital to your business’s successful functioning in Florida.
