Airbnb Management in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Rules & taxes

Fort Lauderdale Vacation Rental Rules & Taxes

A Fort Lauderdale vacation rental answers to the State of Florida, Broward County and, inside city limits, the City of Fort Lauderdale. Here is what a compliant rental needs before the first guest arrives.

• A Florida vacation rental license (DBPR)

  A home rented as a whole unit more than three times in a calendar year for stays shorter than 30 days or one calendar month, whichever is less, or advertised as regularly rented to guests, needs a vacation rental license from the DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants: a Vacation Rental – Dwelling license for a house, townhouse or small multi-unit building, or a Vacation Rental – Condominium license for a condo unit. DBPR lists a $50 application fee and a $170 annual fee for a single-unit license, plus a $10 HEP fee.

  Source: Florida DBPR: vacation rental licensing

• City of Fort Lauderdale vacation rental registration

  Inside Fort Lauderdale city limits, a one- to four-family home or condo advertised for 30 days or less to transient guests must be registered with the city. You apply through LauderBuild with your DBPR license, proof of Florida sales tax and Broward County tourist development tax registration, a Broward County business tax receipt, proof of ownership, a sample guest lease containing the ordinance's required information, and a sketch or photo of the off-street parking marked "No on-street parking permitted."

  Source: City of Fort Lauderdale: vacation rental registrationSource: City of Fort Lauderdale: vacation rental program

• Fee, inspection and occupancy

  The city lists an $880 registration fee (up to four units under one folio, first inspection included) and $100 for a reinspection or no-show. After you pay the registration and city business tax fees, a code officer inspects the home, and a certificate of compliance follows a passed inspection. Maximum occupancy is two people per bedroom.

  Source: City of Fort Lauderdale: vacation rental registration

• Penalties

  Under the city's 2026 amendment, operating without a valid vacation rental certificate, or with an expired one, carries a civil penalty of $1,000 per day.

  Source: City of Fort Lauderdale: vacation rental program

• Taxes: 13% on stays of six months or less

  Florida's 6% state sales tax, Broward County's 1% discretionary surtax and Broward's 6% tourist development tax apply to rentals of six months or less. The sales tax and surtax are reported to the Florida Department of Revenue; the tourist development tax is registered with and paid directly to the Broward County Tourist Development Tax Section, whose returns are due on the 1st and late after the 20th of the following month. Registering for it may also require a Broward County local business tax receipt.

  Source: Florida Department of Revenue: transient rentals (GT-800034)Source: Florida DOR: county surtax rates (DR-15DSS)Source: Florida DOR: county tourist tax rates (DR-15TDT)Source: Broward County: tourist development tax

• What Florida lets cities do

  State law (§ 509.032(7)(b), Florida Statutes) says a local law may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate how long or how often they are rented, unless that local rule was adopted on or before June 1, 2011. Cities can still require registration and inspections, as Fort Lauderdale does.

  Source: § 509.032, Florida StatutesSource: City of Fort Lauderdale: vacation rental program

• Outside Fort Lauderdale city limits

  Many Broward addresses with a Fort Lauderdale feel sit in a neighboring city or in unincorporated Broward County, where the city registration above does not apply. Check with that city or the county for its own rules before you list; the state license and county taxes apply either way.

Checked against the official State of Florida, county and city sources linked above in October 2026. Fees, tax rates and rules change, so confirm with the state, county and city before you list. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.