Vrbo Property Management in Florida

Florida's DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants licenses vacation rentals. You need a license if you rent an entire unit more than three times in a calendar year for periods of less than 30 days or one calendar month, whichever is less, or if the unit is advertised or held out to the public as a place regularly rented to guests. A house, townhouse or small multi-unit building takes a Vacation Rental – Dwelling license; a condo or co-op unit takes a Vacation Rental – Condominium license.

DBPR lists a $50 application fee for new applications, a $10 HEP fee, and a $170 annual fee for a single-unit license ($90 for a half year). Local rules can still apply on top of the state license.

Florida's 6% state sales tax, plus any county discretionary sales surtax, applies to rentals of six months or less, and every person who rents transient accommodations must register with the Florida Department of Revenue. Counties add a local tourist development tax. Most counties collect that tax themselves, so it is paid directly to the county while the sales tax and surtax go to the Department.

Under § 509.032(7)(b) of the Florida Statutes, a local law may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate how long or how often they are rented, unless that rule was adopted on or before June 1, 2011. Cities can still require registration, inspections and their own business tax receipts.

Fort Lauderdale requires vacation rental registration inside city limits: an $880 registration fee (up to four units under one folio, first inspection included), an inspection, a certificate of compliance and the city's occupancy limit. Neighboring cities such as Dania Beach set their own rules. Details are on our Fort Lauderdale page. In Melbourne, we could not confirm a city vacation rental registration from an official source, so check with the City of Melbourne; see our Melbourne page for Brevard County's rules. Anywhere else in Florida, check with your city and county before you list.