Florida vacation rental — common questions answered.

No. A "licensed agent" in the context of vacation rental licensing means the property owner has authorized you through a rental agreement or contract to hold the property out for rent. It does not require a license from the Division of Real Estate.

A state vacation rental license is required if you rent your property for periods of less than 30 days more than three times per calendar year. You apply through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) at MyFloridaLicense.com.

Yes, each property generally requires its own license. However, a collective license can cover up to 75 properties under one licensed agent, limited to counties within one DBPR district. This is useful for property managers operating multiple units in the same region.

A digital license is typically issued within 24 to 48 hours if all required information is submitted at once through the online application at MyFloridaLicense.com. Incomplete applications will take longer.

At least 2 years. The registry must be available to DBPR inspection staff upon request. This applies regardless of how bookings are made.

Yes. A fire extinguisher must be present, properly charged, and accessible. It must be visible or in a clearly marked location. Check with your local fire marshal for any additional municipal requirements.

Smoke alarms must be installed in every living unit. Specialized smoke alarms for the hearing impaired must be available at a rate of one per every 50 rental units, with a maximum of five required. These must be provided upon request at no charge to the guest.

No, not at the state level. However, local regulations vary by municipality, so check with your county or city for any additional requirements in your area.

Yes. Under federal law, reasonable accommodations must be made for guests with service animals regardless of your pet policy. A service animal is not a pet and cannot be refused on the basis of a no-pets rule. You may ask whether the animal is required due to a disability and what task it is trained to perform — nothing more.

Yes. Florida law requires vacation rental operators to complete human trafficking awareness training annually. FAVR members can access this training through our education portal. It is also a prerequisite for the FAVR MBA certification program.

Florida vacation rentals are subject to state sales tax (6%), plus any applicable local discretionary sales surtax, and the Florida Tourist Development Tax (also called the bed tax or resort tax), which varies by county. Most short-term rental platforms collect and remit some of these taxes on your behalf, but you are ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance. Consult a tax professional familiar with Florida short-term rental rules.

Generally yes, if you are collecting and remitting Florida sales tax directly. If a platform like Airbnb or Vrbo collects and remits on your behalf, you may still need a certificate of registration. Check the Florida Department of Revenue website or consult a tax advisor for your specific situation.