LicensedRental

Florida county rules

Alachua County, FL vacation rental rules and taxes

Alachua County’s 5% tourist tax applies to stays of six months or less, on top of 7.5% state sales tax. Since January 2025, Airbnb and VRBO collect it for you; you file only for direct bookings. Neither the county nor Gainesville has vacation rental rules.

Checked against official sources November 5, 2026
Tourist development tax
5%
State sales tax 7.5% (6% plus the 1.5% surtax).Source
Platforms
Airbnb and VRBO collect it
Since January 1, 2025.Source
Local rules
None found
DBPR renewal
June 1
District 5. Half-year fee from December 1.Source

What to do

  1. Register for the tourist tax if you take direct bookings

    Register with the Tax Collector through TouristExpress and file monthly.Source

    Alachua tourist tax →

  2. Then your area

    Pick your area for its checklist.

Towns

Full guide

Alachua (city)

We found no vacation rental registration or rental-length rules in Alachua (city)’s code. You need the DBPR license and the county tourist tax.

Full guide

Archer

We found no vacation rental registration or rental-length rules in Archer’s code. You need the DBPR license and the county tourist tax.

Full guide

Gainesville

We found no vacation rental registration or rental-length rules in Gainesville’s code. You need the DBPR license and the county tourist tax.

Full guide

Hawthorne

We found no vacation rental registration or rental-length rules in Hawthorne’s code. You need the DBPR license and the county tourist tax.

Full guide

High Springs

We found no vacation rental registration or rental-length rules in High Springs’s code. You need the DBPR license and the county tourist tax.

Full guide

La Crosse

We found no vacation rental registration or rental-length rules in La Crosse’s code. You need the DBPR license and the county tourist tax.

Full guide

Micanopy

We found no vacation rental registration or rental-length rules in Micanopy’s code. You need the DBPR license and the county tourist tax.

Full guide

Newberry

We found no vacation rental registration or rental-length rules in Newberry’s code. You need the DBPR license and the county tourist tax.

Full guide

Unincorporated Alachua

Unincorporated Alachua has no registration for whole-home vacation rentals. It does regulate owner-occupied bed and breakfasts (up to five rooms, stays up to 30 nights) and farm stays (five acres or more, up to four units). You need the DBPR license and the tourist tax.

Full guide

Waldo

We found no vacation rental registration or rental-length rules in Waldo’s code. You need the DBPR license and the county tourist tax.

Sources

A plain-language summary to help you prepare, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the office before you apply. Spot something out of date? Email hello@licensedrental.com.