LicensedRental

County rules

Brevard County, FL vacation rental rules and taxes

Brevard County adds a 5% tourist development tax on every Space Coast rental. The beach towns each set their own registration and inspection rules, from detailed programs to almost none.

Checked against official sources October 26, 2026
Tourist development tax
5%
On stays of six months or less.Source
Filed with
Brevard County Clerk of Court
Monthly, by the 20th. Moved from the Tax Collector in October 2025.Source
Platforms
Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes
You still file for direct bookings.Source
Outside town limits
County zoning applies
Short-term rentals are "resort dwellings," allowed in some zones only.Source

Brevard’s 1% local sales surtax is listed by the Department of Revenue as running through December 31, 2026. Check the current rate before you set up collection.

What to do

  1. Open a tourist development tax account

    Register with the Brevard County Clerk of Court and file a return every month, by the 20th of the following month. Filing electronically and on time earns a small collection allowance.Source

    Clerk of Court: tourist tax →

  2. Ask about a county business tax receipt

    The Brevard County Tax Collector issues business tax receipts for most businesses. Ask whether your rental needs one; towns usually require their own as well.Source

    Tax Collector: business tax receipts →

  3. Outside a town? Check county zoning first

    In unincorporated Brevard, short-term rentals count as "resort dwellings" (Sec. 62-1102) and are allowed only in certain zoning districts. Call county Zoning before you list.Source

  4. Register with your town

    Each town sets its own registration, inspection, occupancy, and parking rules. Pick your town for its checklist.

Towns

Full guide

Melbourne Beach

Every Melbourne Beach vacation rental needs a town certificate of compliance, scaled drawings of the property, and a fire and life safety inspection when it registers and every year after.

Full guide

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach requires every vacation rental, including condos, to register with the city and pass a fire inspection every year. Fees are charged per allowed guest.

Coming soon

Satellite Beach

The city’s zoning code limits resort rentals to its RM-3 district east of A1A with a 30-day minimum stay. Full guide coming soon.

Coming soon

Indialantic

Rentals are covered by the town’s zoning code (Sec. 113-248) and its business tax receipt, which includes a fire inspection. Full guide coming soon.

Coming soon

Unincorporated Brevard

Outside town limits, county zoning decides where short-term rentals are allowed. Full guide coming soon.

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.