Brevard County, Florida
Cape Canaveral, FL vacation rental requirements
Cape Canaveral requires every vacation rental to register each year (October to September) and have city and county business tax receipts. Rentals must be at least 7 nights everywhere except the C-1 commercial district.
Checked against official sources November 2, 2026Your licensing checklist
In order: the state, the county, then the town.
State of Florida
Get the DBPR vacation rental license
Apply to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants as a vacation rental condo or vacation rental dwelling. There is no state inspection before the license is issued, but DBPR can inspect after a complaint. Renew it every year.Source
Register for Florida sales tax
Register with the Florida Department of Revenue to collect the 6% state tax and the county surtax on bookings you take directly. Booking platforms collect it for stays booked through them.Source
Meet the state fire safety rule
Florida Administrative Code 69A-43.018 asks rental homes for smoke alarms powered by the house wiring plus one in every bedroom, NFPA 10 extinguishers, one hour of battery emergency lighting to the main exit, a posted floor diagram showing the primary and secondary exits, and fire safety information for guests.Source
Balcony inspection for taller buildings
Buildings three or more stories tall need a balcony inspection by a qualified inspector every three years.Source
Then the county and town
Most rules that affect day-to-day operation, like registration, inspections, occupancy, and parking, are set by the county and the town. Pick your town for its full checklist.
Brevard County, Florida
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
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
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
Register with your town
Each town sets its own registration, inspection, occupancy, and parking rules. Pick your town for its checklist.
City of Cape Canaveral
Check the 7-night minimum
It’s unlawful to rent a dwelling for less than 7 consecutive days anywhere in the city except the C-1 zoning district (and hotels, motels, and vacation resort campuses). This rule predates the 2011 state law, so it still applies. Check your parcel’s zoning before you set a minimum stay.Source
Get the city, then the county, business tax receipt
Apply to the city first (City Hall, btr@capecanaveral.gov, or 321-868-1220 ext. 140). Then take the city receipt to the Brevard County Tax Collector for the county receipt. City receipts run October 1 to September 30.Source
Gather your registrations and drawings
Your DBPR vacation rental license, Florida Department of Revenue registration, Brevard tourist tax account, and city business tax receipt. An exterior site sketch showing the house, every structure, the pool or spa, fencing, and each off-street parking space so they can be counted, and a sketch of each floor showing bedrooms, other rooms, exits, hallways, and stairs. Sketches can be hand drawn.Source
Register online
Register through the city’s Deckard portal and pay the fee. If anything is missing, you get 10 days to send it. Renew before October 1 every year.Source
Post the safety and information notice
After you register, download your notice from the portal. It lists the owner or agent’s 24/7 number, the maximum occupancy and vehicles with a parking sketch, the Sheriff’s Office and fire department, trash days, the nearest hospital, and the city’s sea turtle, noise, beach, and nuisance rules. Post it where guests will see it.Source
Run it by the rules
Answer a registered phone 24/7 for police, fire, guests, and complaints, and be able to get to the property within 60 minutes when officials call. Check the unit after every stay, and keep a log of every booking’s date and number of guests for three years. Rent the whole home only, never individual rooms, and never as a party or event venue.Source
Fees
Registration is $450 a year ($300 if homesteaded), plus $100 for each inspection the city requests, plus the city business tax receipt.
| Annual registration, not homesteaded | $450 per unit |
|---|---|
| Annual registration, homesteaded | $300 per unit |
| Safety inspection | $100 per unit |
| Safety re-inspection | $75 per unit |
| Late registration | $150 per unit |
| Change of owner or agent | $100 per unit |
| City business tax receiptPlus a one-time $30 application fee. | $25 + $2.50 per unit a year |
| Operating without registrationFirst, second, and each later offense. | $100, $250, then $500 |
Fees are non-refundable. In effect since October 1, 2025. Source
House rules for guests
Sources
- Vacation rentals and timeshare projects (form HR 5025-753) · Florida DBPR
- Discretionary sales surtax rates (DR-15DSS) · Florida Department of Revenue
- Florida Administrative Code 69A-43, fire safety for public lodging · State Fire Marshal (copy hosted by Bay County)
- Tourist development tax · Brevard County Clerk of Court
- Business tax receipts · Brevard County Tax Collector
- Resort dwelling zoning (legislation text) · Brevard County
- Code § 110-487, rental restrictions on dwelling units (7-day minimum) · City of Cape Canaveral (Municode)
- Vacation rental FAQ · City of Cape Canaveral
- Code § 110-486, vacation rentals · City of Cape Canaveral (Municode)
- Vacation rentals (program and fees) · City of Cape Canaveral
- Vacation rental registration portal · City of Cape Canaveral (Deckard)
- Appendix B, schedule of fees · City of Cape Canaveral (Municode)
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.