LicensedRental

Brevard County, Florida

Cocoa, FL vacation rental requirements

The City of Cocoa (on the mainland, not Cocoa Beach) has no vacation rental registration, inspection, or occupancy rules. You need the state license and the Brevard tourist tax account.

Checked against official sources November 2, 2026
Town registration
None found
No vacation rental program, inspection, or occupancy limit.Source
Still required
State license and county tourist tax
See the Florida and Brevard County guides.Source

We searched the city code and zoning appendix in November 2026 and found no vacation rental rules. If your property is actually in Cocoa Beach, its rules are much stricter.

Your licensing checklist

In order: the state, the county, then the town.

State of Florida

  1. 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

    DBPR online services →

  2. 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

    Florida Department of Revenue →

  3. 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

  4. Balcony inspection for taller buildings

    Buildings three or more stories tall need a balcony inspection by a qualified inspector every three years.Source

  5. 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

  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.

City of Cocoa

  1. Get the state license and county tax account

    Every Florida vacation rental needs the DBPR license and sales and Brevard tourist tax registrations. The steps are on the Florida and Brevard County pages.Source

  2. Ask about a city business tax receipt

    Ask the city whether your rental needs a business tax receipt, then get the matching Brevard County receipt if so.

  3. Make sure you’re in the City of Cocoa

    Cocoa and Cocoa Beach are separate cities with very different rules, and many Cocoa mailing addresses are in unincorporated Brevard (county rules apply). Check your parcel on the Brevard County Property Appraiser site.Source

  4. Check your HOA or condo rules

    With no town rental rules, your association’s documents are often the main limit on short-term rentals. Read them before you list.

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.