LicensedRental

Brevard County, Florida

Melbourne Beach, FL vacation rental requirements

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.

Checked against official sources October 26, 2026
Town permit
Vacation rental certificate of compliance
Valid one year; your registration number goes in every listing.Source
Inspection
At registration and every year
Building code and fire and life safety.Source
Max occupancy
2 per bedroom, 10 total
Whichever is lower.Source
Max vehicles
4, driveway only
Boats and trailers count.Source
Fees
Application, renewal, and inspection
See the current fee schedule.Source

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.

Town of Melbourne Beach

  1. Gather your state and county registrations

    The application asks for your DBPR vacation rental license, Florida sales tax registration, Brevard tourist development tax account, a business tax receipt, proof of ownership, and a notarized affidavit.Source

  2. Prepare the drawings

    Submit a scaled exterior site sketch showing the buildings, pool or spa, fencing, propane tanks, fire pits, and off-street parking spaces (10 by 20 feet each), and a scaled floor plan of each floor showing numbered bedrooms, windows, doors, exits, smoke and CO alarms, and fire extinguishers.Source

  3. Apply online

    Apply and pay through the town’s vacation rental portal. The certificate lasts one year and must be renewed before it expires.Source

    Town vacation rental portal →

  4. Pass the inspection

    The town or its contractor inspects after you register and every year after renewal. Make the unit available within 20 days of the town’s notice. Use the checklist below to prepare.Source

  5. Post the required notices

    Inside the unit: the responsible party’s contact, maximum occupancy and vehicles with a parking sketch, the evacuation route, and notices on noise, rip currents, pool safety, trash days, and sea turtle lighting. The town provides the forms.Source

  6. Run it by the rules

    Keep a responsible party reachable 24/7, screen adult guests against the sex offender registry before check-in, keep guest records for six months, and renew every year.Source

Inspection checklist

What the inspector looks for, from Town of Melbourne Beach’s published checklist.

  • Smoke alarmsIn every bedroom, outside the bedrooms, and in common areas; hardwired with battery backup and interconnected.Source
  • CO alarmsWithin 10 feet of each bedroom entry, and near any gas appliance.Source
  • Licensed electricianHardwired alarms and emergency lights installed under a town permit.Source
  • Emergency lightingAt least one hour on battery, lighting the path to the main exit. Plug-in units aren’t accepted.Source
  • Fire extinguishersAt least one 2A:10B:C on each floor, mounted and tagged every year.Source
  • Evacuation diagramAt least 8.5 by 11 inches, on or near the primary exit door.Source
  • Escape openingsA primary exit and a secondary way out; escape windows at least 5.7 sq ft, 20 in wide, 24 in high, sill 44 in or lower.Source
  • LocksThumb-turn deadbolts and one lock per door.Source
  • House numbersAt least 6 inches tall with a half-inch stroke, contrasting, visible from the road. The address is also posted in the kitchen, each bathroom, and the pool area.Source
  • Grills and fire pitsAt least 10 feet from the building or overhead cover; no propane or flammables stored inside.Source
  • PoolsAt least one approved safety feature (alarm, exit alarms, 4-foot barrier, self-latching doors, or safety cover) and a pool safety rules sign.Source

House rules for guests

Occupancy
2 per bedroom, no more than 10
State it in every listing.Source
Parking
Up to 4 vehicles on the driveway
No street, right-of-way, or grass parking.Source
Responsible party
Reachable 24/7
Acts within an hour on life safety, noise, or parking problems.Source
Sea turtle lighting
March 1 – October 31
Lights visible from the beach off or shielded after 9 p.m.Source

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.