Unincorporated Indian River, FL vacation rental requirements

Get the DBPR vacation rental license

Apply online to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants as a Vacation Rental – Condominium or Vacation Rental – Dwelling, listing every unit address. Approval usually takes one to two business days and the license is emailed. There is no inspection before it’s issued, but DBPR can inspect afterward. Post the license (or a copy) in the unit.Source

DBPR vacation rental licensing guide →

Renew every year by your district’s date

Licenses renew on a set date for each DBPR district. Brevard, Volusia, and Indian River (District 4) renew April 1, with the half-year rate from October 1. Flagler, St. Johns, and the rest of District 5 renew June 1, with the half-year rate from December 1. If you won’t rent until after the next renewal date, waiting to apply can save paying twice.Source

Register for Florida sales tax if you collect rent yourself

Whoever receives the rent collects and pays the tax. Airbnb and VRBO collect Florida’s 6% tax and the county surtax on bookings made through them, so if every booking goes through them you don’t need your own sales tax account. If you take direct bookings, or a property manager collects rent for you, you or the manager register with the Department of Revenue and file. You stay responsible if a platform or manager doesn’t pay it.Source

Florida Department of Revenue →

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

Florida rental fire safety checklist (FireEscapePlan.com) →

Balcony inspection for taller buildings

Buildings three or more stories tall must file a Certificate of Balcony Inspection with DBPR every three years. Condo units are exempt when the balconies and stairs are common elements and you give DBPR proof.Source

Keep up the state operating rules

Keep the unit clean, safe, and free of pests; change sheets and pillowcases between guests or weekly; use cribs that meet federal safety standards; and sanitize dishes between guests or post DBPR’s exception notice.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.

Taking direct bookings? Open a tourist tax account

Airbnb and Vrbo collect and send Indian River’s 5% tax for bookings made through them. If you collect rent yourself, register with the Clerk of Court and file a return by the 20th of each month. Once an account has been open 12 months, file a zero return in months with no rentals unless you ask in writing to go inactive. The county and city rental licenses still ask for proof of a Clerk tourist tax account.Source

Tourist tax registration form (PDF) →

Know which rules cover you

Outside city limits, the county vacation rental license applies. Sebastian and Indian River Shores have their own registrations. Vero Beach allows rentals under 30 days only in some commercial and downtown districts. Fellsmere and Orchid have no rental rules in their codes.

Then your town

Pick your town for its full checklist.

Get the state license, tax account, and business tax receipt

The application asks for your DBPR license, a county business tax receipt from the Tax Collector, and a tourist tax account with the Clerk of Court (you need the account even if Airbnb or Vrbo collect the tax).Source

Check with your HOA

The application asks you to confirm you’ve contacted any property owners or homeowners association and know its rental restrictions.Source

Apply to County Code Enforcement

Include the manager’s cell phone, email, and mailing address; your parking spaces and bedrooms; square footage under air; whether you’re on sewer or septic (septic homes may need a Health Department evaluation); and the signed acknowledgment form. Pay the $250 fee.Source

Vacation rental license application (PDF) →

Post the required information, then pass the inspection

Before the inspection, post the manager’s contact, maximum guests, maximum cars and boats with the approved parking spots, trash and recycling days, the noise rules, where the smoke alarms, emergency lighting, and extinguisher are, the nearest emergency room, and (east of A1A) sea turtle and dune rules.Source

Put the license details in every ad

Every listing must show the license number, the occupancy limit, the maximum cars outside the garage or carport, the noise statement, and, east of A1A, a note about the sea turtle and dune rules.Source

Keep it current

Send a copy of your current state license every year, report a new manager or new contact details within 10 days, and renew every three years with a new inspection.Source