West Miami, 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, Indian River, St. Lucie, Orange, Osceola, Lake, and Seminole (District 4) renew April 1, with the half-year rate from October 1. Duval, Nassau, Clay, Flagler, St. Johns, Levy, Alachua, Marion, and the rest of District 5 renew June 1, with the half-year rate from December 1. Bay, Walton, Okaloosa, Escambia, Santa Rosa, Gulf, Franklin, and the rest of District 6 also renew June 1. Martin, Palm Beach, and Broward (District 2) renew December 1, with the half-year rate from June 1. Miami-Dade and Monroe (District 1) renew October 1, with the half-year rate from April 1. Collier, Lee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Manatee, and the rest of District 7 renew December 1, with the half-year rate from June 1. Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Hernando, Citrus, and the rest of District 3 renew February 1, with the half-year rate from August 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.

Register for the tourist taxes if you take direct bookings

Hotels and rental living accommodations collect the county’s tourist and convention development taxes. If guests pay you directly, register with the Tax Collector and file a return every month, even if you collected nothing. Taxes are due the 1st of the next month and late if not postmarked by the 20th. The collection allowance applies only to returns filed online through TouristExpress.Source

Miami-Dade tourist taxes →

Check which taxes apply to your city

Airbnb collects the county’s 2% tourist development, 1% sports facility, and 3% convention development taxes, but not in Surfside or Bal Harbour, and only the 3% convention tax in Miami Beach. Those three cities collect their own resort taxes; see your city’s page.Source

Then your city

Miami-Dade has 34 cities with very different rules, from outright bans to no rules at all. Outside the cities, the county requires its own certificate of use. Pick your city for its checklist.

Get the state license and county tax account

Every Florida vacation rental needs the DBPR license. If you take any direct bookings, you also file Miami-Dade’s tourist taxes with the county Tax Collector (or your city’s resort tax in Miami Beach, Surfside, and Bal Harbour). See the Florida and Miami-Dade County pages.Source

Apply for the license and certificate of use

Apply to the city with a parking sketch and a contact who answers 24/7. Registration and reinspection fees are set by resolution; ask the city.Source

Certificate of use application →

Pass the inspections

The city inspects after registration and then twice a year.Source