Ocean Ridge, 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 with the Tax Collector before you advertise

Apply for a vacation rental business tax receipt (or a home sharing receipt if you live there during stays) and a tourist development tax account, one set per property. You may not advertise or list the property until you have both.Source

TDT support center (Palm Beach County Tax Collector) →

Put both numbers on every listing

Airbnb, Vrbo, and other platforms must ask for your business tax receipt and tourist tax numbers before listing a Palm Beach County property, and the numbers must appear on every ad. Listings without valid numbers can be taken down.Source

File the tourist tax every month

File electronically every month, even in months with no bookings. Platforms collect the tax from guests and pass it to you; you send it to the Tax Collector. Keep records of each stay, its length, and its price for three years.Source

Renew the business tax receipt by September 30

Renewal needs the fee, every monthly return filed, and any changes to your registration. Without a renewal filed by September 30 you can’t keep advertising. The receipt can’t be transferred to a new owner or address.Source

No events or sales

County rules bar non-residential uses of a short-term rental, such as selling products or holding events that charge admission.Source

Then your town

Many Palm Beach County towns require their own permit and inspection. Pick your town for its full checklist.

Check your zoning district

The RMM and RHM districts list “vacation rentals or units” as a permitted use. Ask the town whether a single-family district allows them before you list a house.Source

Get the state license and the county tax accounts

Every Florida vacation rental needs the DBPR license. Palm Beach County also requires a county business tax receipt and a tourist tax account from the Tax Collector before you advertise, with both numbers on every listing. See the Florida and Palm Beach County pages.Source

Register your rental with the town

If the property isn’t in a condo or co-op association, register it on the town’s form by January 31 each year (or within 15 days of a lease that starts later), with the owner, parcel number, address, and number of units, and pay the fee set by the Town Commission.Source