Guide · Florida
The most Airbnb-friendly cities in Florida.
Florida bars cities from banning vacation rentals, unless their rules were already in place by June 1, 2011. That splits the state in two: of the 7 Florida markets we track, 4 are open to investor-owned rentals with a license, while Miami Beach, Key West and Orlando kept older rules that shut most investors out.
The ranking
7 Florida markets, most to least open
Ranked by how open each city is to investor-owned, whole-home rentals, then by how much local registration it takes. This compares rules only, not returns, prices or demand.
| Market | Rules |
|---|---|
| 1. Tampa | Allowed, no city registration City registration: None at the city; Florida DBPR license and tax registration. Combined tax: About 13.5% |
| 2. Panama City Beach | Allowed with an annual certificate City registration: $250 new, $150 a year to renew. Combined tax: About 12%Confirming |
| 3. Fort Lauderdale | Allowed citywide after inspection City registration: $880 new (up to 4 units), $650 a year to renew. Combined tax: 13% |
| 4. Destin | Allowed, but houses only in 12 zones City registration: $500 to $700 city registration, by square footage. Combined tax: 13% |
| 5. Miami Beach | Only in about 434 authorized buildings City registration: City Business Tax Receipt and Resort Tax registration. Combined tax: About 14% |
| 6. Key West | Closed to new licenses City registration: No new transient licenses issued; existing ones transfer. Combined tax: 12.5% |
| 7. Orlando | Whole-home rentals not permitted City registration: Home Share only: $275 the first year. Combined tax: 12.5% |
Market by market
What each city allows
1. Tampa, FL
| Short answer | Allowed, no city registration Tampa has no city registration program, so a state vacation rental license, tax registration and zoning compliance are the main requirements. That may change: Hillsborough County's $200-a-year registry starts January 1, 2027 in unincorporated areas, and Tampa is studying whether to opt in. Accessory dwelling units carry a 7-day minimum stay. |
|---|---|
| City registration | None at the city; Florida DBPR license and tax registration |
| Combined tax | About 13.5% |
| Full rules | Short-term rental rules in Tampa Verified September 27, 2026 |
2. Panama City Beach, FL
| Short answer | Allowed with an annual certificate Every vacation rental needs an annual Vacation Rental Certificate and a fire inspection, which sets the maximum occupancy. Fees are well below Fort Lauderdale's or Destin's, and fines run $500, then $1,000, then revocation for repeat offenses within a year. |
|---|---|
| City registration | $250 new, $150 a year to renew |
| Combined tax | About 12%Confirming |
| Full rules | Short-term rental rules in Panama City Beach Verified September 26, 2026 |
3. Fort Lauderdale, FL
| Short answer | Allowed citywide after inspection Open citywide, but each rental must register, pass an inspection and hold a Certificate of Compliance, with occupancy set at two people per legal bedroom. Since September 15, 2026, operating without a valid certificate can cost $1,000 a day. |
|---|---|
| City registration | $880 new (up to 4 units), $650 a year to renew |
| Combined tax | 13% |
| Full rules | Short-term rental rules in Fort Lauderdale Verified September 27, 2026 |
4. Destin, FL
| Short answer | Allowed, but houses only in 12 zones No owner-occupancy rule, but single-family homes and townhomes can be short-term rentals only in 12 designated zoning districts. Condos skip the city zoning registration but still need a state license. Occupancy is capped at two adults per bedroom plus four, up to 24. |
|---|---|
| City registration | $500 to $700 city registration, by square footage |
| Combined tax | 13% |
| Full rules | Short-term rental rules in Destin Verified September 26, 2026 |
5. Miami Beach, FL
| Short answer | Only in about 434 authorized buildings Miami Beach's rules predate Florida's 2011 cutoff, so it can keep banning short-term rentals in single-family homes and most residential buildings. Legal rentals are limited to a list of authorized buildings, mostly in commercial, mixed-use and tourism districts, and eligibility has to be checked address by address. |
|---|---|
| City registration | City Business Tax Receipt and Resort Tax registration |
| Combined tax | About 14% |
| Full rules | Short-term rental rules in Miami Beach Verified September 27, 2026 |
6. Key West, FL
| Short answer | Closed to new licenses Stays of 28 days or less need a transient rental license, and the city no longer issues new ones. The only way in is a property that already holds a license, in a zone that allows transient use. Platforms don't remit the 5% county tourist tax, so hosts file it themselves. |
|---|---|
| City registration | No new transient licenses issued; existing ones transfer |
| Combined tax | 12.5% |
| Full rules | Short-term rental rules in Key West Verified September 27, 2026 |
7. Orlando, FL
| Short answer | Whole-home rentals not permitted Inside City of Orlando limits, entire-home rentals of 1 to 29 days aren't permitted; the legal option is a hosted Home Share with the host on site, renting up to half the bedrooms. Much of what investors call Orlando, including Kissimmee, Osceola County and unincorporated Orange County, is outside city limits and follows different rules. |
|---|---|
| City registration | Home Share only: $275 the first year |
| Combined tax | 12.5% |
| Full rules | Short-term rental rules in Orlando Verified September 27, 2026 |
State law
The Florida rules behind the ranking
| Local bans | Cities can't ban vacation rentals or limit how long or how often guests stay Florida Statutes 509.032(7)(b) allows exceptions only for local rules adopted on or before June 1, 2011. Cities without older rules regulate through registration, inspections, occupancy and parking instead. |
|---|---|
| State license | A Florida DBPR vacation rental license for most whole-unit rentals Required when a whole home or condo is rented more than three times a calendar year for stays under 30 days, or is advertised as regularly rented to guests. Renting single rooms doesn't need one, though local rules still apply. |
| Recent bills | No 2026 state law changed the framework The 2024 bill that would have added statewide registration rules (CS/SB 280) was vetoed, and a 2026 rental water-safety bill (CS/CS/SB 658) died in March 2026. |
| Which government | City rules stop at city limits An Orlando or Tampa mailing address can sit in an unincorporated county area with different rules, and Hillsborough County's new registry starts January 1, 2027. Each market page says exactly which jurisdiction it covers. See also cities that banned or restricted Airbnb. |
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The ranking compares local rules for investor-owned, whole-home rentals in the jurisdiction each market page covers. It isn't investment advice and doesn't weigh prices, occupancy or returns. General information only, not legal or tax advice; HOA and condo rules can be stricter. Airbnb is a trademark of Airbnb, Inc.; Rental Rule Book is independent and not affiliated with any booking platform.