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Fort Lauderdale Short-Term Rental Rules: What Hosts Need to Know in 2026
Fort Lauderdale requires a Vacation Rental Certificate of Compliance for a one- to four-family home or condo advertised for stays of 30 days or less. A new certificate costs $880 for up to 4 units under one folio and includes the first inspection.
Renewal is $650 for a non-owner-occupied rental or $200 for an owner-occupied, homestead-exempt property. Certificates expire on September 30, and the renewal application is due by August 1.
A city certificate on top of state and county licenses
Before the city will issue a Certificate of Compliance, the owner needs a Florida DBPR vacation rental license, a Florida Department of Revenue registration, a Broward County business tax receipt, and a Broward County tourist tax account.
The city then inspects the unit. A noise-level detection device is required, its data must be retained for 180 days, and sound cannot be plainly audible at 25 feet between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. A responsible party must be able to respond in person within one hour.
- State DBPR license and DOR registration first.
- Broward County business tax receipt and tourist tax account.
- City Certificate of Compliance and inspection.
- Annual renewal by August 1; certificates expire September 30.
Certificate and renewal basics
The certificate is issued per folio and covers up to four units. The fee includes the first inspection; later inspections are billed separately.
New certificate
Apply through LauderBuild and pay $880 for up to 4 units under one folio, including the first inspection.
Renewal
Renew for $650 for a non-owner-occupied rental or $200 for an owner-occupied, homestead-exempt property.
Lapse
A certificate that lapses after September 30 must be processed as a new application with a new inspection.
License fees
| Label | Fee |
|---|---|
| New license — Certificate of Compliance | $880 |
| Renewal — Non-owner-occupied | $650 |
| Renewal — Owner-occupied / homestead | $200 |
Core requirements
- Obtain a Florida DBPR vacation rental license, Florida Department of Revenue registration, Broward County business tax receipt, and tourist tax account before applying to the city.
- Register the property and pass the city inspection before advertising or accepting guests.
- Install a noise-level detection device, retain its data for 180 days, and keep sound from being plainly audible at 25 feet between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
- Name a responsible party who can respond in person within one hour and answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Limit occupancy to two people per legal bedroom and keep vehicles in the on-site driveway.
- Renew by August 1; a certificate that lapses after September 30 must be processed as a new application.
Enforcement: daily penalties and suspensions
Operating without a valid certificate, including an expired one, carries a $1,000 civil penalty for each day. Other citations are $250 if uncontested or $325 if contested.
Repeat violations escalate to suspension: 180 days on a third violation and 365 days on a fourth. Operating during a suspension is $1,000 per day, $5,000 per day for a repeat, and up to $15,000 per violation if a magistrate finds the violation irreparable.
- No valid certificate: $1,000 per day.
- Citation: $250 uncontested or $325 contested.
- Third violation: 180-day suspension; fourth: 365 days.
- Operating during suspension: up to $15,000 per violation.
| Item | Penalty |
|---|---|
| No valid certificate | Operating without a valid certificate, including an expired one, carries a $1,000 civil penalty for each day. |
| Citation | An uncontested citation is $250; a contested citation is $325. |
| Suspension | A third violation brings a 180-day suspension, and a fourth brings a 365-day suspension. |
| Operating during suspension | Operating during a suspension is $1,000 per day, $5,000 per day for a repeat, and up to $15,000 per violation if a magistrate finds the violation irreparable. |
Lodging taxes: about 13%
Combined hotel occupancy tax ~13%
The combined rate is about 13%: 6% Florida sales tax, 1% Broward County discretionary surtax, and 6% Broward County tourist development tax.
The owner self-remits the Broward County tourist development tax. Confirm whether the booking platform collects the county portion before relying on the platform.
Returns are due on the 1st and are late after the 20th. The minimum late penalty is $50, and the county assigns the filing frequency.
- Collection
- The owner self-remits the Broward County tourist development tax; confirm whether the booking platform collects the county portion.
- Filing
- Broward tourist development tax returns are due on the 1st and are late after the 20th; the minimum late penalty is $50, and the county assigns the filing frequency.
Ranges vary — verify. The city business tax receipt is invoiced separately from the vacation rental fee.
Permit notes
- Other fees
- The $880 new fee covers up to 4 units under one folio and includes the first inspection; a reinspection or inspector no-show is $100, and a late renewal adds $100.
Compare Fort Lauderdale with other STR markets
Orlando restricts residential short-term rentals to owner-occupied home sharing, while New Orleans caps non-commercial permits by block and allocates them by lottery. Fort Lauderdale allows non-owner-occupied rentals with a city certificate.
Phoenix
Arizona
Allowed citywide with permit (state law bars city bans — host-friendly)
Low–moderate enforcement
New license $250
Last verified
View Phoenix rules →Scottsdale
Arizona
Licensed; Arizona law preempts local bans and occupancy caps
Moderate enforcement
New license $250
Last verified
View Scottsdale rules →Sedona
Arizona
Permit required; Arizona law sets the regulatory floor
Moderate enforcement
New license $210
Last verified
View Sedona rules →Los Angeles
California
Allowed in the host’s primary residence with registration; 120-night annual cap unless extended
High enforcement
New license $441
Last verified
View Los Angeles rules →Palm Springs
California
Allowed in single-family homes with an annual certificate; new certificates capped at 20% per organized neighborhood
High enforcement
New license — Vacation Rental $1,046
Last verified
View Palm Springs rules →San Diego
California
Licensed by tier; whole-home licenses are capped by ordinance
High enforcement
New license — Tier 1 — Part-Time $193
Last verified
View San Diego rules →San Francisco
California
Allowed only in the host’s permanent residence with registration; un-hosted stays capped at 90 nights per year
High enforcement
New license $925
Last verified
View San Francisco rules →Santa Monica
California
Home-sharing only in the host’s primary residence; un-hosted vacation rentals are unlawful
High enforcement
New license $582.25
Last verified
View Santa Monica rules →Denver
Colorado
Licensed, primary residence only
High enforcement
New license $150
Last verified
View Denver rules →Washington
District of Columbia
Licensed, primary residence only
High enforcement
New license $99
Last verified
View Washington rules →Miami
Florida
Licensed and enforced; city and county requirements run in parallel
High enforcement
Last verified
View Miami rules →Orlando
Florida
Owner-occupied home sharing; whole-home rentals are limited by zoning
Moderate enforcement
New license — Home Sharing Registration $275
Last verified
View Orlando rules →Tampa
Florida
State-licensed; city rental registration repealed in 2023
Low–moderate enforcement
New license $230
Last verified
View Tampa rules →Atlanta
Georgia
Licensed, primary residence plus one additional dwelling unit
High enforcement
New license $150
Last verified
View Atlanta rules →Savannah
Georgia
Certified STVR, overlay district only, per-ward cap
High enforcement
New license $400
Last verified
View Savannah rules →Chicago
Illinois
Registered shared housing unit (31 days or fewer)
High enforcement
New license $250
Last verified
View Chicago rules →New Orleans
Louisiana
Licensed, capped, and lottery-based
High enforcement
New license — NSTR owner permit $500
Last verified
View New Orleans rules →Boston
Massachusetts
Registered, owner-occupied primary residence only
High enforcement
New license — Limited Share $25
Last verified
View Boston rules →Las Vegas
Nevada
Licensed; owner-occupied homes only (city limits)
High enforcement
New license $500
Last verified
View Las Vegas rules →New York
New York
Legal only in a registered primary residence (hosted stays)
High enforcement
New license $145
Last verified
View New York rules →Portland
Oregon
Permitted as an accessory use (primary residence required)
Moderate enforcement
Last verified
View Portland rules →Charleston
South Carolina
Licensed, primary residence only (commercial STRs only in the overlay district)
High enforcement
New license $345
Last verified
View Charleston rules →Nashville
Tennessee
Allowed with permit; heavy zoning restrictions on investor units
High enforcement
New license $313
Last verified
View Nashville rules →Austin
Texas
Licensed & enforced
High enforcement
New license $736.60
Last verified
View Austin rules →Seattle
Washington
Licensed; up to two units per operator
High enforcement
New license $75
Last verified
View Seattle rules →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a city permit to run an Airbnb in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. A Vacation Rental Certificate of Compliance is required for a one- to four-family home or condo advertised for stays of 30 days or less.
How much does the certificate cost?
A new certificate is $880 for up to 4 units under one folio and includes the first inspection. Renewal is $650 for a non-owner-occupied rental or $200 for an owner-occupied, homestead-exempt property.
When does the certificate expire?
Certificates expire on September 30, and the renewal application is due by August 1. Missing September 30 means starting over with a new application and a new inspection.
Official sources and cross-checks
Sources with links
- City of Fort Lauderdale — Vacation Rental Registration fortlauderdale.gov
- City of Fort Lauderdale — Vacation Rental Renewal fortlauderdale.gov
- City of Fort Lauderdale — Ordinance No. C-26-39 (Chapter 15, Article X) fortlauderdale.gov
- Broward County — Tourist Development Tax broward.org