Which Florida Cities Allow Airbnb? STR Rules by City

Yes. Every Florida vacation rental must hold an active license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). You also need to register with the Florida Department of Revenue for sales tax and your county tax collector for the tourist development tax. Most cities require a local business tax receipt on top of these state requirements.

Beach resort cities like Clearwater Beach, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, Destin, and Panama City Beach are the most STR-friendly — they fully allow rentals with standard licensing. Kissimmee and Davenport near Disney are also very welcoming to STR operators.

Florida Airbnb hosts pay 6% state sales tax plus a county discretionary surtax (varies by county, typically 0.5-1.5%), plus a county tourist development tax (typically 5-6%). Some platforms collect state sales tax automatically, but hosts are usually responsible for the county tourist tax. Total tax burden is typically 12-14% of gross rental income.

Yes. Even in cities that allow STRs, your HOA or condo association can prohibit or restrict short-term rentals through their covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs). Always review your HOA documents before purchasing a property for STR use.