Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Broward County?

**Yes**, unincorporated Broward County requires a Vacation Rental Registration to legally operate. You need to apply for this registration and pass a safety inspection to ensure compliance. The Vacation Rental Registration costs $350. Failing to register your vacation rental can result in significant fines.

What is the TOT tax rate in Broward County?

**6% Tourist Development Tax** is required for all stays under 6 months in Broward County. You need to collect this tax from your guests and remit it to the county. Several online travel agencies may collect this tax automatically; always confirm collection with the platform. Tax rates vary; check with the local finance department.

How much does an STR permit cost in Broward County?

**$350** is the cost of the Vacation Rental Registration in unincorporated Broward County. You need to pay this fee to obtain the necessary permit to operate legally. This is in addition to any state-level licensing fees or local Business Tax Receipt costs. The Vacation Rental Registration is required.

What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Broward County?

**Fines and penalties** may be imposed for operating an illegal short-term rental in Broward County. You need to ensure you have the required Vacation Rental Registration and comply with all safety inspection requirements. Operating without proper permits can lead to daily fines and legal action, so compliance is critical.

Broward County

Q: Are short-term rentals allowed in Broward County?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in unincorporated Broward County, provided you meet all registration and safety requirements. You need to obtain a Vacation Rental Registration and pass a safety inspection. Furthermore, you must also acquire a local Business Tax Receipt and comply with state-level licensing to operate legally.

Permissive

FloridaUpdated Mar 19, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

In unincorporated Broward County, hosts must obtain a Vacation Rental Registration and pass a safety inspection. This is in addition to state-level licensing and a local Business Tax Receipt. The 6% Tourist Development Tax must be collected on all stays under 6 months.

Restriction level

Severity 0

Classification

Permissive

Severity

Why this classification

No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in unincorporated Broward County, you must first get your state licenses from the Florida DBPR and Department of Revenue. Then, you'll apply for a county-level registration which costs $350 and requires a safety inspection of your home. You must post a notice inside the house with the maximum number of guests (usually 2 per bedroom plus 2) and emergency contact info. While Airbnb collects the 6% county tourist tax for you, you are still responsible for keeping your local registration active and renewed annually.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$350

Processing time30-45 days

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify your address is actually in 'Unincorporated Broward' - if you pay taxes to a city like Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood, you follow their rules, not these.
2The 10-person maximum occupancy is a hard limit regardless of home size.
3A state license from the DBPR is required BEFORE you can apply for the county permit.
4Pools must have specific safety barriers or alarms to pass the county inspection.
5You must provide guests with a copy of the county's 'Vacation Rental Code of Conduct'.
6Registration must be renewed every year with a renewal fee ($160).
7Short-term rentals in multi-family buildings with 5+ units are generally not permitted under these specific vacation rental rules.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

Broward County, FL: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Broward County: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Broward County does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Broward County: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements13 rules

Broward County STR warning: Registration must be renewed every year with a renewal fee ($160).
Broward County STR warning: The 10-person maximum occupancy is a hard limit regardless of home size.
Broward County STR warning: Pools must have specific safety barriers or alarms to pass the county inspection.

Application process9 rules

Broward County STR permit - Step 5: Pass Inspection. Schedule and pass a Life Safety inspection of the property. Time: 1 week.

Fees & costs2 rules

Broward County: Registration must be renewed every year with a renewal fee ($160).
Broward County charges a registration fee of $350 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Broward County charges a Tourist Development Tax of 6%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.
Florida has a state sales tax of 6% that applies to STR rentals.
Broward County: Verify your address is actually in 'Unincorporated Broward' - if you pay taxes to a city like Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood, you follow their rules, not these.

Limits & restrictions1 rule

Broward County: The 10-person maximum occupancy is a hard limit regardless of home size.

Safety requirements2 rules

Broward County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection.
Broward County: Pools must have specific safety barriers or alarms to pass the county inspection.

Penalties1 rule

Broward County enforces penalties: First offense: $250. Maximum fine: $15,000.

Exemptions3 rules

Broward County exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals 30+ days (county).
Broward County, FL: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Broward County

Permissive

FloridaUpdated Mar 19, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 0

Classification

Permissive

Severity

Why this classification

No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$350

Processing time30-45 days

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify your address is actually in 'Unincorporated Broward' - if you pay taxes to a city like Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood, you follow their rules, not these.
2The 10-person maximum occupancy is a hard limit regardless of home size.
3A state license from the DBPR is required BEFORE you can apply for the county permit.
4Pools must have specific safety barriers or alarms to pass the county inspection.
5You must provide guests with a copy of the county's 'Vacation Rental Code of Conduct'.
6Registration must be renewed every year with a renewal fee ($160).
7Short-term rentals in multi-family buildings with 5+ units are generally not permitted under these specific vacation rental rules.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

Broward County, FL: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Broward County: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Broward County does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Broward County: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements13 rules

Broward County STR warning: Registration must be renewed every year with a renewal fee ($160).
Broward County STR warning: The 10-person maximum occupancy is a hard limit regardless of home size.
Broward County STR warning: Pools must have specific safety barriers or alarms to pass the county inspection.

Application process9 rules

Broward County STR permit - Step 5: Pass Inspection. Schedule and pass a Life Safety inspection of the property. Time: 1 week.

Fees & costs2 rules

Broward County: Registration must be renewed every year with a renewal fee ($160).
Broward County charges a registration fee of $350 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Broward County charges a Tourist Development Tax of 6%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.
Florida has a state sales tax of 6% that applies to STR rentals.
Broward County: Verify your address is actually in 'Unincorporated Broward' - if you pay taxes to a city like Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood, you follow their rules, not these.

Limits & restrictions1 rule

Broward County: The 10-person maximum occupancy is a hard limit regardless of home size.

Safety requirements2 rules

Broward County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection.
Broward County: Pools must have specific safety barriers or alarms to pass the county inspection.

Penalties1 rule

Broward County enforces penalties: First offense: $250. Maximum fine: $15,000.

Exemptions3 rules

Broward County exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals 30+ days (county).
Broward County, FL: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Broward County?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Broward County?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Broward County?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Broward County?

5What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Broward County?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Broward County?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Broward County?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Broward County?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Broward County?

5What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Broward County?

Disclaimer