Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Marathon, FL?

**Yes**, Marathon requires a Vacation Rental License for all short-term rentals. You need to obtain this city-issued license to legally operate, per Chapter 8, Article II of the Municipal Code. Failure to obtain a Vacation Rental License can result in significant fines and penalties within the city. (51 words)

What is the TOT tax rate in Marathon, FL?

**5% TOT** is the current transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals in Marathon. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the city. It is crucial to comply with these tax obligations to avoid penalties and maintain legal compliance within the city. (52 words)

Are short-term rentals allowed in Marathon, FL?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Marathon, but they are strictly regulated. You need to adhere to specific requirements, including obtaining a Vacation Rental License and complying with a 7-night minimum stay requirement. Failing to comply with these rules can lead to fines and legal repercussions. (52 words)

How much does an STR permit cost in Marathon, FL?

**$1100** is the cost for the Vacation Rental License required to operate a short-term rental in Marathon. You need to pay this fee annually to maintain your license and legally rent out your property. This fee covers the costs associated with inspections and regulatory oversight. (51 words)

Can renters host on Airbnb in Marathon, FL?

**No**, tenants are not allowed to host on Airbnb or operate short-term rentals in Marathon. The Vacation Rental License is only available to property owners. Renters are prohibited from subletting their properties as short-term rentals, which is a violation of the city's regulations. (48 words)

Marathon

Strict

FloridaUpdated Feb 13, 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

Short-term rentals (stays under 28 days) are strictly regulated in the City of Marathon under Chapter 8, Article II of the Municipal Code. Hosts must obtain a city-issued Vacation Rental License, undergo an annual safety inspection, and adhere to a 7-night minimum stay requirement.

Restriction level

Severity 38

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Week minimum stay: 7 nights
High permit fee: $1100
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in the City of Marathon, you must get a local Vacation Rental License from the city's Planning Department. Be prepared for a significant upfront cost (roughly $1,250 for the first year) and a mandatory safety inspection. Marathon is unique because it enforces a 7-night minimum stay for all rentals, so you cannot rent for just a weekend. You also need a local 'Responsible Party' who can respond to the house within 2 hours if there is a complaint.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$1,100

Processing time30 days

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

17-night minimum stay is strictly enforced; rentals shorter than 7 nights are prohibited.
2Total occupancy is capped at 2 people per bedroom plus 2, with a hard limit of 10 people total.
3The 'Local Responsible Party' must be available 24/7 and respond on-site within 2 hours.
4All marketing/listings must include the City of Marathon Vacation Rental License number.
5Annual inspections are mandatory and include strict fire safety standards (e.g., egress maps in every bedroom).
6Operating without a permit can lead to a 12-month ban on future permit eligibility.
7Verify your property is within City of Marathon limits; if you are in 'Unincorporated Monroe County', different rules apply.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility11 rules

Marathon prohibits STRs in the following property types: Affordable Housing units, Employee Housing units.
Marathon does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Marathon allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family, Duplex, Condominium.

Requirements19 rules

Marathon STR warning: Annual inspections are mandatory and include strict fire safety standards (e.g., egress maps in every bedroom).
Marathon, FL: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
Marathon, FL: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.

Application process11 rules

Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Marathon: Step 1: State/County Registrations - Obtain your DBPR license and register for Monroe County Tourist Development Tax. Estimated time: 14-21 days. Cost: 50. More info: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/intentions2.asp?chp=re&typ=vac Step 2: City Application Submission - Submit the Vacation Rental Application to the City of Marathon Planning Department with the floor plan and emergency maps. Documents needed: Floor Plan, Egress Map, Local Agent Form. Estimated time: 7 days. Cost: 1250. More info: https://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/planning/page/vacation-rentals Step 3: Schedule Inspection - The city inspector will visit the property to verify fire safety equipment and occupancy limits. Estimated time: 7-14 days. Step 4: License Issuance - After passing inspection, the city will issue the Vacation Rental License, which must be displayed in the unit and on all listings. Estimated time: 5 days.

Fees & costs1 rule

Marathon charges a registration fee of $1100 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $1250 (Includes $1,100 annual fee plus $150 inspection fee; Late renewal penalty is $500).

Taxes2 rules

Marathon charges a Tourist Development Tax of 5%. This applies to stays under 180 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the 5% Monroe County Tourist Development Tax directly; however, hosts must still file 'zero' returns.
Florida has a state sales tax of 7.5% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions8 rules

Marathon occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional persons; maximum of 10 persons per unit total.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Marathon limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional persons; maximum of 10 persons per unit total.

Safety requirements2 rules

Marathon: Annual inspections are mandatory and include strict fire safety standards (e.g., egress maps in every bedroom).

Penalties3 rules

Marathon: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Marathon enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $250. Second offense: $500. Third offense: $1,000. Daily fine: $250. Maximum fine: $5,000. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions3 rules

Marathon exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
Marathon, 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

Marathon

Strict

FloridaUpdated Feb 13, 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 38

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Week minimum stay: 7 nights
High permit fee: $1100
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
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$1,100

Processing time30 days

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

17-night minimum stay is strictly enforced; rentals shorter than 7 nights are prohibited.
2Total occupancy is capped at 2 people per bedroom plus 2, with a hard limit of 10 people total.
3The 'Local Responsible Party' must be available 24/7 and respond on-site within 2 hours.
4All marketing/listings must include the City of Marathon Vacation Rental License number.
5Annual inspections are mandatory and include strict fire safety standards (e.g., egress maps in every bedroom).
6Operating without a permit can lead to a 12-month ban on future permit eligibility.
7Verify your property is within City of Marathon limits; if you are in 'Unincorporated Monroe County', different rules apply.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility11 rules

Marathon prohibits STRs in the following property types: Affordable Housing units, Employee Housing units.
Marathon does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Marathon allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family, Duplex, Condominium.

Requirements19 rules

Marathon STR warning: Annual inspections are mandatory and include strict fire safety standards (e.g., egress maps in every bedroom).
Marathon, FL: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
Marathon, FL: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.

Application process11 rules

Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Marathon: Step 1: State/County Registrations - Obtain your DBPR license and register for Monroe County Tourist Development Tax. Estimated time: 14-21 days. Cost: 50. More info: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/intentions2.asp?chp=re&typ=vac Step 2: City Application Submission - Submit the Vacation Rental Application to the City of Marathon Planning Department with the floor plan and emergency maps. Documents needed: Floor Plan, Egress Map, Local Agent Form. Estimated time: 7 days. Cost: 1250. More info: https://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/planning/page/vacation-rentals Step 3: Schedule Inspection - The city inspector will visit the property to verify fire safety equipment and occupancy limits. Estimated time: 7-14 days. Step 4: License Issuance - After passing inspection, the city will issue the Vacation Rental License, which must be displayed in the unit and on all listings. Estimated time: 5 days.

Fees & costs1 rule

Marathon charges a registration fee of $1100 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $1250 (Includes $1,100 annual fee plus $150 inspection fee; Late renewal penalty is $500).

Taxes2 rules

Marathon charges a Tourist Development Tax of 5%. This applies to stays under 180 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the 5% Monroe County Tourist Development Tax directly; however, hosts must still file 'zero' returns.
Florida has a state sales tax of 7.5% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions8 rules

Marathon occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional persons; maximum of 10 persons per unit total.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Marathon limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional persons; maximum of 10 persons per unit total.

Safety requirements2 rules

Marathon: Annual inspections are mandatory and include strict fire safety standards (e.g., egress maps in every bedroom).

Penalties3 rules

Marathon: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Marathon enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $250. Second offense: $500. Third offense: $1,000. Daily fine: $250. Maximum fine: $5,000. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions3 rules

Marathon exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
Marathon, 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 Marathon, FL?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Marathon, FL?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Marathon, FL?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Marathon, FL?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Marathon, FL?

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 Marathon, FL?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Marathon, FL?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Marathon, FL?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Marathon, FL?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Marathon, FL?

Disclaimer