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  1. Home
  2. ·
  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Florida
  6. ·
  7. Monroe County

Monroe County

Moderate
FloridaUpdated Mar 31, 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 in unincorporated Monroe County (the Florida Keys) are heavily regulated and generally require a minimum stay of 7 nights. Owners must obtain a county-issued Vacation Rental Permit, a state DBPR license, and maintain active tax accounts for Tourist Development Tax.

Restriction level

Severity 10
Classification
Moderate
10
Severity

Why this classification

  • Tenants cannot host
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in unincorporated Monroe County, you must first ensure your property is in a zone that allows rentals and is not deed-restricted as affordable housing. You are required to have a county permit, which costs roughly $560 annually and follows a 7-night minimum stay rule for most areas. You also need to pass a fire inspection and display your permit number on all online listings. While Airbnb collects most taxes, you are still responsible for registering your property with the Monroe County Tax Collector.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$560
Processing time4-6 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Most of the Keys (unincorporated) have a 7-night minimum stay requirement.
  2. 2Rentals under 28 days are strictly prohibited in 'Affordable Housing' or 'Employee Housing' units.
  3. 3The permit number MUST be included in the description of every online listing.
  4. 4Maximum occupancy is strictly 2 per bedroom + 2 extra, capped at 10 people.
  5. 5Separate licenses are required from the Florida DBPR and the County; one is not a substitute for the other.
  6. 6Mobile homes and vessels are generally prohibited from being used as vacation rentals.
  7. 7Zoning is very specific; many residential neighborhoods prohibit transient rentals entirely.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility12 rules
  • Monroe County, FL: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
  • Monroe County, FL: Properties with affordable housing restrictions or subsidies cannot be used for short-term rentals.
  • Monroe County does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Requirements17 rules
  • Monroe County: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
  • Monroe County STR warning: Rentals under 28 days are strictly prohibited in 'Affordable Housing' or 'Employee Housing' units.
  • Monroe County: The permit number MUST be included in the description of every online listing.
Application process7 rules
  • How to set up an STR in Monroe County: To host an Airbnb in unincorporated Monroe County, you must first ensure your property is in a zone that allows rentals and is not deed-restricted as affordable housing. You are required to have a county permit, which costs roughly $560 annually and follows a 7-night minimum stay rule for most areas. You also need to pass a fire inspection and display your permit number on all online listings. While Airbnb collects most taxes, you are still responsible for registering your property with the Monroe County Tax Collector.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Monroe County charges a registration fee of $560 (annual).
Taxes2 rules
  • Florida has a state sales tax of 0.075% that applies to STR rentals.
  • Monroe County charges a Tourist Development Tax of 0.05%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.
Limits & restrictions2 rules
  • Monroe County: Maximum occupancy is strictly 2 per bedroom + 2 extra, capped at 10 people.
  • Monroe County: Most of the Keys (unincorporated) have a 7-night minimum stay requirement.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Monroe County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection.
Penalties1 rule
  • Monroe County enforces penalties: First offense: $250 per day. Maximum fine: Unlimited cumulative.
Exemptions3 rules
  • Monroe 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).
  • Monroe County exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals 30+ days (county).

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

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