Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Vero Beach?

**No**, there is currently no local STR-specific license required in Vero Beach, though state and county regulations may still apply. You must hold a valid State of Florida lodging license (DBPR) and comply with general business licensing requirements. Always check your HOA rules as they can be stricter.

What is the TOT tax rate in Vero Beach?

**4%** is the City of Vero Beach Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) rate for short-term rentals. You need to register and remit this tax directly to the city's finance department, as Airbnb and VRBO typically do not collect it. Also, remember to collect county and state taxes as required.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Vero Beach?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are generally allowed in Vero Beach, but you must comply with all applicable regulations. This includes registering for and remitting the 4% City Transient Occupancy Tax, holding a valid State of Florida lodging license, and adhering to general business and noise regulations. Always check HOA rules.

What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Vero Beach?

**Penalties** for operating an illegal short-term rental in Vero Beach may include fines and legal action. While there is no specific STR ordinance, failure to register for and remit the 4% City Transient Occupancy Tax, or operating without a required State of Florida lodging license, can result in enforcement measures.

Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Vero Beach?

**No**, there is no requirement to live in your property to rent it on Airbnb in Vero Beach. However, you must still comply with all applicable regulations, including registering for and remitting the 4% City Transient Occupancy Tax, holding a valid State of Florida lodging license, and adhering to general business and noise regulations.

Vero Beach

Permissive

FloridaUpdated Feb 10, 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

The City of Vero Beach does not have a specific short-term rental ordinance but requires hosts to register and remit a 4% local Transient Occupancy Tax in addition to county and state taxes. Hosts must also hold a valid State of Florida lodging license and comply with general business licensing and noise regulations.

Restriction level

Severity 3

Classification

Permissive

Severity

Why this classification

Reporting required
No STR-specific permit required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in the City of Vero Beach, you must register for multiple levels of taxation. While the city doesn't have a special 'STR permit,' you are required to pay a 4% City Transient Occupancy Tax directly to the city's finance department—Airbnb and VRBO usually do not collect this local portion for you. You also need a Florida state vacation rental license (DBPR) and must register with Indian River County. Always check your HOA or condo rules, as they can be stricter than the city's general laws.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Vero Beach has a unique 4% local tax that is SEPARATE from the Indian River County tax.
2Major platforms (Airbnb/VRBO) typically do NOT collect the 4% city tax; hosts must remit this manually.
3Rentals under 30 days are subject to state, county, and city taxes totaling 14%.
4A State of Florida DBPR license is mandatory before advertising your property.
5City limits are specific; if your address is 'Vero Beach' but you are in the unincorporated county, these city rules do not apply.
6Vero Beach previously attempted to ban STRs; while they cannot ban them due to state law, they strictly enforce tax and noise codes.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility4 rules

Vero Beach does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Vero Beach prohibits STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings in residential zones, Multi-family dwellings in residential zones.
Vero Beach allows STRs in the following property types: Hotels, Motels, C-1A District units, Downtown Zoning District units.

Requirements14 rules

Vero Beach STR warning: Homestead exemptions can be lost if a property is rented for more than 30 days in two consecutive years.
Vero Beach does not require STR registration.
Vero Beach STR warning: Advertising a stay for less than 30 days in a residential zone can trigger a code violation warning.

Application process3 rules

How to set up an STR in Vero Beach: To host an Airbnb in the City of Vero Beach, you must only rent your property for 30 days or longer. Short-term rentals of less than 30 days are illegal in residential neighborhoods and the city actively enforces this with fines of $500 per day. The only exceptions are for specific commercial zones like C-1A or the Downtown District, which are usually reserved for hotels or commercial apartments. Always verify your exact address on the city's zoning map before listing.

Taxes2 rules

Florida has a state sales tax of 6% that applies to STR rentals.
Vero Beach 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 generally collect the 5% TDT for Indian River County.

Limits & restrictions2 rules

Vero Beach requires a minimum stay of 30 nights.
Vero Beach enforces quiet hours: Subject to general noise ordinance.

Penalties2 rules

Vero Beach: Fines are up to $500 per day for every day the property is rented short-term.
Vero Beach enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 per day. Second offense: $500 per day. Third offense: $500 per day. Daily fine: $500. Maximum fine: $500 per violation day.

Exemptions3 rules

Vero Beach: Homestead exemptions can be lost if a property is rented for more than 30 days in two consecutive years.
Vero Beach: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Vero Beach exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Vero Beach

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

State Licensing

Obtain a Vacation Rental - Dwelling license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).

2-4 weeks$170

Official resource

Step 2

County Registration

Official resource

Step 3

City Tax Registration

Documents needed

Business Tax Application
Copy of State License

Official resource

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

Vero Beach

Permissive

FloridaUpdated Feb 10, 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 3

Classification

Permissive

Severity

Why this classification

Reporting required
No STR-specific permit required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Vero Beach has a unique 4% local tax that is SEPARATE from the Indian River County tax.
2Major platforms (Airbnb/VRBO) typically do NOT collect the 4% city tax; hosts must remit this manually.
3Rentals under 30 days are subject to state, county, and city taxes totaling 14%.
4A State of Florida DBPR license is mandatory before advertising your property.
5City limits are specific; if your address is 'Vero Beach' but you are in the unincorporated county, these city rules do not apply.
6Vero Beach previously attempted to ban STRs; while they cannot ban them due to state law, they strictly enforce tax and noise codes.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility4 rules

Vero Beach does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Vero Beach prohibits STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings in residential zones, Multi-family dwellings in residential zones.
Vero Beach allows STRs in the following property types: Hotels, Motels, C-1A District units, Downtown Zoning District units.

Requirements14 rules

Vero Beach STR warning: Homestead exemptions can be lost if a property is rented for more than 30 days in two consecutive years.
Vero Beach does not require STR registration.
Vero Beach STR warning: Advertising a stay for less than 30 days in a residential zone can trigger a code violation warning.

Application process3 rules

How to set up an STR in Vero Beach: To host an Airbnb in the City of Vero Beach, you must only rent your property for 30 days or longer. Short-term rentals of less than 30 days are illegal in residential neighborhoods and the city actively enforces this with fines of $500 per day. The only exceptions are for specific commercial zones like C-1A or the Downtown District, which are usually reserved for hotels or commercial apartments. Always verify your exact address on the city's zoning map before listing.

Taxes2 rules

Florida has a state sales tax of 6% that applies to STR rentals.
Vero Beach 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 generally collect the 5% TDT for Indian River County.

Limits & restrictions2 rules

Vero Beach requires a minimum stay of 30 nights.
Vero Beach enforces quiet hours: Subject to general noise ordinance.

Penalties2 rules

Vero Beach: Fines are up to $500 per day for every day the property is rented short-term.
Vero Beach enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 per day. Second offense: $500 per day. Third offense: $500 per day. Daily fine: $500. Maximum fine: $500 per violation day.

Exemptions3 rules

Vero Beach: Homestead exemptions can be lost if a property is rented for more than 30 days in two consecutive years.
Vero Beach: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Vero Beach exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Vero Beach

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

State Licensing

Obtain a Vacation Rental - Dwelling license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).

2-4 weeks$170

Official resource

Step 2

County Registration

Official resource

Step 3

City Tax Registration

Documents needed

Business Tax Application
Copy of State License

Official resource

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

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

State Licensing

County Registration

City Tax Registration

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Vero Beach?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Vero Beach?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Vero Beach?

4What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Vero Beach?

5Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Vero Beach?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

State Licensing

County Registration

City Tax Registration

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Vero Beach?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Vero Beach?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Vero Beach?

4What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Vero Beach?

5Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Vero Beach?

Disclaimer