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

**Yes**, West Palm Beach requires a Business Tax Receipt (BTR) and Vacation Rental Registration. You need to register with the Finance Department and include your city registration number on any online listing. Be aware that safety inspections for fire and life safety codes are part of the local requirements.

What is the TOT tax rate in West Palm Beach?

**6% Palm Beach County** Tourist Development Tax and 6% Florida State Sales Tax must be collected and remitted. You need to set up a tax account with Palm Beach County to remit the Tourist Development Tax. Tax rates vary; check with the city's finance department for current tax information.

Are short-term rentals allowed in West Palm Beach?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in West Palm Beach, provided you obtain the necessary permits and licenses. You need to first get licensed by the state of Florida and set up a tax account with Palm Beach County. After that, apply for a Business Tax Receipt from the City of West Palm Beach.

How much does an STR permit cost in West Palm Beach?

**Fees for the Business** Tax Receipt (BTR) vary depending on the type of business and other factors. You need to contact the City of West Palm Beach Finance Department to determine the exact fees that apply to your short-term rental. Additional state and county fees may also apply.

West Palm Beach

Permissive

FloridaUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 4 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 4

Summary

Plain-english overview

The City of West Palm Beach requires all vacation rentals to obtain a local Business Tax Receipt and register with the Finance Department. While the city does not levy its own occupancy tax, hosts must collect and remit 6% Palm Beach County Tourist Development Tax and 6% Florida State Sales Tax.

Restriction level

Severity 5

Classification

Permissive

Severity

Why this classification

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 West Palm Beach, you must first get licensed by the state of Florida and set up a tax account with Palm Beach County. Once you have those, you need to apply for a Business Tax Receipt from the City of West Palm Beach. You are required to include your city registration number on any online listing. Be aware that safety inspections for fire and life safety codes are part of the local requirements.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You must verify if your property is within the 'City of West Palm Beach' limits or 'Unincorporated Palm Beach County', as rules differ significantly.
2The City requires a 'Vacation Rental Registration' in addition to the standard Business Tax Receipt.
3You must provide a 24/7 local emergency contact to the city.
4State law (DBPR) licensing is a prerequisite for the local city permit.
5The city does not levy a tax, but you will be audited for the 6% County Tourist Development Tax.
6Signs advertising the rental are generally prohibited in residential zones.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility5 rules

West Palm Beach: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
West Palm Beach does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
West Palm Beach allows STRs in the following property types: Single-Family, Duplex, Condo, Townhouse, Multi-Family.

Requirements15 rules

West Palm Beach requires STR registration. The permit is called "Rental Business Tax Receipt & Certificate of Use". Apply through Development Services Department - Business Tax Division. Processing time: 7-10 business days. Renewal is required.
West Palm Beach STR warning: A separate city business tax receipt is required for EACH rental property owned.

Application process8 rules

West Palm Beach STR permit - Step 4: Pass City Inspections. Schedule and pass a Code Enforcement inspection (and Fire inspection if 3+ units). Time: Varies. Cost: 35.

Fees & costs1 rule

West Palm Beach charges a registration fee of $39.59 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $50 (Initial Certificate of Use fee is $50.00 (renews at $20.00). The $39.59 is the base Rental Business Tax for a single-family home.).

Taxes4 rules

Florida has a state sales tax of 6% that applies to STR rentals.
West Palm Beach charges a Tourist Development Tax of 6%. This applies to stays under 180 days. Hosts are responsible for collecting and remitting this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO may collect state sales tax, but hosts are typically responsible for remitting the 6% TDT directly to Palm Beach County.

Limits & restrictions5 rules

West Palm Beach requires a minimum stay of 7 nights.
West Palm Beach occupancy calculation: Florida SB 280 (2024) generally limits occupancy to 2 per bedroom plus 2 in common areas, or 1 person per 50 sq ft.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
West Palm Beach enforces quiet hours: Standard city noise ordinance applies.
West Palm Beach limits stays to a maximum of 180 nights.

Safety requirements2 rules

West Palm Beach: Properties with 3 or more units under one roof require an additional Fire Department inspection.

Penalties2 rules

West Palm Beach: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
West Palm Beach enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Varies by code violation. Daily fine: Up to $250 per day. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions3 rules

West Palm Beach: Short-term rentals may impact your Florida Homestead Exemption if rented for more than 30 days per year.
West Palm Beach: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
West Palm Beach exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for West Palm Beach

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Register with State Agencies

Obtain a license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and a Sales Tax Certificate from the Florida Department of Revenue.

2-4 weeks

Official resource

Step 2

Establish County Tax Account

1 weekFree

Official resource

Step 3

Apply for City BTR

Submit a Business Tax Receipt application to the West Palm Beach Finance Department, including the Vacation Rental Supplemental form.

2 weeks

Documents needed

State License
County TDT #
Business Tax Receipt Application

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

West Palm Beach

Permissive

FloridaUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 4 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 4

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 5

Classification

Permissive

Severity

Why this classification

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 requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You must verify if your property is within the 'City of West Palm Beach' limits or 'Unincorporated Palm Beach County', as rules differ significantly.
2The City requires a 'Vacation Rental Registration' in addition to the standard Business Tax Receipt.
3You must provide a 24/7 local emergency contact to the city.
4State law (DBPR) licensing is a prerequisite for the local city permit.
5The city does not levy a tax, but you will be audited for the 6% County Tourist Development Tax.
6Signs advertising the rental are generally prohibited in residential zones.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility5 rules

West Palm Beach: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
West Palm Beach does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
West Palm Beach allows STRs in the following property types: Single-Family, Duplex, Condo, Townhouse, Multi-Family.

Requirements15 rules

West Palm Beach requires STR registration. The permit is called "Rental Business Tax Receipt & Certificate of Use". Apply through Development Services Department - Business Tax Division. Processing time: 7-10 business days. Renewal is required.
West Palm Beach STR warning: A separate city business tax receipt is required for EACH rental property owned.

Application process8 rules

West Palm Beach STR permit - Step 4: Pass City Inspections. Schedule and pass a Code Enforcement inspection (and Fire inspection if 3+ units). Time: Varies. Cost: 35.

Fees & costs1 rule

West Palm Beach charges a registration fee of $39.59 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $50 (Initial Certificate of Use fee is $50.00 (renews at $20.00). The $39.59 is the base Rental Business Tax for a single-family home.).

Taxes4 rules

Florida has a state sales tax of 6% that applies to STR rentals.
West Palm Beach charges a Tourist Development Tax of 6%. This applies to stays under 180 days. Hosts are responsible for collecting and remitting this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO may collect state sales tax, but hosts are typically responsible for remitting the 6% TDT directly to Palm Beach County.

Limits & restrictions5 rules

West Palm Beach requires a minimum stay of 7 nights.
West Palm Beach occupancy calculation: Florida SB 280 (2024) generally limits occupancy to 2 per bedroom plus 2 in common areas, or 1 person per 50 sq ft.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
West Palm Beach enforces quiet hours: Standard city noise ordinance applies.
West Palm Beach limits stays to a maximum of 180 nights.

Safety requirements2 rules

West Palm Beach: Properties with 3 or more units under one roof require an additional Fire Department inspection.

Penalties2 rules

West Palm Beach: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
West Palm Beach enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Varies by code violation. Daily fine: Up to $250 per day. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions3 rules

West Palm Beach: Short-term rentals may impact your Florida Homestead Exemption if rented for more than 30 days per year.
West Palm Beach: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
West Palm Beach exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for West Palm Beach

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Register with State Agencies

Obtain a license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and a Sales Tax Certificate from the Florida Department of Revenue.

2-4 weeks

Official resource

Step 2

Establish County Tax Account

1 weekFree

Official resource

Step 3

Apply for City BTR

Submit a Business Tax Receipt application to the West Palm Beach Finance Department, including the Vacation Rental Supplemental form.

2 weeks

Documents needed

State License
County TDT #
Business Tax Receipt Application

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

Register with State Agencies

Establish County Tax Account

Apply for City BTR

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in West Palm Beach?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in West Palm Beach?

4How much does an STR permit cost in West Palm Beach?

5What happens if I operate an illegal STR in West Palm 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

Register with State Agencies

Establish County Tax Account

Apply for City BTR

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in West Palm Beach?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in West Palm Beach?

4How much does an STR permit cost in West Palm Beach?

5What happens if I operate an illegal STR in West Palm Beach?

Disclaimer