Short-Term Rentals in Hollywood, FL

Hollywood maintains 134 local ordinances across all categories, and 9 of those deal specifically with short-term rentals. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Hollywood falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Host Presence Rule

Hollywood requires the vacation rental representative to answer a listed phone number around the clock and physically show up within 60 minutes of a complaint from a guest, police, code enforcement, or the city. Section 119.20 also makes the property owner liable for fines when they were notified of the problem.

Key details: Phone coverage required: 24 hours, 7 days a week. On-site response window: 60 minutes of notification. Guest log retention: 3 years, available on request. Post-rental duty: On-site inspection each turnover. Missing log entry: Grounds for license revocation.

Missing the 24-hour phone line, blowing past the 60-minute response window, or failing to produce the guest log exposes both the representative and the owner to citation under Chapter 36 and § 119.58(A), with fines set by City Commission resolution. A second finding of guilt for the same violation within 12 months triggers suspension of the license pending a written corrective action plan under § 119.15(F); an omitted log entry can independently trigger revocation under § 119.20(D).

Compared to other cities, Hollywood takes a harder line on host presence rule. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Hollywood vacation rental guests must park only on-site, or off-site where parking is otherwise allowed, and follow the citywide Chapter 72 parking code. Section 119.32 flatly bans parking on the grass swale or any unpaved right-of-way next to a single-family home without that neighbor's consent.

Key details: Governing section: § 119.32, Parking Standards. Base parking code: Chapter 72, citywide. Swale parking ban cite: § 72.022. Posting required: Parking sketch inside the unit. Allowed parking: On-site or permitted off-site only.

Parking on a prohibited swale or unpaved right-of-way, or failing to post the required parking notice, is enforceable by citation under Chapter 36 with fines set by City Commission resolution under § 119.58(A). Because the representative and tenant can be held jointly and severally liable for a shared violation, repeated parking complaints count toward the two-strikes suspension and three-strikes revocation thresholds in § 119.58(C)-(D).

Noise Rules

Hollywood requires every vacation rental to carry noise level detection devices indoors and in the backyard or pool area, and to post notice that unreasonably loud noise is prohibited and the property is monitored. Section 119.35(A)(3) and (C) tie both postings directly to compliance with the City's Noise Ordinance.

Key details: Indoor device required: Main interior gathering area. Outdoor device required: Patio and pool gathering areas. Device data retention: 180 days, available to city. Backyard/pool posting: Notice noise is monitored. Second violation, 12 months: License suspension.

A failure to install or maintain the required noise detection devices, or an unreasonably loud gathering in violation of the posted notice, is enforceable by citation under Chapter 36 with fines set by City Commission resolution under § 119.58(A). A second finding of guilt for a noise violation within a continuous 12-month period suspends the license pending a corrective action plan under § 119.15(F), and a third finding within that window mandates suspension under § 119.58(C)(1).

This is one of the stricter rules in Hollywood's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Taxes & Fees

Hollywood ties every vacation rental license application, renewal, and modification to a fee set by City Commission resolution, plus proof of active tax accounts. Before the city will issue or renew a license, owners must show a current Florida Department of Revenue transient-rental-tax registration and an active Broward County Tax Collector account for tourist development taxes.

Key details: Application fee: Set by City Commission resolution. Renewal window opens: July 1 each year. Late fee trigger: Renewal filed after Sept. 30. Nonpayment consequence: License revoked after 90 days. Required tax accounts: FL DOR and Broward Tax Collector.

Failure to remit a renewal payment within 90 days revokes the vacation rental license under § 119.14 and forces a brand-new application before the property can advertise or operate again. Section 119.11(D) makes any false statement in a sworn license application grounds for revocation. Operating without an active license is separately punished under § 119.58(C)(2), with each day counted as its own violation and a fine of at least $5,000 per day or the maximum allowed by law.

Repeat Violator Strikes

Hollywood runs a strict strike system for vacation rentals: the City Manager may suspend a license after a second finding of guilt for the same violation, and must suspend it after a third finding of any violation within a rolling 12-month period. Section 119.58(C) caps that suspension at one year.

Key details: Second finding, same violation: Discretionary suspension or revocation. Third finding, any violation: Mandatory suspension. Max suspension length: One year. Unlicensed operation fine: $5,000/day minimum. Corrective action plan deadline: 5 business days.

A first violation draws a citation and fine under Chapter 36 as set by City Commission resolution. A second finding of guilt for the same violation within 12 months can suspend the license and requires a corrective action plan under § 119.15(F); a third finding of any violation in that window makes suspension mandatory under § 119.58(C)(1), and a second finding of the same violation can instead trigger outright revocation under § 119.58(D) with no fee refund.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Hollywood actively enforces its repeat violator strikes requirements.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Hollywood requires every vacation rental, a dwelling rented for stays under 30 days more than three times a year, to hold a city vacation rental license before it operates or is advertised. The license is tied to the specific unit and cannot be transferred to a new address or owner.

Key details: License required: Before any advertising or operation. Applies to: Rentals under 30 days, 3+ times/year. License expires: Every September 30. Renewal opens: July 1 annually. Unlicensed operation fine: Up to $5,000 per day.

Operating or advertising a vacation rental without the required license violates § 119.10 and is enforced under § 119.58. Fines are set by City Commission resolution, and if the violation is for operating without a license, the fine can run up to $5,000 per day, with each day treated as a separate offense; a second unlicensed-operation finding blocks a new license application for one year.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Hollywood actively enforces its short-term rental permits requirements.

Occupancy Limits

Hollywood limits every vacation rental bedroom to two overnight occupants and three daytime occupants, and the citywide cap can never exceed the Florida Building Code's maximum occupant load for the structure. Bedrooms must also meet minimum square footage before they count toward the total at all.

Key details: Overnight cap: 2 occupants per bedroom. Daytime cap: 3 occupants per bedroom. Min bedroom size: 70 sq ft (50 sq ft/occupant). Overriding limit: Florida Building Code max occupant load. Posting required: Occupancy posted by main entrance.

Advertising or hosting more guests than § 119.34 allows is enforced under § 119.37 and § 119.58: a property owner who advertises occupancy above the posted limit is fined an amount set by City Commission resolution, and repeat violations can lead to suspension of the vacation rental license, with a second finding in a 12-month period triggering mandatory suspension pending a written corrective action plan.

Insurance Requirements

Every Hollywood vacation rental license application must include a certificate of insurance covering liability for injury to occupants and guests, kept in force for as long as the property operates as a vacation rental. The code specifically warns that an ordinary homeowner's or renter's policy may not cover that use.

Key details: Required proof: Certificate of insurance at application. Coverage scope: Liability for injury to occupants, invitees. Duration: Must stay active while rental operates. Homeowner policy warning: May not cover short-term rental use. Platform coverage: Must name platform, notify city of changes.

An application missing the certificate of insurance, or a renewal where the coverage has lapsed, is incomplete under § 119.11(B)(16) and the city will not issue or renew the vacation rental license. Continuing to operate the rental without valid insurance on file exposes the owner to the same enforcement and fines under § 119.58 that apply to any other unlicensed operation.

Night Caps

Hollywood does not cap the total number of nights a licensed vacation rental may be rented per year. Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b) bars cities from regulating the duration or frequency of vacation rentals. Hollywood's grandfathered Chapter 119 program instead defines a vacation rental as any property rented under 30 days more than three times per year, which triggers licensing rather than a usage cap.

Key details: Local Night Cap: None. Annual Booking Cap: None for licensed rentals. State Preemption: F.S. 509.032(7)(b) bars duration/frequency limits. License Trigger: More than 3 rentals/year of <30 days. Definition Source: Hollywood Code Sec. 119.10.

Renting under 30 days more than three times in a year without a Vacation Rental License is a Chapter 119 violation enforceable through Code Compliance with daily fines, license denial, and liens under F.S. 162. Florida law (F.S. 509.032(7)(b)) prevents enforcement of any local night cap; complaints alleging violation of a non-existent night limit will not result in a citation.

The rules around night caps in Hollywood lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Hollywood is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 9 rules covered here, 4 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Hollywood, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Hollywood's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.