Jacksonville's Short-Term Rentals: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles short-term rentals a little differently. In Jacksonville, Florida, there are 9 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Noise Rules

Jacksonville STRs (Ord. Code Ch. 656, Part 13) must comply with Ch. 368 noise ordinance. Operators required to post noise rules and provide 24/7 local contact. Repeat noise violations can suspend STR registration.

Key details: Code: Ord. Code Ch. 656 Pt. 13. Quiet Hours: 10 PM-7 AM. Local Contact: 24/7 required. Three-Strike: 12-month window. State Authority: FL §509.032(7)(b).

Guest fines: $100-$500 per Ch. 368. Operator fines: $250-$1,000. 3 violations/12 months: registration suspension. State DBPR license may also be affected.

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

Host Presence Rule

Jacksonville Ord. 656.401(d) limits short-term rentals to specific zoning districts and requires a Certificate of Use, but cannot require host presence due to FL §509.032 preemption of operational rules. Operators must also obtain DBPR vacation rental license and remit Duval Tourist Development Tax.

Key details: City rule: Jax Ord. 656.401(d). State preemption: FL §509.032. Allowed zones: CCG, CRO, multi-family. Required license: DBPR + city CU. Tourist tax: 6% Duval TDT.

Operating an STR in a barred zoning district or without Certificate of Use can bring city fines up to $500 per day, code-enforcement liens, utility action, and DBPR license revocation; repeat violators face injunctions and unpaid TDT assessments.

Registration Rules

Jacksonville (consolidated city-county for Duval County) has no STR-specific registration ordinance. After a November 2022 court ruling held the city's pre-2011 zoning provisions did not qualify for grandfathering under Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b), the city cannot impose STR-specific rules. Hosts must still hold a state DBPR vacation rental license under FS 509.241 and a Duval County Local Business Tax Receipt.

Key details: City Registration: Not required (post-2022 ruling). State Preemption: FS 509.032(7)(b). DBPR License: FS 509.241 required. Tourist Tax: 6% Duval TDT. Local BTR: Duval County Tax Collector.

Operating without the state DBPR vacation rental license under FS 509.241 is a state violation enforced by DBPR's Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Failing to remit the 6% Duval Tourist Development Tax or the state sales tax is enforced by the Florida Department of Revenue and Duval County Tax Collector. Confirm current local enforcement posture with the Planning and Development Department.

Jacksonville is more permissive than most cities when it comes to registration rules. That said, there are still limits.

Night Caps

Jacksonville imposes no nightly minimum stay or annual night cap on short-term rentals. Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b) preempts cities from regulating the duration or frequency of vacation rentals unless they had a qualifying ordinance on or before June 1, 2011, and a November 2022 court ruling found Jacksonville's generic Chapter 656 provisions did not qualify for grandfathering.

Key details: Minimum Stay: None city-imposed. Annual Night Cap: None city-imposed. Preemption Statute: FS 509.032(7)(b). Court Ruling: November 2022 (no grandfathering). DBPR License: FS 509.241 required.

Because no city night-cap or minimum-stay rule applies, there is no city violation for nightly stay length. State-level violations (operating without an FS 509.241 DBPR vacation rental license, or failing to remit the Duval Tourist Development Tax or state sales tax) are enforced by DBPR's Division of Hotels and Restaurants and the Florida Department of Revenue.

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

Parking Rules

Jacksonville STRs must provide one off-street parking space per bedroom. Parking plan required with STR registration. Street parking alone insufficient. No lawn parking.

Key details: Requirement: 1 space/bedroom. Surface: Improved only. Street Parking: Does not count. State Authority: FL §509.032(7)(b). Code: Ord. Code Ch. 656 Pt. 13.

Operator violations: $250-$1,000 per occurrence. Failure to maintain parking plan: registration suspension. Guest lawn parking: $75-$150.

Permit Requirements

Jacksonville requires a Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate ($150/yr), a Local Business Tax Receipt ($79.20/yr), Florida DBPR license, and Duval TDT registration. STRs are limited primarily to Commercial and Historic Core zones.

Key details: Certificate Fee: $150/yr (renewal Oct 1). LBTR: $79.20/yr. Inspection: Fire Marshal required. Zoning: Commercial/Historic Core zones. Occupancy Max: 2/bedroom + 2, max 16.

Fines up to $500 per day for operating without proper permits; certificate may be revoked.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Jacksonville actively enforces its permit requirements requirements.

Taxes & Fees

Duval County TDT is 6% (4% tourist + 2% convention) on top of 6% FL state sales tax + 1.5% discretionary surtax. Total tax burden approximately 13.5%. TDT remitted monthly to Duval County Tax Collector.

Key details: County TDT: 6% (4%+2%). State Sales Tax: 6%. Discretionary Surtax: 1.5%. Total Burden: ~13.5%. Filing: Monthly to Duval County.

Failure to collect or remit occupancy taxes carries penalties of 10% of the unpaid amount per month, plus interest. Operating without tax registration may result in back-tax assessments plus fines.

Insurance Requirements

Jacksonville requires short-term vacation rental operators to maintain valid insurance as part of the Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate application process. Operators must also designate a Responsible Party who is at least 18 years old and available 24/7 to address issues. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation additionally requires a vacation rental license at the state level, which has its own insurance and safety inspection requirements.

Key details: Local Certificate: Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate required ($150/year). State License: DBPR vacation rental license required. Responsible Party: Must be 18+, available 24/7. Fire Inspection: Required by local fire official. Business Tax: Local Business Tax Receipt ($79.20/year).

Operating an STR without required insurance: immediate permit suspension. Providing false insurance documentation: $1,000 fine and permit revocation. Liability for uninsured incidents falls entirely on the property owner.

Occupancy Limits

Jacksonville imposes occupancy limits on short-term vacation rentals. Maximum occupancy is two persons per bedroom plus two additional occupants, with a cap of 16 total individuals per unit. Only persons over the age of 24 months are counted toward the maximum. These limits are part of the Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate requirements enforced by the Planning and Development Department.

Key details: Per Bedroom: 2 persons per bedroom + 2 additional. Maximum Total: 16 individuals per unit. Age Threshold: Only persons over 24 months counted. Certificate Required: Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate. Enforcement: Planning and Development Department.

First occupancy violation results in a $500 fine. Second violation within 12 months: $1,000 fine. Third violation: permit revocation hearing. Unauthorized events or parties carry immediate $1,500 fines.

The Bottom Line

Jacksonville's short-term rentals rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Jacksonville is broadly strict or permissive.

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