Short-Term Rentals in Spring Hill, FL: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Spring Hill or are thinking about moving there, short-term rentals are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Spring Hill has 10 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of short-term rentals, and some of them might surprise you.

Occupancy Limits

Spring Hill STR occupancy is currently governed by the Florida Building Code bedroom standards, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Vacation Rental Dwelling/Condo license maximum-occupancy declaration, and the 2023 FS § 509.032 framework that authorizes local maximum occupancy at no more than two persons per bedroom plus two in a common area (or higher with square-footage justification). Hernando County does NOT currently impose its own numerical occupancy cap, though the pending Certificate of Use ordinance referenced by the Hernando Sun (Feb 15, 2026) is expected to add capacity provisions when it returns to the Board of County Commissioners in April 2026. Operators must declare maximum occupancy on the DBPR vacation rental license application and on the Hernando County Vacation Rental Permit. Misrepresentation is grounds for license and permit action.

Key details: Current County Occupancy Cap: None numerical (pending 2026 Certificate of Use ordinance). DBPR License Requirement: Declared max occupancy on application; posted inside unit. Operative Ceiling: Florida Fire Code R-3 occupant-load + DBPR declaration. FS 509.032 Statutory Authority: Up to 2 per bedroom + 2 in common area (or higher w/ sq ft). Expected Future Cap: Likely 'two per bedroom plus two' with hard total cap.

Misrepresenting bedroom count or maximum occupancy on the Florida DBPR Vacation Rental Dwelling/Condo license application is enforceable by DBPR under FS § 509.241 with license suspension, revocation, or denial of renewal. Misrepresenting the same information on the Hernando County Vacation Rental Permit application is enforceable by Hernando County Code Enforcement with permit revocation. Operating an STR with documented occupancy exceeding the DBPR-declared maximum is a violation enforceable by both DBPR (license action) and Hernando County (permit action, plus FS § 162.09 fines up to $250/day first violation and $500/day repeat under the standard county enforcement framework). Using a non-egress room or unpermitted basement, garage, or attic conversion as a 'sleeping room' to inflate occupancy is a separate Florida Building Code violation enforceable by the Hernando County Building Department with stop-work orders, fines, and corrective-action orders requiring permit applications or physical reversal of the conversion. Florida Fire Prevention Code R-3 occupant-load violations are enforceable by the Hernando County fire authority. HOA and deed-restriction occupancy limits in the specific Spring Hill subdivision are enforceable by the association under the governing documents independently of state and county action. When the pending Certificate of Use ordinance is adopted with explicit county occupancy caps, expect a graduated enforcement framework with permit non-renewal/revocation for pattern over-occupancy violations. Pattern over-occupancy may also support a public nuisance abatement action under FS § 60.05.

Permit Requirements

Spring Hill is an unincorporated Census Designated Place (CDP) in Hernando County, Florida - it has no city government and no city ordinances of its own. All short-term rental rules applicable to Spring Hill come from Hernando County, primarily administered by the Hernando County Planning Department at (352) 754-4050. Hernando County is NOT grandfathered under FS § 509.032(7)(b) (the pre-June 1, 2011 carve-out), so the county cannot prohibit STRs in any zoning district, cap nights per year, or impose primary-residence-only rules. The county currently requires STR operators to (1) register with the Hernando County Planning Department, (2) hold a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental Dwelling/Condo license under FS § 509.241, (3) hold a Florida DOR sales tax registration, and (4) hold a Hernando County Tourist Development Tax account. A second-draft Hernando County STR ordinance adding a Certificate of Use requirement was scheduled for Board of County Commissioners review in April 2026; operators should monitor the county website for the final adopted text and effective date.

Key details: Jurisdiction Type: Unincorporated CDP - Hernando County rules govern. Governing Authority: Hernando County Planning Department. County Phone: (352) 754-4050. Pre-2011 Grandfather: Hernando NOT grandfathered under FS 509.032(7)(b). Registration Required: Yes - county Planning Department.

Operating a Spring Hill short-term rental without the Hernando County Planning Department registration and Vacation Rental Permit is enforceable by Hernando County Code Enforcement. The county uses the standard Florida graduated framework: warning with a defined correction period for first violations, followed by citations with fines up to $250 per day for first paid violations and $500 per day for repeats under FS § 162.09, plus property liens for unpaid fines. Operating without the Florida DBPR Vacation Rental Dwelling or Condo license is a separate state violation under FS § 509.241 with DBPR fines, license-application denial, and orders to cease operation. Failing to remit the 6% Florida state sales tax, 0.5% Hernando County discretionary surtax, or 5% Hernando County Tourist Development Tax is enforceable by the Florida DOR (state sales and surtax) and the Hernando County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller (TDT) with back-tax assessment, interest, late penalties, and audit cross-referencing with platform booking data. Because Hernando is NOT grandfathered under the pre-2011 carve-out, county enforcement actions must be grounded in failure to register, failure to maintain the required Florida DBPR license, failure to remit taxes, generally-applicable building/fire/zoning violations, or specific operational standards the 2023 amendments authorize (occupancy cap, responsible-party response). The county CANNOT revoke or refuse a permit for STR-specific reasons that would exceed the FS § 509.032 framework (e.g., 'too many bookings per year' or 'not the operator's primary residence'). HOA and deed-restriction enforcement remain available to private parties separately from county enforcement.

Noise Rules

Because Spring Hill is unincorporated, noise complaints at short-term rentals are handled under the Hernando County noise ordinance and Florida disorderly-conduct law - there is no Spring Hill city noise code and no Hernando County STR-specific quiet-hour rule. The Hernando County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) is the primary enforcement agency for active disturbances, with Hernando County Code Enforcement handling pattern-of-complaint cases. Hernando uses the standard Florida two-prong residential noise framework: (1) plain-audibility test during nighttime hours - sound audible inside a neighbor's residence with closed doors and windows is prohibited, and (2) generally-applicable disorderly-conduct enforcement under FS § 877.03. Pending county STR ordinance work in 2026 may add STR-specific noise provisions; operators should monitor for the final text. The Responsible Party named on the county Vacation Rental Permit is expected to respond to neighbor complaints.

Key details: Governing Noise Authority: Hernando County (no Spring Hill city noise code). STR-Specific Quiet Hours: None currently (pending 2026 ordinance review). Standard Framework: Plain-audibility test + FS 877.03 breach-of-peace. Active Disturbance Enforcement: Hernando County Sheriff's Office (352) 754-6830. Pattern Enforcement: Hernando County Code Enforcement.

Active noise disturbances at a Spring Hill STR are enforceable by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office under (1) the Hernando County plain-audibility noise standard - sound plainly audible inside a neighbor's residence with closed doors and windows during nighttime hours is prohibited - and (2) FS § 877.03 breach-of-the-peace, which allows arrest for active disturbances of loud and unusual noise. Both are citable on the deputy's observation; the plain-audibility standard does not require decibel measurement. Pattern complaints at a specific STR address are referred to Hernando County Code Enforcement, which pursues graduated administrative enforcement under FS § 162.09 with warning + correction period for first violations, then citations up to $250 per day for first paid violations and $500 per day for repeats, plus property liens for unpaid fines. Repeated documented noise violations at a registered STR are grounds for non-renewal or revocation of the Hernando County Vacation Rental Permit; the Responsible Party's failure to respond to complaints in a reasonable time is independently grounds for permit enforcement. Pattern violations may also support a public nuisance abatement action under FS § 60.05. Special outdoor events with amplified sound require a separate Hernando County special-events permit on the same terms as for any other residential property. Florida noise law does NOT preempt HOA and deed-restriction enforcement, which proceeds separately through the association governing documents and can include fines, restrictions on amenity use, and (in some communities) authority to enjoin STR operation.

Host Presence Rule

There is no requirement that the owner or a host be physically present during a short-term rental in Spring Hill. Hernando County cannot impose a host-presence requirement on STRs because it is not grandfathered under FS § 509.032(7)(b) and a host-presence requirement would functionally regulate the operational structure of vacation rentals in ways the 2023 amendments to FS § 509.032 do not authorize. Unhosted whole-home rentals - the standard Airbnb/VRBO model - are legal in Spring Hill. The Hernando County Vacation Rental Permit DOES require designation of a 24-hour Responsible Party who must be available to respond to complaints, but this is a phone/availability standard, not a physical-presence requirement. The Responsible Party need not be the owner and need not be on the property during the rental.

Key details: Host-Presence Requirement: None (preempted). Unhosted Whole-Home STRs: Legal in Spring Hill. Statutory Basis: FS 509.032(7)(b) preempts; 2023 amendments don't authorize host presence. Hernando County Grandfathered?: NO. Responsible Party Required?: Yes - 24-hour phone contact, NOT physical presence.

Because no host-presence requirement applies to Spring Hill STRs, there are no county or state penalties for operating without an on-site host. The Responsible Party requirement is the only related obligation, and it is enforced through the Vacation Rental Permit: failure to designate a Responsible Party on the permit application is grounds for application denial; failure of the designated Responsible Party to respond to complaints in a reasonable time is grounds for Code Enforcement action against the permit including warnings, fines under FS § 162.09 (up to $250/day first violation, $500/day repeat), and potential non-renewal or revocation. Failure to update Responsible Party contact information when the designated individual changes is also a Vacation Rental Permit violation. If the Florida Legislature or a future Governor adopts an STR preemption-rewriting bill (a successor to the vetoed 2024 SB 280) that restores host-presence authority to local governments, the framework could change - but as of mid-2026, Hernando County cannot impose a host-presence rule on Spring Hill STRs. HOA and deed-restriction rules that effectively require owner presence (such as restrictions on rentals by non-resident owners, or minimum-stay rules that effectively preclude commercial STR operation) are NOT preempted and remain enforceable by the homeowner's association or by other property owners with standing under recorded deed restrictions through civil suit, with remedies including fines, restrictions on amenity use, and injunctions against STR operation.

Spring Hill is more permissive than most cities when it comes to host presence rule. That said, there are still limits.

Taxes & Fees

Short-term rentals in Spring Hill (unincorporated Hernando County) collect a combined 11.5% in state and county taxes on stays of 6 months or less: 6.0% Florida state transient rental sales tax (FS § 212.03), 0.5% Hernando County discretionary sales surtax (effective Jan 1, 2016, scheduled to expire Dec 31, 2035), and 5.0% Hernando County Tourist Development Tax (Hernando County Ordinance 2014-17, administered by the Hernando County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller). There is no Spring Hill municipal lodging tax because Spring Hill has no city government. The TDT taxable base includes the room rate plus all non-refundable charges (cleaning fees, pet fees, additional guest fees). Returns are filed monthly with the Hernando Clerk - due the 1st of the following month, delinquent after the 20th. Operators on time get a 2.5% collection allowance up to $30 per filing. Airbnb/VRBO platform collection of the Hernando TDT is NOT automatic in all cases - operators must verify and back-fill any gap.

Key details: Florida State Sales Tax: 6.0% (FS 212.03). Hernando County Discretionary Surtax: 0.5% (first $5,000 of sale; eff. Jan 1, 2016; expires Dec 31, 2035). Hernando County Tourist Development Tax: 5.0% (Hernando Co Ord 2014-17). Combined Effective Tax Rate: 11.5%. Spring Hill Municipal Lodging Tax: None (no city government).

Failure to register with the Florida Department of Revenue for the 6.0% state sales tax and 0.5% Hernando discretionary surtax is a violation enforceable by DOR under FS § 212.18 with interest, late penalties, and audit assessment. Failure to register with the Hernando County Clerk for the 5.0% Tourist Development Tax is enforceable by the county Clerk under Hernando County Ordinance 2014-17 with similar back-tax, interest, and penalty exposure. Late TDT returns (filed after the 20th of the month following the reporting period) trigger automatic penalties, interest, and forfeit the 2.5% collection allowance. Misreporting cleaning or management fees as 'non-taxable' is a common audit finding - if the fee is required to rent the accommodation, it is part of the taxable base under both FS § 212.03 and Hernando Ordinance 2014-17. Failing to file a monthly TDT return even when no tax is due is itself a violation - the county requires zero-return filings during slow months. Operating an STR without the underlying Hernando County Planning Department Vacation Rental Permit subjects the operator to both the permit-violation framework AND continued tax obligations on every booking. Because Airbnb/VRBO does not automatically remit the Hernando TDT in all cases, the audit risk is concentrated on operators who assumed platform collection and never registered with the Hernando Clerk - this is the single most common compliance failure mode for STRs in unincorporated Hernando County. Repeated non-compliance with the tax stack can support criminal tax evasion charges under FS § 212.18(3) in extreme cases. Failure to pay required Hernando County Vacation Rental Permit fees is grounds for non-issuance or non-renewal of the permit.

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

Registration Rules

Spring Hill STR operators must complete four separate registrations to operate legally: (1) Hernando County Planning Department - Vacation Rental Permit application with site/floor plan, owner documentation, Responsible Party 24-hour contact, insurance documentation, and tax registration proof; (2) Florida DBPR - Vacation Rental Dwelling or Condo license under FS § 509.241/509.242 if the property is rented more than 3 times per year for periods less than 30 days each; (3) Florida Department of Revenue - sales tax account for the 6.0% state sales tax and 0.5% Hernando discretionary surtax; and (4) Hernando County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller - Tourist Development Tax account for the 5.0% Hernando TDT. The county-issued Vacation Rental Permit must be prominently displayed inside the rental and operators must keep all required documents on file for county inspection.

Key details: Registration Tracks: 4 separate (County Permit + DBPR + DOR + Clerk TDT). Hernando County Planning Department: (352) 754-4050. Florida DBPR License: Vacation Rental Dwelling/Condo under FS 509.241/509.242. DBPR Trigger: >3 rentals/year for periods <30 days, OR advertised as rental. Florida DOR Registration: Form DR-1; covers 6% state sales tax + 0.5% Hernando surtax.

Operating a Spring Hill STR without the Hernando County Planning Department Vacation Rental Permit is a violation enforceable by Hernando County Code Enforcement with the graduated framework: warning + correction period for first violations, then citations up to $250/day first violation and $500/day repeat under FS § 162.09, plus property liens for unpaid fines. Operating without the Florida DBPR Vacation Rental Dwelling or Condo license is a separate state violation under FS § 509.241 enforceable by DBPR with license-application denial, fines, and orders to cease operation - DBPR maintains a public list of unlicensed lodging establishments and uses Airbnb/VRBO booking data and complaint-driven inspections to identify unlicensed operators. Failing to register with the Florida DOR for the 6.0% state sales tax and 0.5% Hernando surtax is enforceable by DOR under FS § 212.18 with interest, late penalties, and audit assessment - cross-referenced with platform booking data. Failing to register with the Hernando County Clerk for the 5.0% TDT is enforceable by the Clerk under Hernando Ordinance 2014-17 with back-tax assessment, interest, and late penalties. Failure to post the Vacation Rental Permit inside the unit is a violation of the display requirement enforceable by Code Enforcement. Failure to maintain Responsible Party 24-hour contact information that actually responds to complaints is independently enforceable - the Responsible Party requirement is one of the operational standards expressly authorized by the 2023 amendments to FS § 509.032 and is a key compliance condition for the Vacation Rental Permit. Misrepresenting information on any of the four registration applications is grounds for permit revocation, license suspension, and (in extreme cases) criminal fraud charges. HOA and deed-restriction enforcement remains available to private parties separately from county and state action.

Parking Rules

Hernando County does NOT currently impose STR-specific parking rules on Spring Hill vacation rentals. The pending Certificate of Use ordinance scheduled for Board of County Commissioners review in April 2026 was expected to add capacity and parking provisions per the Hernando Sun. Today, STR parking at Spring Hill addresses is governed by (1) the Hernando County Land Development Code residential parking standards (typically 2 spaces per single-family dwelling), (2) the citywide prohibition on parking in front yards outside driveways or on right-of-way swale areas, (3) generally-applicable Florida traffic law (FS § 316.1945) for on-street violations, and (4) any HOA/deed-restriction parking rules in the specific Spring Hill subdivision. The Hernando County Sheriff handles in-progress on-street violations; Code Enforcement handles pattern complaints. Operators should disclose driveway capacity in listings and the Sample Lease/house manual.

Key details: STR-Specific Parking Rule: None currently (pending 2026 Certificate of Use ordinance). Residential Parking Standard: Hernando County LDC - typically 2 spaces per single-family dwelling. Front-Yard Parking: Prohibited outside driveway (general zoning). Swale Area Parking: Overnight restrictions per Hernando ROW rules. On-Street Authority: FS 316.1945 - Hernando County Sheriff enforcement.

On-street parking violations (blocking driveways, fire hydrants, sidewalks, intersections; parking against the direction of traffic) at Spring Hill STRs are citable by the Hernando County Sheriff under FS § 316.1945 with parking citations and tow/impound authority. Front-yard parking outside the driveway and overnight swale parking are violations of Hernando County right-of-way and zoning provisions enforceable by Hernando County Code Enforcement under the graduated framework: warning + correction period for first violations, then citations up to $250/day first violation and $500/day repeat under FS § 162.09, plus property liens for unpaid fines. Pattern complaints about parking at a specific STR address can be referred to Code Enforcement and attached to the property's Vacation Rental Permit record for potential non-renewal or revocation - the Responsible Party named on the permit is expected to manage guest parking compliance, and failure to respond is independently enforceable. Recreational vehicle, boat, and trailer parking violations are enforceable under the citywide RV/trailer parking rules and (where applicable) under the specific subdivision's deed restrictions or HOA documents through the association's separate enforcement authority. When the pending Certificate of Use ordinance is adopted, expect STR-specific parking violations (lawn parking, street parking, swale parking, overflow guest vehicles) to be added to the Code Enforcement framework with the same FS § 162.09 fine structure. Pattern parking violations may also support a public nuisance abatement action under FS § 60.05.

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

There is no requirement that a Spring Hill short-term rental be the operator's primary residence. Hernando County cannot impose a primary-residence-only rule on STRs because the FS § 509.032(7)(b) preemption applies in full force to Hernando (not grandfathered) and the 2023 amendments to FS § 509.032 do not authorize primary-residence requirements. Investor-owned whole-home rentals - where the owner does not live at the property - are legal in Spring Hill on the same terms as owner-occupied rentals. The Hernando County Vacation Rental Permit can be issued to any owner regardless of where they live, including out-of-state and corporate owners, provided the four registrations (county permit, DBPR license, DOR sales tax, Hernando Clerk TDT) are completed. HOA and deed-restriction rules in specific subdivisions may impose private primary-residence requirements that are NOT preempted.

Key details: Primary-Residence Requirement: None (preempted). Investor-Owned STRs: Legal in Spring Hill. Out-of-State Owners: Permitted (Responsible Party requirement still applies). Corporate/LLC Owners: Permitted. Statutory Basis: FS 509.032(7)(b) preempts; 2023 amendments don't authorize primary-residence rule.

Because no primary-residence requirement applies to Spring Hill STRs, there are no county or state penalties for operating as an out-of-area, second-home, investor, or corporate owner. The four-track registration framework applies on the same terms regardless of owner residency: failure to register with the Hernando County Planning Department, Florida DBPR, Florida DOR, or Hernando County Clerk subjects the operator to the same enforcement consequences as a resident owner would face. Mortgage covenants are a particular risk for non-primary-residence STR operators: residential mortgages issued under owner-occupancy or limited-rental covenants can be in default if the property is operated as an investment STR, even though the county and state permit such operation. Conventional mortgages issued for second homes typically allow some short-term rental but with limits; investment-property mortgages explicitly permit rental operation but at higher interest rates and tighter underwriting. Operating an STR in breach of a mortgage covenant can trigger the acceleration clause - a real risk for Spring Hill investors who purchased the property under an owner-occupancy mortgage and then converted to STR use. Federal tax treatment also differs: vacation-home rental rules under IRC § 280A apply differently to properties used personally vs. operated as pure rental businesses, with implications for deductibility of expenses and loss carry-forwards. HOA and deed-restriction enforcement of primary-residence requirements remains available to private parties separately from county action: associations and individual property owners with standing under recorded deed restrictions can sue to enjoin STR operation, impose fines, and restrict amenity use. If the Florida Legislature or future Governor adopts an STR preemption-rewriting bill (a successor to the vetoed 2024 SB 280) that restores primary-residence authority to local governments, the framework could change - operators should monitor Florida Senate and Hernando County BoCC actions in 2026-2027 for any such changes.

Spring Hill is more permissive than most cities when it comes to primary-residence-only rule. That said, there are still limits.

Insurance Requirements

Hernando County's current Vacation Rental Permit application reportedly requires submission of 'documentation showing the STR property is covered by liability insurance' (per Lodge Compliance), but neither Hernando County ordinance nor Florida state law sets a specific minimum liability coverage amount for short-term rentals in Spring Hill. The 2023 amendments to FS § 509.032 do not authorize counties to mandate STR-specific insurance minimums - a county-imposed insurance floor would arguably exceed the local-regulation authority granted by the amendments. Insurance for a Spring Hill STR is therefore driven by (1) mortgage lender requirements, (2) HOA/deed-restriction requirements in the specific subdivision, (3) commercial-prudence standards ($300K-$1M liability is industry norm), and (4) platform-provided host protection (Airbnb AirCover up to $1M, VRBO liability up to $1M). Standard homeowner's policies typically EXCLUDE business activity and do not cover STR claims.

Key details: County-Required Minimum Liability: None specific; insurance documentation may be required on permit application. State-Required Minimum Liability: None (DBPR licensing does not mandate amount). Industry Norm: $300K-$1M liability via commercial STR policy or endorsement. Homeowner's Policy: Typically excludes business activity - claim likely denied. Mortgage Lender Practice: Often requires commercial liability or STR endorsement.

There is no formal county-level penalty for operating an uninsured STR in Spring Hill - Hernando County does not set a specific minimum liability coverage amount in its Vacation Rental Permit framework, and Florida state law does not require a state minimum. However, several adjacent violations remain enforceable. Failure to submit insurance documentation as part of the Vacation Rental Permit application is grounds for the Planning Department to refuse permit issuance - even though the county does not mandate a specific amount, the application checklist typically requires SOME proof of insurance, and a complete-application requirement applies. Mortgage lender default (operating an STR in breach of an owner-occupancy or no-business-use covenant) can trigger the mortgage's acceleration clause - a real risk for Spring Hill properties financed with conventional residential mortgages. HOA and deed-restriction violations (failing to carry required liability coverage or failing to name the association as additional insured) are enforceable by the association under the governing documents with fines and (in some communities) authority to enjoin STR operation. Operating without disclosure to the homeowner's insurance carrier and then filing a claim can be denied for material misrepresentation - operators typically discover the homeowner's policy's business-activity exclusion only after a claim is denied. In a hurricane or named-storm event (Hernando County faces significant Atlantic hurricane risk traveling across Florida), inadequate windstorm or flood coverage can leave the operator personally exposed to total loss plus guest-injury claims. Civil liability for guest injuries or property damage is personal to the operator if uninsured; FS § 768 (premises liability) and federal product/host liability standards apply on the same terms as any property owner.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Spring Hill gives residents more flexibility on insurance requirements.

Night Caps

There is no cap on the number of nights per year that a Spring Hill short-term rental may be rented. FS § 509.032(7)(b) expressly preempts Florida counties that did not adopt an STR ordinance on or before June 1, 2011 from 'prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating the duration or frequency of rental of vacation rentals.' Hernando County is NOT on the grandfathered list - it has no pre-June 1, 2011 STR ordinance that would carry through to current law. The 2023 amendments to FS § 509.032 do NOT restore frequency or duration authority to non-grandfathered counties; they only added registration, responsible-party, and occupancy-cap authority. SB 280 of 2024 (which would have rewritten the framework) was vetoed by Governor DeSantis in June 2024. As long as the current FS § 509.032 framework remains in effect, Hernando County cannot impose a nights-per-year cap on Spring Hill STRs even via the pending Certificate of Use ordinance.

Key details: Night Cap on Spring Hill STRs: None (FS 509.032(7)(b) preempts). Preemption Statute: FS 509.032(7)(b). Grandfather Date: June 1, 2011. Hernando County Grandfathered?: NO - no pre-2011 STR ordinance. 2023 Amendments Effect: Added registration/occupancy authority; did NOT restore night-cap authority.

Because no night cap applies to Spring Hill STRs, there are no county or state penalties for the number of nights rented per year. The only adjacent enforcement risks involve (a) tax obligations on every booking regardless of frequency - the 6.0% state sales tax, 0.5% Hernando discretionary surtax, and 5.0% Hernando County TDT under Ordinance 2014-17 apply to every rental of six months or less, (b) Vacation Rental Permit and Florida DBPR license obligations that apply to all STR operations regardless of frequency, and (c) HOA and deed-restriction limits in specific Spring Hill subdivisions, which are enforceable by the homeowner's association or by other property owners with standing under deed restrictions independently of county action. HOA enforcement can include fines, restrictions on amenity use, and (in some communities) authority to enjoin STR operation entirely. Pattern complaints about an STR's noise, parking, or occupancy can support permit non-renewal under the FS § 509.032 framework even though the underlying number-of-nights cannot be capped. If the Florida Legislature or future Governor adopts an STR preemption-rewriting bill (a successor to SB 280) and Hernando County subsequently adopts a county night cap, the framework could change - operators should monitor Florida Senate and Hernando County BoCC actions in 2026-2027 for any such changes.

Spring Hill is more permissive than most cities when it comes to night caps. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Spring Hill gives residents more room on short-term rentals. 4 of the 10 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

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