Rental Property Rules in Cape Coral, FL (2026)
3 verified rental property rules for Cape Coral, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
Cape Coral has no rent control ordinance. Florida preempts all local rent control under Fla. Stat. Sec. 125.0103, and the 2023 Live Local Act (SB 102) eliminated the housing-emergency exception. HB 1417 (Fla. Stat. Sec. 166.0444) further preempted local tenant-protection ordinances. Cape Coral cannot adopt rent stabilization, rent caps, or any local limit on rent increases. The city's rental property registration program is administrative only and does not regulate rent.
Cape Coral Rent Control
Few RestrictionsFla. Stat. § 166.043 (Municipal Rent Control — Findings Required; State Preemption)
166.043 Ordinances and rules imposing price controls; findings required; procedures. — (1)(a) Except as hereinafter provided, no county, municipality, or other entity of local government shall adopt or maintain in effect an ordinance or a rule which has the effect of imposing price controls upon a lawful business activity which is not franchised by, owned by, or under contract with, the governm...
Rental Registration
Cape Coral requires every owner of long-term or short-term residential rental property to register with the City Clerk and pay an annual fee, updating contact information within 30 days of any change. Skipping registration or misrepresenting a short-term rental as long-term draws civil penalties up to $2,000 under § 12-129.
Cape Coral Residential Rental Property Registration
Some RestrictionsCape Coral Code of Ordinances § 12-129
(c)Registration of residential rental property required.(1)The owner of any residential rental property located in the City of Cape Coral shall be required to register each said property with the City Clerk's Department ("Department"), on forms provided by the city or through the online registration portal on the city's website... (4)At the time of registering a residential rental property with...
Repairs & Habitability
Cape Coral adopts the International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 Edition, with local revisions, to set minimum upkeep standards that apply to rental housing citywide. The Code Compliance Division enforces it, with violations prosecutable before the Code Compliance Special Magistrate.
Cape Coral Rental Property Maintenance Standards
Some RestrictionsCape Coral Code of Ordinances § 12.4
The International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 Edition, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's office, as published by the International Code Council, Inc., is adopted by reference as if totally copied herein, with revisions to sections as follows: ... E.Section 109.3. Insert at end of such section: The City of Cape Coral Code Compliance Division may, in addition or alternatively, to...
Looking for Lee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Cape Coral city rules.
Rental Property Rules in Lee County →