Primary-Residence-Only Rule
Orlando City Code Chapter 65 limits short-term rentals (under 30 days) in residential zones to the host's primary residence, the strictest STR posture allowed under Florida's partial preemption statute.
13 verified short-term rentals rules for Orlando, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Orlando bans short-term rentals in most residential zones, with limited grandfathered areas, and requires state DBPR licensing plus city registration where allowed, all subject to Florida Statute 509.032 preemption.
Fla. Stat. § 509.032(7)(a)-(b)
A local law, ordinance, or regulation may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate the duration or frequency of rental of vacation rentals. This paragraph does not apply to any local law, ordinance, or regulation adopted on or before June 1, 2011. The regulation of public lodging establishments and public food service establishments... is preempted to the state. This paragraph does not preempt...
Short-term rentals in Orlando must comply with Chapter 43 noise standards just like any residence, and operators in tourist zones face additional good-neighbor conditions tied to their registration.
Fla. Stat. § 509.032(7)(a)
The regulation of public lodging establishments and public food service establishments, including, but not limited to, sanitation standards, inspections, training and testing of personnel, and matters related to the nutritional content and marketing of foods offered in such establishments, is preempted to the state. This paragraph does not preempt the authority of a local government or local en...
Short-term rentals in Orlando must collect a combined tax of about 12.5 percent including 6 percent state sales tax, 0.5 percent Orange County surtax, and 6 percent Orange County tourist development tax.
Short-term rentals in Orlando must provide off-street parking for all guests under generally applicable zoning rules, with on-street and lawn parking prohibited in residential areas.
Fla. Stat. § 509.032(7)(a)-(b)
A local law, ordinance, or regulation may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate the duration or frequency of rental of vacation rentals. This paragraph does not apply to any local law, ordinance, or regulation adopted on or before June 1, 2011. The regulation of public lodging establishments and public food service establishments, including, but not limited to, sanitation standards, inspect...
Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b) caps how aggressively cities can limit STR occupancy, but Orlando applies fire code and bedroom-based standards, generally allowing two persons per bedroom plus two additional guests.
Fla. Stat. § 509.032(7)(b)-(c)
A local law, ordinance, or regulation may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate the duration or frequency of rental of vacation rentals. This paragraph does not apply to any local law, ordinance, or regulation adopted on or before June 1, 2011. Paragraph (b) does not apply to any local law, ordinance, or regulation exclusively relating to property valuation as a criterion for vacation renta...
Orlando does not impose a citywide minimum liability insurance amount on short-term rental operators, but City Code Chapter 65 requires registration and operators must comply with state Florida SB 280 framework when applicable. Most platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo) provide host protection coverage, though it is supplemental, not a substitute for owner policies. Standard homeowners insurance typically excludes commercial rental activity, so a dedicated short-term rental or commercial dwelling policy is strongly recommended.
Orlando does not impose an annual night cap on short-term rentals citywide, but Chapter 65 distinguishes between owner-occupied (home share) rentals and non-owner-occupied rentals, with the latter restricted to specific zoning districts. Florida law preempts cities from outright banning vacation rentals or regulating duration and frequency in many cases. Minimum stays of less than 30 days define a unit as a short-term rental subject to registration.
Orlando City Code Chapter 65 requires every short-term rental operator to register the unit with the city, obtain a Business Tax Receipt, designate a responsible party reachable 24/7, and post the registration number in all advertising. Registration must be renewed annually. Operators must also hold a Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) vacation rental license and collect applicable taxes through Orange County and the Florida Department of Revenue.
Orlando's short-term rental ordinance requires the registered host to be physically present overnight when guests stay in residential-zone home-share rentals, distinguishing legal home-shares from illegal whole-home Airbnbs.
Orlando City Code Chapter 65 limits short-term rentals (under 30 days) in residential zones to the host's primary residence, the strictest STR posture allowed under Florida's partial preemption statute.
Orlando suspends or revokes short-term rental registrations after repeat code violations, with a strikes-style framework that escalates penalties for noise, occupancy, and unregistered-listing offenses.
Airbnb, Vrbo, and other booking platforms must collect Orange County tourist development tax and Florida sales tax on Orlando short-term rentals, and share booking data with the city for code enforcement.
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Orlando city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Orange County →