Permit Requirements: Cape Coral vs Fort Myers

Do I need a permit to list my property on Airbnb in Cape Coral?

All residential rental properties with 4 or fewer units in Cape Coral must register with the city under a 2021 ordinance. One-time registration fee of $35 per property. All STRs also require a Florida DBPR vacation rental license. Owners must designate a local contact person available 24/7.

What are the short-term rental registration requirements in Cape Coral?

Registration Fee: $35 one-time per property. Units: Required for 4 or fewer unit properties. Local Contact: 24/7 contact required. State License: FL DBPR vacation rental license required.

Do I need a city permit to run an Airbnb in the City of Fort Myers?

No, there is no City of Fort Myers STR-specific permit. Florida Statute § 509.032(7)(b) preempts local governments from requiring a vacation rental license that singles out STRs unless the city adopted such an ordinance on or before June 1, 2011 - Fort Myers did not. You must hold (1) a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental Dwelling or Condo license (state, mandatory if rented more than 3 times per year for stays under 30 days, approximately $170/year), (2) a City of Fort Myers Local Business Tax Receipt under Code of Ordinances Chapter 82, and (3) a Lee County Local Business Tax Receipt. Fort Myers Beach is a separate municipality with its own STR registration program - those rules do NOT apply inside the City of Fort Myers.

Does Fort Myers Beach's STR registration apply to my City of Fort Myers property?

No. Fort Myers Beach is a separate Lee County municipality on Estero Island with its own town government, code (Chapter 34 zoning, Article VIII of Chapter 10 business code, Resolution 18-01), and STR registration program (Rentalscape platform, fire pre-inspection, $300/unit fee). Those rules apply only to properties physically located within Fort Myers Beach town limits. Properties inside the City of Fort Myers proper (mainland Fort Myers, downtown, McGregor, Edison Park, etc.) are governed by the City of Fort Myers ordinances and FS § 509.032(7)(b) preemption, not by Fort Myers Beach rules.

What did SB 280 of 2024 change about Fort Myers STR rules?

Nothing - SB 280 was vetoed by Governor DeSantis in June 2024. The bill would have moved STR registration to a state-administered framework under DBPR and modestly relaxed the 2011 grandfather clause for local zoning enforcement. Because the bill was vetoed, the existing FS § 509.032(7)(b) preemption framework with the June 1, 2011 grandfather cutoff remains in effect for 2025-2026. The City of Fort Myers therefore cannot impose a new STR-specific permit or registration in 2026 unless the legislature changes the preemption law.