Registration Rules: Fort Lauderdale vs Hollywood
How do registration rules rules compare between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Hollywood, FL?
Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood have similar restriction levels.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Broward County
Fort Lauderdale requires every vacation rental (transient stays of 30 days or less) to register annually with the City under Code Chapter 15, Article X (Sections 15-271 through 15-278) and pass a life-safety inspection before a Certificate of Compliance is issued through LauderBuild.
View full Fort Lauderdale rules →Hollywood, FL
Broward County
Hollywood requires a Vacation Rental License under Chapter 119 of the Code of Ordinances before any property may be advertised or rented for periods under 30 days more than three times per year. Owners must apply online through the city portal, hold a state DBPR transient public lodging license under F.S. 509.241, obtain City and Broward County Business Tax Receipts, pass a residential inspection, and install a noise-monitoring device. Licenses run for one year and are non-transferable.
View full Hollywood rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Fort Lauderdale | Hollywood |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | Fort Lauderdale Code Ch. 15, Art. X (Sec. 15-271 to 15-278) | - |
| Enacting Ordinance | Ord. C-15-29 (eff. Nov. 1, 2015) | - |
| Definition Trigger | >3 transient rentals/year, <30 days each | - |
| City Registration Fee | $350 initial (incl. first 2 inspections) | - |
| Renewal Fee | $160 non-owner-occupied / $80 owner-occupied | - |
| Renewal Cycle | Annual; expires Sep. 30, renew by Aug. 1 | - |
| State License | DBPR Transient Public Lodging (FS 509.241) | - |
| Tax Accounts | FL DOR sales tax + Broward 6% TDT | - |
| Responsible Party | 24/7 contact within 25 air miles | - |
| Application Portal | LauderBuild (City permitting system) | - |
| Enforcement | Community Enhancement and Compliance Division | - |
| Local Authority | - | Hollywood Code Chapter 119 |
| License Required | - | Yes, before advertising or renting |
| Trigger Threshold | - | Rented under 30 days more than 3 times/year |
| State Preemption Status | - | Grandfathered under F.S. 509.032(7)(b) (pre-2011) |
| DBPR License | - | Required under F.S. 509.241 (owner-occupied exempt) |
| BTR Required | - | City of Hollywood + Broward County |
| Inspection | - | Residential inspection before issuance |
| Noise Device | - | Required; data retained 180 days |
| License Term | - | 1 year, non-transferable |
| Apply / Contact | - | hollywoodfl.org/946; 954.921.3225; vrl@hollywoodfl.org |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Fort Lauderdale FAQ
Do I need to register my Airbnb in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. Under Code Section 15-272, every residential property rented to transient occupants more than three times per calendar year for periods of less than 30 days must register with the City before any rental activity. Registration is annual, runs through the LauderBuild portal, and requires a $350 initial fee. You must first obtain a DBPR Transient Public Lodging license, a Florida Department of Revenue Certificate of Registration, a Broward County Local Business Tax Receipt, and a Broward County Tourist Development Tax account.
What is the 25-mile responsible party rule?
Code Article X requires every registered vacation rental to designate a Responsible Party who is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to handle complaints and emergencies. That person must reside within 25 air miles of the rental, measured from the closest property lines of the rental and the responsible party's residence. The contact must be on file with the City and posted inside the unit.
When does my Fort Lauderdale vacation rental certificate expire?
All Vacation Rental Certificates of Compliance issued by Fort Lauderdale expire on September 30 each year, regardless of when first issued. The City asks owners to file renewal applications by August 1 to allow time for inspection scheduling. Renewal fees are $160 for non-owner-occupied units and $80 for owner-occupied units. Operating after September 30 without renewal is a code violation.
Hollywood FAQ
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