4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Alachua County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Florida Statute 509.032(7) preempts most local short-term rental regulation, prohibiting cities and counties from banning STRs or regulating duration/frequency of rentals (except under pre-2011 grandfathered ordinances). Alachua County does not require a separate STR operating permit but requires registration with the Alachua County Tax Collector for the 5% Tourist Development Tax on rentals of six months or less. Operators must also hold a Florida DBPR vacation rental license under Ch. 509, F.S., and collect 6% state sales tax plus 1% local option tax.
Short-term rentals (six months or less) in unincorporated Alachua County owe a 5% Tourist Development Tax (TDT) to the County Tax Collector, plus 6% Florida state sales tax and 1.5% Alachua County local discretionary sales surtax for a combined 12.5% lodging tax. Operators must register through TouristExpress and file monthly returns by the 20th. Florida DBPR vacation rental licensing under F.S. Ch. 509 also applies.
Alachua County does not impose a separate short-term rental parking standard in unincorporated areas; F.S. 509.032(7)(b) preempts any STR-specific local parking rule enacted on or after June 1, 2011. Off-street parking defaults to the underlying residential zoning standard in ULDC Chapter 407 (typically 2 spaces per single-family dwelling). On-street parking is governed by F.S. Ch. 316 and county Title 11 traffic provisions; blocking sidewalks, fire hydrants, or driveways triggers towing and citations.
Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b) preempts Alachua County from adopting any STR-specific occupancy cap enacted on or after June 1, 2011. Unincorporated Alachua County has no separate vacation-rental occupancy ordinance. Maximum occupancy defaults to the Florida Building Code, the Florida Fire Prevention Code, and the DBPR vacation rental license (which lists rooms and maximum occupants). Generally applicable property maintenance and overcrowding rules still apply.
1 cities in Alachua County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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