Short-Term Rentals in Monroe County, FL (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Monroe County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Renting a Florida Keys dwelling unit for under 28 days requires an annual special vacation rental permit under Land Development Code Section 134-1(a), issued by the Planning Director for a fee set by the Board of County Commissioners. The permit is nontransferable, requires 300-foot neighbor notice, and can be appealed to the Planning Commission within 30 days.
Monroe County Keys Vacation Rental Permit
Significant RestrictionsMonroe County Land Development Code § 134-1(a)
(a)Special vacation rental permit. An owner or agent is required to obtain an annual special vacation rental permit for each dwelling unit prior to renting any dwelling unit as a vacation rental, as defined in section 101-1, except as provided for under subsection (b) of this section. A special vacation rental permit is nontransferable between owners. A change of ownership of the vacation renta...
Noise Rules
In unincorporated Monroe County, every permitted vacation rental must silence noise audible off the property by 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. weekends, staying quiet until 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Section 134-1 of the Land Development Code backs the curfew with manager response duties and permit revocation.
Monroe County STR Noise Curfew Hours
Some RestrictionsMonroe County Land Development Code § 134-1(e)(4), (e)(11)
(4)Occupants shall be prohibited from making excessive or boisterous noise in or about any residential dwelling unit at all times. Noise, that is audible beyond the boundaries of the residential dwelling unit, shall be prohibited between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. weekdays and 11:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends. ... (11)Complaints to the vacation rental manager concerning violation...
Taxes & Fees
Short-term and vacation rentals in the unincorporated Florida Keys (Monroe County) pay a 1 percent tourist impact tax on top of the county's 4 percent tourist development tax, because the entire county is a state-designated area of critical state concern. Monroe County Code § 23-178 levies the tax on every rental of six months or less and splits the money between land buying and the general fund.
Monroe County 1% Tourist Impact Tax
Some RestrictionsMonroe County Code § 23-178
(a)Pursuant to the provisions of F.S. § 125.0108, there is hereby levied and imposed a tourist impact tax within the area of the county designated areas of critical state concern by F.S. §§ 380.055 and 380.0552, F.A.C. ch. 28-36, and F.A.C. ch. 28-25, upon the privileges and in the amount described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.(b)Every person who rents, leases, or lets for conside...
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Vacation rentals in the unincorporated Keys must keep every vehicle, boat trailer and personal watercraft off the street and out of the yard. Land Development Code Section 134-1(e) caps each unit at one motorized watercraft and sets a fixed parking-space ratio tied to bedroom count.
Monroe County STR Vehicle & Boat Parking
Some RestrictionsMonroe County Land Development Code § 134-1(e)(1)-(2)
(1)No more than one motorized watercraft, including a jet ski or wave runner, shall be allowed at each vacation rental unit. The watercraft may be moored at either an existing on-site docking facility or stored on a trailer in an approved parking space.(2)Vehicles, watercraft and trailers shall not be placed on the street or in yards. All vehicles, watercraft and boat trailers must be parked or...
Host Presence Rule
Every vacation rental in unincorporated Monroe County needs a licensed manager who lives in the same section of the Keys and answers complaints 24/7, under Land Development Code Section 134-1(e)(10). Complaints must get a response within one hour, and units in 24-hour staffed multifamily buildings can get a planning director exemption instead under Section 134-1(b)(2).
Monroe County Keys Vacation Rental Manager Rule
Significant RestrictionsMonroe County Land Development Code § 134-1(b)(2), (e)(10)-(11)
(2)A vacation rental of a dwelling unit within a multifamily building located within a multifamily district, which has 24 hour on-site management or 24 hour on-site supervision that has received an exemption from the planning director. To meet these site management or supervision requirements, a designated individual must be physically located within the building or within 300 feet of the subje...
Repeat Violator Strikes
A Monroe County vacation rental manager loses their license after two strikes in a single year: two unanswered complaints or two violations tied to the manager's duties. Section 134-1(j) bars a revoked manager from reapplying for two full years.
Monroe County STR Manager License Strikes
Significant RestrictionsMonroe County Land Development Code § 134-1(j)(2)-(3)
(2)After notice is given to the vacation rental manager and a public hearing is held, a vacation rental manager license shall be revoked by the planning commission and/or fines levied by the code enforcement special magistrate or court of competent jurisdiction upon a finding of: a total of two or more no responses to complaints registered by the public concerning tenants not following the term...
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