Short-Term Rentals in Seminole County, FL (2026)

10 rules for unincorporated Seminole County, Florida.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Seminole County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply — see the city list below.

Permit Requirements

In unincorporated Seminole County you must register each vacation rental with the County's third-party vendor before operating, plus hold a state DBPR vacation-rental license. Florida law bars the County from banning rentals or capping their duration.

Do You Need a Permit for a Short-Term Rental in Seminole County?

Some Restrictions

Seminole County LDC Sec. 30.1374(a)

Each vacation rental being advertised or offered to the public must be registered by the Responsible Party with a third party vendor authorized by Seminole County prior to commencement of operation.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

Vacation rentals must comply with Seminole County Code Chapter 165 (Noise), which prohibits excessive noise between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The registration self-certifies this, and the rules must be posted in the unit for guests.

Seminole County Vacation Rental Noise Rules

Some Restrictions

Seminole County LDC Sec. 30.1374; County Code Ch. 165

A signed acknowledgement by the Responsible Party that the use of the vacation rental shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 165 (Noise) of the Seminole County Code of Ordinances, which requires no excessive noise to be produced between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Expect a $250 annual county registration fee, Seminole County's 5% Tourist Development Tax on stays of six months or less (FS 125.0104), and Florida's 6% transient rental sales tax. Booking platforms often collect the bed tax for you.

Seminole County Short-Term Rental Taxes and Fees

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Parking Rules

A single-family, duplex, or multi-family vacation rental needs at least two off-street parking spaces, plus one more for each sleeping room beyond four. Spaces must be on legal paved surfaces, never in swales, sidewalks, or the street.

Seminole County Vacation Rental Parking Rules

Some Restrictions

Seminole County LDC Sec. 30.1375(a)(5)

The minimum required amount of parking spaces for a single-family dwelling, duplex halves or a multi-family dwelling is two (2). In addition to the minimum requirement... for each sleeping room in excess of four (4), one (1) additional parking space must be provided.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Overnight occupancy is capped at two people per sleeping room, plus up to four children under 13 who are not counted. Non-overnight daytime guests may not exceed twice the maximum overnight occupancy.

Seminole County Vacation Rental Occupancy Limits

Some Restrictions

Seminole County LDC Sec. 30.1375(a)(1)

The maximum amount of transient occupants authorized to stay overnight at any individual vacation rental shall be limited to two (2) persons per sleeping room. Additionally, a maximum of four (4) persons under the age of thirteen (13) shall also be authorized to stay overnight, not to be counted against the maximum occupancy.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

No. Seminole County's vacation-rental ordinance sets no insurance or liability-coverage requirement. Registration instead demands a state DBPR license, tax accounts, safety equipment, and posted emergency information, not proof of insurance.

Does Seminole County Require Insurance for Short-Term Rentals?

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Night Caps

No. Seminole County does not impose minimum-night or maximum-night limits, and Florida law forbids it: FS 509.032(7)(b) bars local governments from regulating the duration or frequency of vacation rentals.

Does Seminole County Cap Nights or Minimum Stays for Rentals?

Some Restrictions

FS 509.032(7)(b) (recited in Ordinance 2020-14)

Section 509.032(7)(b), Florida Statutes, provides that a local law, ordinance, or regulation may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate the duration or frequency of rental of vacation rentals.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Registration Rules

The Responsible Party registers each unincorporated-county vacation rental online through Avenu Insights & Analytics, self-certifying compliance. Registration is valid one year and must be renewed annually; ownership, sleeping-room, or parking changes require an update.

Seminole County Vacation Rental Registration Rules

Some Restrictions

Seminole County LDC Sec. 30.1374(c)

The registration in the third party Vacation Rental Registry shall be valid for one year from the date of application approval or until any of the following circumstances occur: A change in ownership and/or Responsible Party of the vacation rental; or A change to the sleeping rooms.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

No on-site host is required, but every vacation rental must name a Responsible Party who can be reached at any hour, any day, while the rental is occupied. Their 24/7 phone number must be posted inside the unit.

Does a Host Have to Be On-Site at a Seminole County Rental?

Some Restrictions

Seminole County LDC Sec. 30.1373(b)

The Responsible Party shall be available to be contacted at any hour of the day, any day of the week during any period of time that the vacation rental is occupied.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

No. Seminole County does not require a vacation rental to be the owner's primary residence, and Florida law would preempt such a rule. Full-time owner-occupied homes renting bedrooms via an internal hallway are actually exempt from the ordinance.

Does Seminole County Require a Short-Term Rental to Be Your Primary Residence?

Some Restrictions

Seminole County LDC Sec. 30.1373(f)

Sections 30.1373 through 30.1376 shall not apply to any dwelling unit that is owner-occupied on a full-time basis and provided the means of ingress and egress is through a hallway internal to the unit to the sleeping room(s) leased by the transient occupant(s).

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Seminole County ordinances

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