Short-Term Rentals in St. Lucie County, FL (2026)

10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in St. Lucie County, Florida.

Verified from official government sources

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

Permit Requirements

Any St. Lucie County vacation rental must hold a Florida DBPR vacation-rental license before advertising or renting. Local governments cannot ban rentals, but every operator needs the state license plus a St. Lucie County tourist-tax account.

Short-Term Rental Permits in St. Lucie County

Some Restrictions

FS 509.241(1)

Each public lodging establishment and public food service establishment shall obtain a license from the division.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

There is no STR-specific noise ordinance in Port St. Lucie or unincorporated St. Lucie County. Rental guests must obey the same general noise/disturbance ordinances as all residents, enforced by the Sheriff or city police.

Vacation Rental Noise Rules in St. Lucie County

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

St. Lucie County levies a 5% Tourist Development (bed) tax on rentals of six months or less, collected and remitted to the County Tax Collector. That is on top of Florida's 7% state sales tax and the state DBPR license fees.

St. Lucie County Vacation Rental Taxes

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Parking Rules

Neither unincorporated St. Lucie County nor Port St. Lucie sets STR-specific parking rules. General zoning and residential parking codes apply equally to rentals, and any locality-wide standard adopted for all homes governs guest vehicles.

Vacation Rental Parking Rules in St. Lucie County

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

St. Lucie County and Port St. Lucie set no special STR occupancy cap; Florida bars localities from regulating rental duration or frequency. Fort Pierce's local ordinance imposes an occupancy formula. State law defines a rental as transient when let more than three times yearly for under 30 days.

Vacation Rental Occupancy Limits in St. Lucie County

Some Restrictions

FS 509.013(4)(a)1

any unit, group of units, dwelling, building, or group of buildings within a single complex of buildings which is rented to guests more than three times in a calendar year for periods of less than 30 days or 1 calendar month, whichever is less

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

No St. Lucie County, Port St. Lucie, or Florida state law mandates a specific short-term-rental insurance policy. Owners are strongly advised to carry commercial/STR liability coverage, and platforms like Airbnb add host protection, but coverage is not a licensing condition.

Vacation Rental Insurance in St. Lucie County

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Night Caps

St. Lucie County and its cities cannot set minimum-night stays or cap how many nights per year you rent. Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b) preempts any local rule regulating the duration or frequency of vacation rentals.

Minimum-Stay and Night Caps in St. Lucie County

Some Restrictions

FS 509.032(7)(b)

A local law, ordinance, or regulation may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate the duration or frequency of rental of vacation rentals. This paragraph does not apply to any local law, ordinance, or regulation adopted on or before June 1, 2011.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Registration Rules

Florida bars local governments from banning vacation rentals, but they may require registration. Port St. Lucie has no STR registry; Fort Pierce and St. Lucie Village require every rental under six months to register locally, plus a countywide tourist-tax account.

Vacation Rental Registration in St. Lucie County

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

Port St. Lucie and unincorporated St. Lucie County do not require an on-site host. Fort Pierce's registration ordinance requires a local responsible party reachable and able to respond to the rental quickly, typically within one hour of a call.

Host / Responsible-Party Rules in St. Lucie County

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

St. Lucie County and its cities cannot restrict vacation rentals to a host's primary residence. Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b) bars local rules that prohibit rentals or regulate their duration or frequency, so investment/non-owner-occupied STRs are allowed.

Primary-Residence Rules for St. Lucie County Rentals

Some Restrictions

FS 509.032(7)(b)

A local law, ordinance, or regulation may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate the duration or frequency of rental of vacation rentals. This paragraph does not apply to any local law, ordinance, or regulation adopted on or before June 1, 2011.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rentals by City in St. Lucie County

1 cities in St. Lucie County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

Port St. LuciePop. 217,556

7 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Noise Rules

All St. Lucie County ordinances

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