Fort Myers, FL Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- Covers
- attached, detached, accessory rentals
- Exempt
- hotels, motels, vacation rentals
- Certificate valid
- until next scheduled inspection
- Inspection cycle
- at least every 3 years
- First-violation fine
- up to $250/day
Summary
Fort Myers requires residential rental dwellings to hold a current certificate of compliance, with owners keeping records current with community development and posting the certificate or producing it on request.
(a)The property owner or their designee shall keep all information for rental dwelling certificates of compliance current with the community development department.(b)Certificates of compliance shall remain valid until the next scheduled inspection, unless there is a change in ownership.(c)Certificates of compliance shall be clearly posted in an accessible area within the residential rental dwelling or shall be provided upon request.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 60).
Full Breakdown
Under Article XI of Chapter 54, every attached, detached, and accessory rental dwelling unit in the city (as defined in Chapter 142) must operate under a certificate of compliance issued after inspection, except hotels, motels, resort condominiums, transient apartments, rooming houses, resort dwellings, vacation rentals, and bed-and-breakfast inns as defined in F.S. § 509.242. Owners must designate a local agent residing in Lee County, keep certificate information current with the community development department, and post the certificate or provide it on request. The certificate stays valid until the next scheduled inspection unless ownership changes; the city's general schedule is at least one inspection every three years, more often if violations warrant. The program dates to Ord. No. 3896, § 2, adopted April 19, 2021.
Violations & Fines
Enforced under Article V, Code Enforcement: the code enforcement board may fine up to $250/day for a first violation and $500/day for a repeat violation (§ 2-416(b)), or a code enforcement officer may issue a citation carrying a civil penalty up to $500 (§ 2-442(b)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do vacation rentals in Fort Myers need this certificate?
How often does the city inspect a rental dwelling?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Myers
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Fort Myers to another location·View the Florida rental property rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Rental Registration in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Lee County handle rental registration.