Monroe County, FL Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- Guest register
- Names, addresses, phone, vehicle/watercraft numbers
- Records custodian
- Kept by the vacation rental manager
- State registration
- F.S. ch. 212 tax ID and ch. 509 license required
- Prima facie evidence
- Online listing alone (§134-1(k)(5))
- Penalty
- Same $500/day misdemeanor as permit violations
Summary
Beyond a permit, every Monroe County vacation rental must stay registered while operating: Land Development Code Section 134-1(e) requires a signed lease and a guest and vehicle register for each stay, plus current state registration under F.S. Chapters 212 and 509. The vacation rental manager keeps these records for code enforcement inspection.
(7)The owner or agent shall require a lease to be executed with each vacation rental use of the property and maintain a guest and vehicle register listing all vacation rental occupants' names, home addresses, telephone numbers, vehicle license plate and watercraft registration numbers. Each lease and this register shall be kept by the vacation rental manager and available for inspection by county code enforcement personnel during business hours.(8)Vacation rental units must be registered, licensed and meet all applicable state requirements contained in F.S. ch. 212 (Florida Tax and Revenue Act) and F.S. ch. 509 (Public Lodging Establishments) as implemented by the Florida Administrative Code, as may be amended.
Full Breakdown
Beyond getting a permit, a vacation rental in the unincorporated Florida Keys (Monroe County) has to stay registered on paper while it operates. Land Development Code Section 134-1(e)(7) requires the owner or agent to execute a lease for every vacation rental stay and to maintain a guest and vehicle register listing each occupant's name, home address, telephone number, and vehicle or watercraft registration numbers; the vacation rental manager keeps that register and the lease, and both must be available for inspection by county code enforcement personnel during business hours.
S. S. Chapter 509, covering public lodging establishments, as implemented by the Florida Administrative Code. S. Chapter 509 permit, license or approval before the county will issue a special vacation rental permit. Advertising or holding a unit out for rent as a vacation rental, taking overlapping short-term reservations, or using an agent to book stays are each listed in Section 134-1(k)(5) as prima facie evidence that a dwelling unit is being operated as a vacation rental, which lets code enforcement act on a listing even without catching an actual guest on site. The vacation rental manager, not the owner, is the one legally required to keep these registration records current and produced on demand.
Violations & Fines
Failing to maintain the required lease, guest register or state registration is a violation of Section 134-1(e), punishable the same as other vacation rental violations under Section 134-1(k): a second-degree misdemeanor with fines up to $500 per day, per unit, plus citation fines of $250 for a first offense and $500 after that. Advertising or booking a unit without proper registration is itself treated as prima facie evidence of an illegal vacation rental.
Frequently Asked Questions
What has to be in a vacation rental's guest register?
Does Monroe County require state licensing too?
Can the county tell I'm renting short-term without a complaint?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monroe County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Monroe County to another location·View the Florida rental property rules overview
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