Lake County, FL Short-Term Rentals: Night Caps (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum-night stay
- Cannot be required
- Annual night cap
- Cannot be imposed
- Booking frequency limit
- Preempted
- Statute
- FS 509.032(7)(b)
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Lake County
Summary
Florida expressly prohibits counties from regulating the duration or frequency of vacation rentals. Lake County cannot impose minimum-night stays, maximum nights per year, or a cap on the number of bookings.
A local law, ordinance, or regulation may not prohibit vacation rentals or regulate the duration or frequency of rental of vacation rentals.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
FS 509.032(7)(b) states a local law may not regulate the duration or frequency of rental of vacation rentals. That language directly forecloses night caps: no minimum-stay requirement (for example, a 7-night minimum), no annual maximum on rented nights, and no cap on how many separate guest stays you can host. Only ordinances adopted on or before June 1, 2011 are grandfathered, and Lake County has no such surviving rule in the unincorporated area. Tourist Development Tax still applies to every stay of six months or less regardless of length.
Violations & Fines
There is no night-cap violation to enforce; the county has no authority to limit stay length or booking frequency under Florida law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Lake County require a minimum number of nights?
Is there a limit on how many nights per year I can rent?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Lake County to another location·View the Florida short-term rentals overview
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