Fort Lauderdale, FL Short-Term Rentals: Night Caps (2026)
Key Facts
- Local Night Cap
- None - state preempted
- State Preemption
- Fla. Stat. 509.032(7)(b)
- Grandfather Date
- June 1, 2011 (Fort Lauderdale ordinance is later)
- Fort Lauderdale Ordinance
- C-15-29 (eff. Nov. 1, 2015)
- Vacation Rental Definition
- >3 rentals/year, <30 days each (FS 509.013)
- Min Stay Allowed
- 1 night (no City minimum)
- Max Bookings
- Unlimited (no City cap)
- Tax (Stays under 6 mo.)
- 6% FL state sales + 6% Broward TDT
Summary
Fort Lauderdale does not cap nights, length, or frequency of vacation rental stays. Under Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b), only ordinances adopted on or before June 1, 2011 may regulate the duration or frequency of rentals. Fort Lauderdale's vacation rental ordinance (C-15-29) was enacted in 2015 and is therefore preempted on stay limits.
(7)  PREEMPTION AUTHORITY. — (a)  The regulation of public lodging establishments and public food service establishments, including, but not limited to, sanitation standards, inspections, training and testing of personnel, and matters related to the nutritional content and marketing of foods offered in such establishments, is preempted to the state. This paragraph does not preempt the authority of a local government or local enforcement district to conduct inspections of public lodging and public food service establishments for compliance with the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code, pursuant to ss. 553.80 and 633.206 . (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. (c)  Paragraph (b) does not apply to any local law, ordinance, or regulation exclusively relating to property valuation as a criterion for vacation rental if the local law, ordinance, or regulation is required to be approved by the state land planning agency pursuant to an area of critical state concern designation.
Full Breakdown
Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b) preempts local governments from prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating the duration or frequency of rentals, except where the ordinance was in place on or before June 1, 2011. Fort Lauderdale's vacation rental program (Ord. C-15-29) was adopted August 18, 2015 and took effect November 1, 2015 - well after the grandfather date. The City therefore cannot impose a minimum-night stay, a maximum number of bookings per year, or a cap on total rental nights. The City can and does regulate registration, life safety, parking, occupancy, noise, and trash through Code Article X and Chapter 17 (noise) - none of which alter the length or count of stays. Florida Statute 509.013(4)(a)1 defines vacation rentals as units rented to guests more than three times a year for periods of less than 30 days. State sales tax plus Broward County's 6% TDT apply.
Violations & Fines
There are no City penalties for the number or length of legally registered rentals. State preemption (FS 509.032) blocks any duration or frequency cap. Failure to collect and remit state sales tax or Broward TDT on stays under six months remains a separate state and county tax violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fort Lauderdale limit how many nights a year I can rent my home on Airbnb?
Is there a minimum stay for vacation rentals in Fort Lauderdale?
Can my HOA or condo association still cap rentals?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Lauderdale
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Fort Lauderdale to another location·View the Florida short-term rentals overview
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Night Caps in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle night caps.