Unincorporated Lee County sets no post-2011 vacation-rental-specific occupancy cap; Florida preemption blocks new local rules based on a rental's classification, use, or occupancy. Guests are limited only by the Florida Building Code, generally-applicable zoning density, and the property's septic capacity.
FS 509.032(7)(b) bars local ordinances adopted after June 1, 2011 from restricting vacation rentals based solely on their classification, use, or occupancy. Florida courts (e.g., disputes involving Flagler County and Anna Maria) have held that a neutral, generally-applicable maximum-occupancy limit does not itself violate the preemption, but Lee County's unincorporated area has not adopted a vacation-rental-specific occupancy ordinance. In practice, how many guests may stay is governed by the Florida Building Code habitable-space standards, the property's on-site septic or sewer capacity, and generally-applicable residential density in the zoning district, not by any STR headcount rule unique to short-term guests. A host should confirm any occupancy figure with Lee County Community Development.
There is no county STR-specific occupancy penalty; overcrowding is addressed through the building code, health/septic rules, and nuisance enforcement, each with its own code-enforcement fines.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral §12-22 (Noise Control Ordinance, amended Dec 2019) prohibits noise plainly audible at 50 feet between 11 PM and 7 AM from any radio, TV, musical i...
Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral Land Development Code Section 5.2.7 limits residential fences in the front setback, allows up to 6 feet in side and rear yards, and requires open ...
Cape Coral, FL
Dogs in Cape Coral must be under direct control on a leash not exceeding 8 feet in length under Lee County Animal Control Ordinance. Cape Coral Code Chapter ...
Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral generally allows lawn ornaments, statues, flamingos, garden gnomes, and similar decorative items without a permit. Cape Coral Code Section 5.5.13 ...
Cape Coral, FL
Inflatable holiday displays (giant snowmen, Halloween figures, Easter bunnies) are not specifically regulated by Cape Coral's Code of Ordinances and are gene...
Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral does not have a dedicated holiday-light ordinance and treats seasonal lighting as a normal residential accessory use, generally allowed without a ...
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