Fort Lauderdale, FL Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Sec. 15-278(2) of the Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances sets the maximum occupancy for registered vacation rentals. The maximum number of transient occupants authorized to stay overnight is limited to two persons per sleeping room, with the number of sleeping rooms confirmed by an on-site inspection by a city representative (Sec. 15-278(2)a). A 'sleeping room' is defined in Sec. 15-271 as a room primarily designed and used for sleeping, excluding living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, pantries, foyers, corridors, closets, and storage space. The maximum number of persons allowed to gather at or occupy a vacation rental cannot exceed 1.5 times the authorized overnight occupants shown on the Certificate of Compliance, and in no event may a gathering exceed 20 persons (Sec. 15-278(2)b); this gathering cap does not apply to owner-occupied vacation rentals when the owner is physically present. Up to four persons under thirteen years of age are exempt from both occupancy limits (Sec. 15-278(2)c). The maximum occupancy is fixed at the inspection, must be posted on the Certificate of Compliance near the main entrance (Sec. 15-278(9)), and any change in the number of bedrooms or maximum occupancy requires a registration modification (Sec. 15-273(c)).