Gainesville, FL Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Guest cap
- None stated in city code
- Occupancy floor
- 2018 IPMC, adopted by § 13-17
- Guest stays
- 30 days per 90-day period
- Bed and breakfast
- Owner or manager lives on premises
Summary
Gainesville's code sets no guest cap for short-term rentals. Occupancy floors come from the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code, adopted by section 13-17. The zoning definition of family limits gratuitous guests to 30 days in any 90.
509.032 Duties. — [...] (7) PREEMPTION AUTHORITY. — 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 subsection does not preempt the authority of a local government, including a 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.
Full Breakdown
There is no bedroom-based or headcount occupancy cap for short-term rentals in Gainesville's code. What does apply is the Property Maintenance Code: section 13-17 adopts the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code by reference as the governing law for all existing buildings and premises, and it is enforceable against owners and occupants alike. Its occupancy rules set the minimum. Separately, the land development code defines a family as people living together as a single housekeeping unit, and counts temporary gratuitous guests only if they stay no more than 30 calendar days within a 90-day period. Bed and breakfast establishments, the one home-based lodging use the code names, must be owner-occupied under section 30-5.4.
Violations & Fines
Property Maintenance Code violations are prosecuted within the limits set by state or local law under section 13-17(b)(10). The general penalty in section 1-9 is up to $500 or 60 days, each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many guests can stay in my short-term rental?
What happens if guests exceed the occupancy limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gainesville
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Gainesville to another location·View the Florida short-term rentals overview
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