Fort Myers, FL Short-Term Rentals: Parking Rules (2026)

Florida's vacation rental preemption at FS § 509.032(7)(b) prevents the City of Fort Myers from imposing parking requirements that apply only to vacation rentals (such as 'one off-street space per bedroom for STRs' or 'no on-street parking for STR guests'); such STR-specific rules would be preempted. Generally-applicable parking rules continue to apply to STRs on the same terms as any other residential property. The City of Fort Myers Land Development Code establishes off-street parking minimums for dwelling units in residential zones (typically 2 spaces per single-family detached dwelling, with multifamily and townhome ratios specified in the Code), and these minimums apply to the dwelling regardless of whether it is owner-occupied, long-term rented, or operated as a short-term rental. The STR use overlays the existing dwelling without changing the underlying parking ratio. Citywide on-street parking rules in the Code of Ordinances (Chapter 90 Traffic and parallel sections) and Florida traffic law (FS § 316.1945) prohibit parking that blocks driveways, fire hydrants, sidewalks, intersections, or crosswalks; parking against the direction of traffic; overnight parking in posted restricted zones; and prolonged storage of RVs, trailers, and oversized vehicles on the public right-of-way. Guest vehicles are subject to all of these rules and may be cited or towed by Fort Myers Police or Code Enforcement. STR operators are practically responsible for managing guest parking proactively: (1) confirm and disclose the number and location of off-street spaces (driveway, garage, designated pad) before accepting bookings, (2) inform guests in advance whether any on-street parking is restricted on the block (residential parking permit areas, posted time limits), (3) intervene when guest vehicles block neighbors' driveways or trigger complaints. Recurrent guest-parking complaints tied to an STR address are documented by Code Enforcement and may support nuisance abatement actions even though the city cannot impose STR-specific parking rules. In downtown and historic district zones (East Fort Myers, McGregor, Edison Park, Downtown Development District), parking pressure is higher and operators should anticipate more guest-parking friction; specific Land Development Code provisions or overlay districts may apply.