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Winter Haven, FL Short-Term Rentals: Parking Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions

Verified 2 weeks ago|Source: Florida Statute 509.032(7) - Local Regulation Preemption →

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Key Facts

State Preemption: Fla. Stat. 509.032(7)(b) - no STR-only rules
Surface Required: Paved driveway or garage
Yard Parking: Code violation
Street Limit: 72 hours (Fla. Stat. 316.1945)
RV/Boat Setback: 5 ft from property line, side/rear yard

Summary

Polk County applies its standard residential parking standards to short-term rentals because Fla. Stat. 509.032(7)(b) preempts STR-specific parking rules. Guests must park on a paved driveway or in a garage; on-street parking is limited to 72 hours under county and state law.

Full Breakdown

Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b) bars Polk County from adopting parking standards that apply only to vacation rentals, but the county can - and does - apply general residential parking rules to STR properties. Under the Polk County Land Development Code, vehicles in residential districts must be stored on a paved driveway or in an enclosed garage. Recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers must be set back at least 5 feet from the property line in a side or rear yard. Vehicles left on a public right-of-way for more than 72 hours are presumed abandoned under Fla. Stat. 316.1945. Yard or grass parking violates Polk County Code Enforcement standards. STR operators are advised to specify a hard-cap on guest vehicles equal to driveway capacity.

Violations & Fines

Vehicles parked over 72 hours on the right-of-way may be tagged and towed under Fla. Stat. 715.07. Yard parking and driveway-overflow violations are Polk Code Enforcement citations with daily fines up to $250 (first violation) and $500 (repeat).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Polk County limit how many cars short-term rental guests bring?

Not as an STR-specific cap. Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b) preempts vacation-rental-only parking ordinances. Polk County does, however, apply its general residential standards: vehicles must be on a paved driveway or in a garage, not on the lawn, and on-street parking is limited to 72 hours under Fla. Stat. 316.1945. STR operators typically specify a guest vehicle limit in their listing equal to driveway capacity.

Where can guests park their car at a Polk County vacation rental?

On a paved driveway or inside a garage. Yard or grass parking is a Polk County Code Enforcement violation regardless of how the property is being used. RVs, boats, and trailers must be in the side or rear yard, set back at least 5 feet from the property line, and not on a public right-of-way for more than 72 hours.

What happens if a guest leaves a car on the street too long?

Florida Statute 316.1945 lets the Polk County Sheriff tag a vehicle parked on a public right-of-way for more than 72 hours as abandoned, and Fla. Stat. 715.07 authorizes towing. The host typically pays the tow bill or charges it to the guest. Repeated street-parking complaints can also trigger Polk Code Enforcement action against the property owner.

Winter Haven, FL Short-Term Rentals: Parking Rules (2026)

Key Facts

Summary

Fla. Stat. § 509.032(7)(b)-(c) (Vacation Rental Preemption)

Full Breakdown

Violations & Fines

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & Official References

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